How will AI change the cold chain? A talk about the impact of AI on cold chain, with AI.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): technology that’s leapt from the pages of Sci-Fi novels to the cutting edge of business transformation. Its potential driven by the promise of greater efficiency, automation, more streamlined processes, and smarter operations.

There is no denying AI has opened a new world of possibilities. That said, many of these opportunities highlight a key fact: the technology itself is only a tool, and one that still requires an experienced human hand to wield. A combination that together generates insight at speed, and the understanding to put it to work.

And this is exactly what we did. We asked ChatGPT what the impact of AI on cold chain will be. But is this correct? Or is there need for some nuance? That’s where the view of our human expert comes in: Declan McAndrew, Vice President of Connectivity at Thermo King. Time for a chat with AI, about AI in the cold chain.

Question 1: What will the main impact of AI be on refrigerated transport across the end-to-end cold chain?

Declan
“Well, there are a few things to consider here. Real-time monitoring and predictive analytics are for me a natural evolution of the globalized cold chain. For example, we’ve long known that transporting temperature-sensitive cargoes over long distances leads to a lack of real-time visibility into performance.

That’s why I feel AI has will bring more practical value in two distinct areas:

• Efficiency: here I agree that the focus should be to optimize every journey in terms of cost efficiency, sustainability, and profitability
• Resiliency: most cold chains are many-to-many (multiple clients using the same carrier to transport products across multiple businesses), which creates interdependencies that are highly sensitive to disruption. Where AI has a role to play is in analyzing such environments, anticipating problems, and driving the best response to any problem

These are benefits that can be achieved today, unlike autonomous vehicles that still require long-term development before they have any sizeable impact on global cold chains.”

Question 2: Can AI help deliver measurable cost and efficiency savings? And how?

Declan
“Here I would tend to disagree, as the advantages of dynamic routing and temperature monitoring can already be achieved without AI. Instead, the emphasis should be on the technology’s role in enabling smarter automation as a way to drive efficiency.

For example, every cold chain has ‘hand-off’ points such as between distribution centers and couriers. Here, it takes time and effort for people to turn on refrigerated systems and configure them for the right set point.

Where AI can help is in calculating individual cargo needs and automatically turning on refrigeration units at precisely the right time. This saves effort, fuel, and emissions, while ensuring the ideal conditions for every cargo”

Question 3: What role can AI play in delivering a more sustainable cold chain?

Declan

“Here Thermo King tends to look at the bigger picture. So our thinking is more broadly aligned. Unlike other industries, the cold chain offers greater potential for Machine Learning than it does generative AI. It’s about an ability to crunch enormous amounts of data to discover insights that humans can then put to work.

Allied to that is automation at speed and scale. This is an AI ‘sweet spot’ that, combined with deep data insight, makes it easier and faster to turn details of fuel consumption and emissions into continuous real-world improvements.

For example, AI can automate reports that highlight how a trailer’s doors are consistently left open when the refrigeration unit it is running. With this type of data, Fleet Managers can quickly discover where and why this is happening – and act to cut the wasted energy.”

Summing it all up

AI offers the potential to enhance refrigerated transport cold chains by optimizing efficiency and ensuring the quality of perishables through real-time monitoring and automated control systems.

Declan

Above is the big headline of AI in the cold chain. A promise made possible through automated insight, always-on monitoring, and an ability to crunch enormous data sets.

At Thermo King we’re already embracing AI in a variety of different ways, not least in the design of future products. Where we can quickly test our assumptions for how customers use a technology, then use AI to build a model of actual operational conditions.

That means we can constantly refine our units, and ensure they really are delivering the efficiency and performance our clients want. That’s the true value of AI for me, a story of continued improvement toward a fully optimized global cold chain.

Put enhanced intelligence to work

Discover every opportunity to exploit the value of connected intelligence across your fleet operations. For the practical opinion, contact your local dealer.