Summary of this article

For food retailers and restaurant chains, simply checking the products after delivery has its limitations in terms of quality control and monitoring.
From now on, it will be crucial to monitor the status of goods in transit in real time and to be able to prove the situation with objective data in the event of any problems.

The QTS110 monitoring terminal's multi-sensor accurately captures the status of goods during transport, and the acquired status data can be centrally managed with "Macnica Tracks®".
Because it allows for the immediate visualization of anomalies such as unexpected temperature deviations, route delays, and unauthorized opening during late-night or unattended deliveries, it becomes possible to support the safety of the cold chain with data.
As a result, accountability becomes clearer, enabling quicker responses. This significantly enhances the reliability and competitiveness of food supply chain management (food SCM) and logistics as a whole.

This article will explainthree use cases that are particularly prone to being overlooked when it comes to deliveries to stores and late-night deliveries.

Introduction

Ensuring the safety of ingredients delivered from central kitchens and logistics hubs to each store is the lifeline of food retail and food service chains that protect brand credibility.

Until now, in this industry, daily logistics quality has been maintained through systems such as completion reports from shipping companies and handwritten records at the time of receipt.
However, in a network of stores with a wide range of delivery destinations, there are limited means to detect sudden troubles in real time, such as delays caused by traffic jams while driving, unexpected opening of the cooler Box, or deviations in temperature control.

If quality deterioration or incorrect delivery is discovered after arrival at the store, not only will there be costs for arranging substitutes and missed opportunities, but it could also lead to serious risks such as food poisoning.
In this context, current food SCM requires a system that continuously communicates the current location and environment of the boxes during delivery, and can verify the safety of the entire logistics using digital data.

Macnica 's "Macnica Tracks®" is a solution that eliminates black Box in in-store delivery and elevates distribution quality to the highest standards.
In this article, we will introduce its features and specific use cases.

What is Macnica Tracks®?

Macnica Tracks® is an IoT solution that simultaneously enables "visualization of status changes" and "location tracking" during transportation simply by attaching Qualcomm 's monitoring terminal "QTS110" to the asset.

Unlike traditional trackers that simply record "where something is now," this system is specifically designed to capture "physical changes" to an asset in real time and instantly notify the management dashboard.
In the logistics operations of multi-store restaurants and retailers, the following three features are particularly powerful assets, helping to "increase transparency in the store delivery process," which was difficult with previous operations that relied primarily on post-event reporting.

① Multi-sensor that doesn't miss environmental changes in ingredients
It incorporates sensors that detect tilt, impact, and even light intensity. This ensures that it can detect physical changes that directly lead to a deterioration in food quality, such as suspicious opening of refrigerated containers or excessive impact during handling.

② Tracking capabilities that cover a wide area of stores
With a built-in global SIM as standard, it supports roaming in over 200 countries worldwide. This allows for uninterrupted tracking, even in store networks in regional cities or in cross-border logistics for sourcing international ingredients.

③ Wireless design to minimize the burden on on-site staff
With long battery life of approximately 60 days with communication every 15 minutes, or approximately one year with communication once a day (depending on the communication environment), no power supply work or complex wiring is required. Simply "place" or "attach" it to a shipping box or refrigerated pallet, and you can start advanced "item-centric quality monitoring" from that moment.

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Transport/Storage Condition Monitoring and Tracking Service - Macnica Tracks®

Qualcomm® QTS110 - a tracking device that can monitor the status of "location," "temperature and humidity," "shock," "lost/lost/theft," etc.

Small and thin card-sized location tracking device - Qualcomm® QTS112 -

Use Case

Now, let's look at three use cases for MacnicaTracks®.

Use Case 1: [Store Delivery] Visualize the time spent at each store and the movement history to simultaneously improve logistics bottlenecks and response operations.

For restaurant and convenience store chains with numerous stores across the country, the movement of delivery vehicles after they leave their bases tends to be a black Box, making it difficult to accurately determine how much time is being spent at each store and which routes are causing delays.
As a result, not only did this lead to chronically long waiting times for deliveries and inefficient delivery routes, but responding to inquiries from stores and related departments such as "It hasn't arrived yet" or "Where is it now?" also became a challenge, as it relied on checking with drivers and delivery companies, requiring considerable time and effort.

To address these challenges, installing the QTS110 monitoring terminal on cargo and refrigerated containers visualizes the movement history during delivery and the status of stay at each location as data, enabling the identification of bottlenecks in the entire logistics process and simultaneously improving the efficiency of handling inquiries.

① Visualization of transit and stay time at locations
The system automatically records arrival times at pre-registered stores and logistics centers, allowing you to track the time spent at each location.

② Identifying factors causing delays and waiting periods for cargo.
By analyzing trends such as longer dwell times at specific stores or routes, we can clarify issues like the sources of waiting times and imbalances in workload based on data.

③ Speeding up response to inquiries
Because the driver's travel history and current location can be viewed on the dashboard, it becomes possible to understand the situation and respond to inquiries from stores and related departments without having to contact the driver.

④ Continuous improvement of delivery operations
By reviewing delivery routes and store acceptance systems based on accumulated travel history and dwell time data, we can improve logistics efficiency and reduce the burden on staff.

Application Scenario 2: [Cold Chain] Real-time temperature monitoring of food during transport without waiting for the trial logger to be returned.

