Next-Gen Tracking Technologies for Global Packaging Company

Client overview

A global packaging company asked Strategic Allies Ltd (SAL) to identify and appraise innovative active and passive tracking solutions. Active (requiring a power source and sharing a location) and passive (without a power source) trackers are used extensively within the logistics industry. The technologies provide information such as condition monitoring or real time location etc., and this data can be accessed via a cloud database. The client was interested in technologies which provided a ‘value add’ over the state of the art, with an emphasis towards sustainability, to complement their internal R&D efforts. They were keen to identify technologies suitable for a specific range of use cases which were relevant to multiple operations and functions across the wider business. The technologies of greatest interest were those commercially available now, or nearing commercialisation.

The search

SAL divided the project into two phases, the first investigating active tracking and the second passive tracking. SAL interviewed internal stakeholders within the client’s organisation in R&D, manufacturing and other management members to understand the technical and commercial requirements of these teams. SAL scouted innovative active and passive technologies, capturing information around key pre-agreed criteria in an excel. These were presented at weekly reconnects, where the client selected interesting technologies for a deeper dive which included primary interviews to address outstanding questions. SAL also explored regulatory trends and software providers which complimented the findings. Multiple technology types were identified e.g. RFID, NFC, Wi-Fi sniffing, and were appraised technically (sensing capabilities, accuracy etc.) and commercially (TRL, availability, cost etc.). SAL presented the final findings of both phases to multiple stakeholders in a report detailing priority technologies and SAL’s recommendations of technologies to use for specific use cases. Both phases were completed and delivered in 8 weeks.

“We’ve been impressed by the level of detail and rigour SAL has brought to answer our questions”
Innovation and R&D Director
“A clear and comprehensive project…You’ve produced an exceptional database” Partnerships Manager

Outcome

Over 60 different technologies were profiled across both phases, with 14 selected for deeper dives.
SAL planned and facilitated workshops, to present and discuss technologies and recommendations to multiple stakeholders.
SAL provided recommendations in terms of technologies and potential partners for each identified use case.