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Tech-driven warehousing for agricultural commodities
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Friday, 11 March, 2022, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
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Bhushan Paralkar
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Warehouses play an integral function in agricultural marketing. From ensuring continuous supply of goods in the market to banking and financing and stabilising the pricing by adjusting demand and supply, warehouses play a major role in the agriculture industry. It is the place that enables maintaining an uninterrupted supply of agricultural commodities during off-seasons and minimising wastages as well.
Over the years, warehousing has evolved significantly. They are no longer the traditional go-downs but have become modern formats of warehouses that are tech-enabled and managed by automated systems.
With the embracement of scientific and technical know-how, the agri-warehousing industry has experienced innovation in every area - from infrastructure design to storage systems and processes. Along with the construction of new infrastructure, the emphasis should be on the implementation of creative solutions for space management, logistical efficiency, and the security of stored items. A technologically advanced warehouse is automated to promote production, efficiency, and accuracy. These established solutions provide flexibility and capability to the people and process. Let us evaluate how some of the latest technologies are disrupting the warehousing business.
Blockchain technology
A recent innovation in agricultural supply chain solutions is the incorporation of blockchain technology in warehousing systems. Blockchain secures data and makes it available to all stakeholders at once. Blockchain uses a decentralised method for record-keeping, which improves system security. Every transaction's information is saved on every machine in the network. The improved transparency makes it easier for businesses within the same supply chain to collaborate securely while sending data over the Internet.
Blockchain technology has the potential to improve the technological visibility of utilised raw materials like seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, and so on. As a result, each blockchain user can have total insight into the items that arrive at their destination.
RFID technology for seamless inventory management
Warehouses encompass a large amount of space and have multiple levels. As a result, manual stock management may be a time-consuming and inconvenient operation; also, these methods might create a large number of manual inaccuracies. RFID identifies and tags things using electromagnetic fields, which may subsequently be monitored and managed using radio waves. An RFID system provides comprehensive stock visibility and aids in improved inventory management.
IoT implementation
Agricultural warehousing may be made smarter by utilising IT automation and the Internet of Things (IoT). The use of sensor networks in IoT applications is rapidly increasing and expanding. Temperature monitoring, moisture, and inventory monitoring may all be determined via IoT for analysis and quick action. Using a good system, farmers can be directly connected to farms and warehouses worldwide.
Optical and visual-based sorting and grading solutions
From mechanical based graders and sorters, algorithms are being created for optical and visual grading systems. Optical and visual systems are a new developing technology that uses several images of agricultural commodities to create a consistent grading system, particularly in the fruit sector. When a deep learning algorithm for each commodity is offered these algorithms may detect faults and report their severity.
Tech visibility of the inventory across all the stages
With better storage and retrieval systems, visibility of the stocks across all the locations also becomes important. An integrated system can provide complete visibility of stocks from the mother warehouse to the sub-locations where it was transported and stored. This system of stock management helps the stakeholders to manage and plan their inventory based on supply and demand.
The bottom line is that digitisation holds the key to making all this work. With e-commerce and digital distribution growing, it is time that warehouses upgraded with the latest innovations and integrated digital technologies for their vital and smooth functioning.
(The author is GM-IT, Snowman Logistics Ltd)
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