SGS plans to deploy cold chain RFID technology in Africa

SGS, the Swiss inspection, verification, testing and certification services company, is in talks with several African companies to use RFID technology to track cold-chain cargoes carried by trucks and thus prevent theft. Currently, some African agencies and oil companies have already used OMNIS, an RFID solution from SGS, to improve the traceability of oil and gas transportation. The technology helps users manage the location of goods (such as oil and gas) and ensures that the truck remains undamaged as it moves through the supply chain, roads and across borders. The OMNIS system reduces the loss of goods by the Kenya Revenue Agency (KRA) and other agencies. At present, several perishable food suppliers are also planning to use the technology in Africa to detect the location of the truck, confirm the transport temperature of the cargo and whether the container has been tampered with. In the event of tampering, the system can also provide tampering time and place. Starting in 2012. SGS began shipping cargo tracking services in Kenya (using the card readers and software provided by Savi) to automate the data collection during shipment. The technology helps oil companies or African governments track shipments from Kenya, destined for Tanzania and Rwanda. Many of these trucks are easily stolen during transport. When the truck is parked or stopped at a red light, the thief can approach the vehicle, open the valve and steal high value oil or gas from the vehicle and then escape without the driver's detection. Built into OMNIS, Savi's mobile tracking system incorporates SaviSecure electronic seals with integrated active 2.4 GHz RFID transponders that use proprietary air interface protocols. After the seal detects that the attached enclosure is damaged, the seal is transferred to the reader mounted on each vehicle. In this way, Savi electronic seals and readers create a small network on each shipping device. Each vehicle typically has 12 to 16 electronic seals attached to the case housing and valve, along with a card reader to read and manage data, which is then forwarded to the server via the GPRS cellular connector with the GPS location. This allows the software running on the SGS server to track the status of the seal and the location of the vehicle on which it is located. At the same time, managers can view each vehicle on the map, as well as check out their time of stay, route and estimated time of arrival. In addition, Bill Poulsen, senior director of hardware engineering at Savi, said the technology can assist an agency manager or dispatcher in their analysis to better understand traffic and vulnerabilities on a particular route. For example, if the seal is repeatedly stolen at a particular location, the manager can re-route. At the same time, managers can also warn drivers who do not follow directions. Poulsen said: "In this way, management can view the data in real time and make the appropriate decisions." The harsh environment to run is the biggest challenge for such solutions. Extreme weather conditions during transit may cause the electronics to flood and be shocked. In addition, the Savi software collects traffic and weather data for each area and includes this information in the estimated time of arrival estimates. The software can also analyze traffic data and provide dispatchers with advice on the best time to travel on a particular route. Currently, about 1,000 vehicles in Africa are equipped with this technology. For cold chain tracking of other products, Savi sensors can use technologies such as RFID, NFC, and BLE. These sensors will be attached to the tray or carton. Users can install RFID, NFC or BLE receivers outside the container or in the truck cab to capture data from the sensors. When the goods are removed from the pallet, the receiver mounted on the vehicle will no longer receive transmissions from the transponder of the pallet and the goods information in the software will also be updated. If the unloading location GPS information is not the final destination, the software will also issue a warning.