In food logistics, which handles fresh foods, chilled foods, and frozen products, establishing a cold chain that maintains a constant temperature is absolutely essential.
However, with conventional temperature control, data cannot be checked until the disposable data logger is collected after transportation is complete and connected to a PC. This always carries the risk of being too late, when the food arrives at the store and it turns out that the temperature had risen during delivery and the ingredients had spoiled.
However, by taking the simple measure of "including one QTS110 monitoring terminal in each insulated Box or container," the entire transportation process can be placed under complete and seamless control.

① Real-time temperature and humidity warnings
When the temperature inside the moving cooler box exceeds the set value, a warning is sent to the headquarters dashboard, allowing for immediate detection of the situation even during delivery.

② Elimination of the black Box of delivery quality
The system records "when and where temperature changes occurred" in conjunction with location information and a timeline. This makes it possible to pinpoint exactly which highways or receiving points experienced environmental deterioration.

③ Use in selecting and evaluating delivery companies
Because it allows for the accumulation of objective environmental logs that do not rely on subjective opinions, it is possible to accurately evaluate the logistics quality of partner companies to which delivery is outsourced using data, and utilize this data to optimize operations.

Application Scenario 3: [Nighttime/Unmanned Delivery] Detection of "unauthorized opening/delay" during late-night deliveries from the central kitchen using optical sensors.

The delivery style of directly transporting ingredients from a central kitchen to unmanned stores late at night or early in the morning is an efficient way to compensate for labor shortages, but it also raises concerns because it takes place during hours when managers cannot keep an eye on things. In delivery areas that are not covered by security cameras, there was no objective way to confirm whether the ingredient cases were promptly placed in the correct refrigerated storage facilities, or whether they were opened by a third party before being inspected by store staff.
By setting up the QTS110 monitoring terminal in a reusable shipping container, every movement in an unattended environment is transformed into reliable evidence data.

① Opening detection using an illuminance sensor
After delivery to the store, the moment the lid is opened and light enters the interior, even before the scheduled unpacking time, the date, time, and location are reliably recorded on the dashboard.

② Immediate alert for congestion risk
The system automatically detects abnormal situations, such as food storage cases that should be stored at a constant temperature being left (staying) in a room-temperature backroom for longer than the scheduled time, and notifies the manager.

③ Automatic acquisition of delivery evidence
Because the entire process, including "when the product arrived at the store and when it was opened," is recorded as digital data, it is possible to prevent liability issues in the event of incorrect deliveries or loss, and to firmly establish governance for unmanned delivery operations.

Why Macnica Tracks® is the choice for food retailers and restaurant chains

This article explains the three strengths of Macnica Tracks® that support "real-time monitoring starting from the food ingredients," something that conventional vehicle tracking systems and disposable temperature loggers used after delivery could not achieve.

lastly

Integrating Macnica Tracks® into your logistics process allows for centralized, objective data management of movement history and dwell time from distribution center to store delivery, as well as temperature and handling conditions during transport. This enables the identification of logistics challenges such as stores experiencing delays or routes with frequent delays, as well as the identification of points of temperature deviations and quality fluctuations and their root cause analysis. Furthermore, because headquarters, stores, and logistics departments can share the same delivery status and quality data, it streamlines inquiry handling, strengthens accountability regarding quality, and contributes to audit and traceability compliance. Since it can be implemented simply by retrofitting devices to existing refrigerated cases and reusable containers without requiring complex system modifications to vehicles or expensive capital investments, it enables high levels of both logistics efficiency and quality assurance without changing on-site operations.

Macnica Tracks® is a powerful tool for logistics professionals supporting food safety and efficient distribution, enabling them to achieve reliable quality control and solidify deep customer trust. We invite you to leverage this new perspective, which redefines the standards of logistics and quality assurance, in your next strategic endeavor.

FAQ

Q. What is the battery life (how long does the battery last)?
A. With one communication per day, it can be used for approximately one year. However, the period may vary depending on the power consumption and communication environment at the installation location.

Q. Is it possible to switch to high-frequency communication when the movement of an object is detected?
A. Yes, it is possible to switch between them.

Q. Can I communicate without any problems even in sparsely populated areas?
A. This product uses Cat-M technology, so it can be used without any problems in areas where LTE signals are available. Compared to other LPWA technologies such as LoRa and Sigfox, it has a wider coverage area, making it ideal for use in sparsely populated areas.

Q. Is it possible to track the item even if it is taken overseas?
A. It can be used in approximately 200 countries worldwide. However, it is excluded from some areas where it is not available, such as China.

Q. In what format will alert notifications be sent?
A. You will receive an alert email at the email address you provided.

Q. Are there any smaller models available? (Regarding ease of installation on the object being monitored)
A. We apologize, but we only offer the current model.
This product is palm-sized and designed to be installed almost anywhere. However, if you have any concerns, we can lend you a demo unit or discuss whether it can be installed on your actual security target.
Please feel free to contact us.

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Inquiry

Macnica Tracks® can be deployed and tested starting with just one unit. Why not start by conducting a Proof of Concept (PoC) on a specific asset or site to confirm its effectiveness?

"We want to know if it can be integrated into our company's services." "We want to discuss which use cases would be most effective."
Our expert staff will provide concrete proposals to address such requests. Please feel free to contact us using the form below.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

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