Digital Container Seal for Shipment Monitoring
At Link Ship Chandlers, we like to stay abreast of news and developments in the shipping industry, especially when it comes to the development of new technology that has the potential to vastly improve the way we do business. This is why we were so excited to learn about the new, low-cost digital container seal that has been developed by Dutch software company Itude Mobile for the CORE European Research Project.
Named Babbler, as a nod to a vocal songbird found throughout the Indian subcontinent, the digital seal features breakthrough technology that neatly circumvents costly installation in the fabric of a truck or container. Instead, it is based on light- and temperature detection tech that allows the user to monitor the integrity of their shipment via a mobile app. It runs wirelessly via Bluetooth or LoRa, a long-range radio network which is widely available in Europe. When the Babbler sensors detect a light or temperature change in the container, it immediately alerts the end-user, who is then able to raise the alarm even before the vessel berths.
The technology has already been tested in the market to great success. Royal FloraHolland, a major flower auction cooperative, sought to assist Kenyan growers to lower logistics costs from their end by simplifying their export process to Europe. Babbler was ideal for this purpose. Flowers have to be shipped at 0.5ºC to ensure freshness upon arrival, and every time a container is opened for inspection the temperature rises. A proper seal avoids needless inspections and speeds up delivery time. The Babbler price point is also much more attractive for businesses that deal in lower-value goods from emerging markets like Kenya.
In other exciting news, Babbler has already succeeded in alerting shipping agents to a crime! A cold container of flowers bound for Europe was sealed using Babbler in Nairobi, before it departed for Mombasa. Along the way, the tech noted a spike in temperature and alerted the owner of the container who immediately got in touch with the captain. It turns out thieves had disconnected the generator to siphon off fuel, and authorities were able to use the data to pinpoint the culprits. This is a wonderful example of how the imaginative application of emerging tech can change the global shipping landscape for the good.
Keep your eye on the blog in coming months, as we discuss more shipping-related initiatives and how supporting innovative companies with the goal of bolstering emerging economies improve the way we all do business.
Leave a Reply