Smart Containers: How Do They Benefit Businesses?

Like other industries, the transport and logistics sector keeps advancing to offer solutions better suited to the times. Today, smart containers are a reality that anyone looking for a space to store and move goods can benefit from.

What are they and how do they differ from traditional ones?

Containers are a type of large-scale receptacle used to load and transport products by sea and by land. Thanks to their size, they can hold goods of high volume and weight, as well as wholesale products distributed on pallets.

These cargo units are especially useful in international or long-distance trade, since they can concentrate large quantities of goods in a single space.

However, when we talk about a smart container, we mean one that has been equipped with technology. That brings certain extra benefits for those in transport and logistics, mainly in terms of security and preservation.

This innovative development came out of a research project called Container 42, which pursues the creation of sustainable, effective solutions to several problems in the logistics sector. Several global technology giants such as IBM and Intel, among others, have taken an active part in the project, which promises positive results in the years ahead.

The aim of this ingenious development is to collect information and data on the routes and the condition of the goods remotely. Basically, the innovation lies in the ability to monitor the goods at all times.

How do businesses benefit from using smart containers?

Implementing smart containers can bring multiple advantages to large-scale transport companies. Here are some of the benefits this new technology represents:

• Better preservation of perishable products. Some goods, such as food, need to be kept under controlled climate conditions to guarantee their preservation. That includes monitoring factors such as humidity and temperature. With these units, it is possible to adjust the interior environment to what the goods require in order to extend their shelf life. That lets them arrive fresh at their destination, whatever the distance of the trip.
• Access to new markets. Thanks to technology, which allows greater security and conditioning, goods can reach more distant territories, which means an opportunity for companies to expand into previously unexplored markets.
• Data collection. Another benefit of using this type of smart unit is the ability to collect and process data on routes, delivery times and the conditions of the trip. That makes it easier for companies to predict possible problems with the shipment and act accordingly to correct them in time. It will also be easier in the future to anticipate the most suitable route and the equipment required for each type of goods to be moved.
• Process automation. All the benefits mentioned above translate into the possibility of automating processes for companies, which in turn lets them grow and become profitable.

Without a doubt, technology opens up new ways to impact the economy and help companies grow. If you want to get into exporting, you may be interested in learning more about what containers are and the types you can use.

Reefers with remote temperature and GPS monitoring. See our refrigerated containers.