New initiative is launching in partnership with iFoodDS and Trustwell to incorporate Wiliot’s ambient Internet of Things (IoT) data into their software solutions that will enable both companies to add real-time, fully automated, item-level traceability data to their platforms.

Underscoring its commitment to set a new benchmark for food safety, Wiliot, the ambient Internet of Things (IoT) pioneer, today announced a major new food safety initiative that works to create completely transparent and traceable supply chains – soon required for FSMA 204 compliance – through the adoption of ambient IoT technology.

Ambient IoT is a battery-free wireless technology that is being incorporated in multiple wireless standards, such as Bluetooth, 5G Advanced, 6G, and Wi-Fi – allowing food products to be connected to the internet and the power of AI at a fraction of the cost of legacy technologies.

The ambient IoT enables a new real-time inventory paradigm that not only benefits food safety and FSMA compliance, but is the key to more efficient store operations, surviving and thriving in the face of omni-channel competition, and competing on quality as well as value.

As part of this new initiative, Wiliot is partnering with food industry leaders iFoodDS and Trustwell to incorporate its ambient IoT data and technology into both companies’ safety and compliance platforms.

“Empowered by the unprecedented capabilities of the ambient IoT, the entire food industry can move beyond QR codes, advance shipping notices, and electronic documentation to a new traceability paradigm that is infinitely faster, entirely real-time, and drastically reduces the cost of manual labor and technology infrastructure,” said Wiliot CMO Steve Statler. “We look forward to working with iFoodDS and Trustwell to help some of the country’s largest food companies both meet FSMA 204 requirements, while simultaneously adding more value in terms of sustainability, freshness, and operational efficiency that advances the entire food industry.”

Trustwell’s software and consulting solutions are focused on their mission to increase transparency across the supply chain, giving food companies the tools they need to remain always ahead of industry regulations. As innovators and leaders, Trustwell brings together two products, FoodLogiQ and Genesis, to go beyond compliance and set a new standard for safety, transparency, and quality in the food industry.

“The incorporation of Wiliot’s ambient IoT data into our Trustwell Connect Platform will empower brands to have visibility across the supply chain with a trusted single source of truth, fully traceable, compliant and data-driven,” said Julie McGill, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy and Insights at Trustwell. “More than 2,500 brands around the world rely on Trustwell to manage their regulatory requirements with more than 200 million Critical Tracking Events recorded using our FoodLogiQ Traceability software. The incorporation of Wiliot’s ambient IoT data into our tech solution is going to enable us to take food safety to a new level of traceability with precise execution.”

iFoodDS helps food companies deliver traceable, wholesome, high-quality products to consumers. iFoodDS’ connected traceability, quality, and food safety solutions give companies visibility and insight into their supply chains, reduce food waste, and optimize inventory quality.

“FDA’s Final Traceability Rule, FSMA 204, provides an important framework for the food industry,” Andrew Kennedy, Principal Traceability Advisor, iFoodDS, said today. “The food industry can leverage this framework in conjunction with Wiliot’s Ambient IoT technology and iFoodDS software to significantly enhance food safety, food freshness, and operational efficiency. This game changing technology will help usher in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety.”

Modernizing food safety is critical to the health and wellbeing of people everywhere. The CDC estimates that each year, roughly one in six Americans get sick from foodborne illness. Of those people, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 lose their lives to foodborne disease.

The FDA took decisive action in November 2022, when it finalized its FSMA Rule 204 rule that established a foundation for end-to-end food traceability by focusing on tracking certain foods at each step across the supply chain and expanding beyond ‘one-up, one-back’ traceability. The goal of Rule 204 is to create visibility within the supply chain to enable a better response to foodborne illnesses, contamination, and other public health and safety issues. The food industry has until January 2026 to comply with Rule 204.

“This goal of better protecting consumers cannot be achieved without creating greater transparency and traceability throughout the entire chain of food production distribution system,” said Frank Yiannas, former Deputy Commissioner of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and one of the authors of FSMA Rule 204, who also serves as a Strategic Advisor to Williot.

