Leveraging technology for real-time updates and asset utilization: Venkat Venepally, Mondelez India

To ensure the quality of its products, Mondelez India, maker of Cadbury Dairy Milk, BournVita and Oreo, leverages technology to get real-time updates on its transportation and distribution network.

The company, which installed IoT devices in trucks transporting its products, launched a pilot project before the coronavirus and is now using the technology across its network in the country.

Temperature monitoring

IoT devices are built into the truck monitor and track movement via GPS and other networks. The devices can also monitor the temperature inside the vehicle.

“Cold transport is rare and cost-driven. To ensure that the products are transported in a closed truck with a controlled temperature, we have started using IoTs. We can ensure that the product is kept at the correct temperature in the trucks. To save costs, people may take shortcuts; With this technology we have avoided these shortcuts. We are notified immediately if a truck fizzles out or the VC cooler shuts down. We started adapting the technology before Corona and COVID made it necessary as we were able to track stalled trucks. Today, there is 100 percent traceability across our entire cold chain,” said Venkat Venepally, Vice President – ​​Supply Chain, Mondelez India business line.

Distribution center

In addition to tracking shipments, the company is also able to monitor its distribution center live, strengthening the supply chain.

“We use technology to maximize asset utilization. We can identify a truck’s turnaround time if the truck is waiting in a distribution center for an extended period of time to be unloaded, or if the truck is not traveling at desired hours, and how we can maximize truck utilization. We are also able to leverage technology to reduce costs and enable consumers to enjoy our products at a cheaper price,” said Venkat Venepally

The company was able to reduce technology costs by 30 percent after the pilot phase: “It was more expensive during the pilot phase, but we jumped on it because we wanted to try out the technology.” We scaled it up and found that scaling helps to optimally use the technology to use. Second, every technology becomes more economical over time. After implementation and continuous evolution of costs, the return on investment gets better and better,” Venepally added.