Technology supporting the food packaging and delivery service
Online food delivery services having ecommerce platforms have gained exponential growth and has emerged as an attractive business model, all over the world. According to (Anbumathi et al. 2023), the global revenue of such businesses has reached to $82 billion by 2023. Not only this, services adopting technological advancements have gained more brand loyalty, that has increased their profits, revenues and helped to gain more market share (Anbumathi et al. 2023). Innovation can significantly enhance the supply chain system of a food packaging and delivery service, by introducing unique features. For example: advanced algorithms can be used for route optimization, to delivery in-time and leading to more cost-effective and efficient delivery mechanism (Dave et al. 2022). Similarly, technological tools like: Artificial intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Big Data (BD), Blockchain (BC), Digital Twins (DT), Internet of Things (IoT), and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are introduced in food delivery supply chains, to enhance their capabilities and address food supply-chain challenges related to safety, quality, sustainability and traceability (Abideen et al. 2021).
Many other technologies have been introduced to support food delivery, including: self-driven cars and online payment methods. All these innovations have contributed to the growth of food delivery sector and caused revolution in the sector (Dave et al. 2022). Similarly, online food delivery (FD) services, having many functions, need integrated and monitoring, in order to provide convenience, variety, and delivery for customer. For which, these services can also link with other platforms, to provide smoother and quicker delivery system. Online platforms like: UberEATS, Deliveroo, Swiggy etc. are already providing services for FDs (Li et al. 2020). Moreover, traditional food delivery platforms are reclassified, with technological tools, where algorithm management is used to redesign the organization’s supply-chain platforms (Huang, 2022). Also, for giving better food quality, near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) based communication can be used to reduce quality and contamination issues (Pal, & Kant, 2022).
Exploring of different technologies that can enhance supply chain performance and helps to create economic, social and environmental impact
Due to rapid advancements, food supply chains are also adopting technological support to maintain sustainability. An intelligent food supply chain system can help in addressing challenges like: food security, safety, control, delivery and wastage (Abideen et al. 2021). Application of digitalization, in form of advanced technologies, including IoT, AI, data analytics and blockchain increases the supply chain efficiency, leads to better decision making, improved delivery, and overall productivity. Hence, digitized supply chain can help to create sustainability (Dong et al. 2023).
Food supply chain networks are complexed and interconnected, where IoT based systems can be used to monitor and enhance traceability of the information in the food supply chain, assist customers and manage orders (Yadav et al. 2020). Similarly, research has proved that by combining IoT and block chain technologies, food supply chain (FSC) can become more transparent, productive and efficient, by delivering timely and stable information for all the related stakeholders (Abideen et al. 2021). Not only this, companies need to adopt technology, in order to create economic, social and environmental sustainability and impact. Additionally, technological advancements such as rapid digitization can facilitate in business expansion in the online food-delivery market, and can also improve delivery effectiveness, with the help of using disruptive models. Moreover, innovations in operations management techniques can help to maintain the quality of perishable food items, reducing waste levels, that can help the company to create a positive environmental impact, on the clients and public (Dave et al. 2022).
According to (Chan et al. 2023), to grow and be successful, food-delivery services need to contribute in economic, social and environmental activities, which can improve customer’s perception and increase value for the shareholders. Consequently, companies should use triple bottom line (TBL) framework to analyze if their models and services are fulfilling the three key responsibilities to remain profitable in long-run (Chan et al. 2023). Furthermore, Blockchain (BC) is another emerging technology, that can be used for food traceability and digital tacking of food deliveries. Some big brands have already adopted this technology to expand their business and have also launched payments by crypto tokens, to facilitate customers and increase the efficiency of their supply-chain and payment mechanism (Tayal et al. 2021). Hence this technology helps to improve company’s economic sustainability and create value, by features like: transparency and enhanced visibility of activities that can help to create environmental impact in society (Munir et al. 2022).
Fresh food distribution and delivery requires to maintain freshness, which can be affected by lack of planning, monitoring and uninformed functioning, which can lead to substantial food wastage, spoiling and customer complains (Pal, & Kant, 2022). Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is used to optimize various processes, efficiency and overall quality of food delivery businesses. AI provides an intelligent processing system that can transform the food packaging function, product sorting and order detection and tracking etc. For instance, food businesses can use robotics and drones to automate the packaging processing, which can make the process speedy, error-free and reduce wastage (Taneja et al. 2023). This links food supply-chain functions to creating an environmental impact. Because, AI ensures safe food packaging material and less wastage, which leads to less emission of carbon-dioxide (Xie et al. 2021).
Now, the next section will present a plan of action for “Hygienic and Fastest delivery house”, to overcome these challenges.