“Wiliot, iFoodDS, and Trustwell are uniquely equipped to make this transparency a reality faster and more efficiently thanks to their collective embrace of a new technology paradigm unlike anything we’ve seen before.”

Wiliot’s battery-free ambient IoT Pixels can attach to any food product or packaging to connect it to the internet and embed it with intelligence. Once attached, products push out item or case-level information about their location, temperature, carbon footprint, and more – equipping food retailers and companies with the high-definition real-time data that is now required as part of FSMA Rule 204.

Wiliot is already working with iFoodDS and Trustwell on a series of FSMA 204 compliance pilot projects with some of the country’s largest food companies. The depth and breadth of these collaborations will continue to scale throughout 2024, ahead of the January 2026 FSMA compliance deadline.

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IoT Business News: Can you explain how the transition from ‘scan it’ to ‘sense it’ technologies will impact global retailers and supply chains? How will these changes impact end-users/ consumers?

Steve Statler: For global retailers and their employees, the transition from ‘scan it’ to ‘sense it’ will save precious resources. The traditional ‘scanning’ method retailers have used is implementing handheld scanners. This takes up employee time, a scarce resource that could be better spent elsewhere. Additionally, manual scanning is inherently inaccurate given its reliance on workers – if workers are not performing perfectly, which is typically the case in the real world, these results break down – and upon fixed infrastructure, which limits information to one moment or location. By using ambient IoT, radios don’t require expensive people or expensive readers. Ambient sensors are already pervasive and visibility is comprehensive across a number of buildings and delivery vehicles, meaning it has a low barrier of entry for global retailers.

What role will the ambient IoT play in this transition?

For the transition to a ‘sense it’ culture, the ambient IoT is essential. The technology builds on the learnings and automations used in 1st generation UHF RFID, adding cloud intelligence and utilizing commodity radios that are already pervasive. The pervasive nature of the UHF RFID, in combination with the ever emerging standards, will allow for a smooth transition.

How can businesses successfully transition their business from manual inventory scanning to sensor technology?

For businesses to successfully transition their business, it will require adoption of battery free Bluetooth tags, readers, and cloud applications that are designed and built for a serialized, digital product passport. A benefit of the transition is that there is hardly any transition labor for employees, as they do not need to be retrained for scanning.

How does ambient IoT improve upon traditional methods of supply chain management?

Ambient IoT improves upon traditional methods of supply chain management in a number of ways. The technology enables a transition to real-time visibility that is end to end across all spaces, including items in transit. This alone is an improvement given that traditional ‘scanning’ methods of supply chain management lack the opportunity to provide real time information. Ambient IoT allows for much higher accuracy. Simultaneously, ambient IoT allows for sensing of additional conditions, such as humidity levels.

What are the larger implications for business owners when implementing ambient IoT?

For business owners, improvements in visibility from ambient IoT allow for optimized business models. The technology allows for lower labor costs, given the lack of employees scanning and less capital tied up in inventory. Additionally, the technology allows for better intelligence and insights, meaning less out-of-stocks, better service levels, and higher sales. Finally, the product can allow for smaller store footprints, as it limits the necessity to order high stock of items.

In addition to these labor and inventory benefits, businesses that have already implemented the technology can capitalize upon the opportunity to transition to product as a service as well. Finally, for all companies, the tech allows for a better ability to comply with upcoming regulations that require visibility across supply chains for customers.

Are there any other use cases for ambient IoT within supply chain management?

As we transition from supply chains to demand chains, the ambient IoT will show, in real time, demand signals from stores or even homes. As sustainability becomes top of mind for many companies, the tech allows for circular product usage, meaning businesses can reuse and resell products in the aftermarket. With better tracking and a source of authentication and provenance for resellers, resellers can sell second hand products for higher costs with proof of validity, and producers can participate in the revenue from resale.

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