Making tracking easy for consumers
FrieslandCampina’s infant nutrition brand FRISO launched an app FRISO TrackEasy, a smart packaging innovation in which consumers can scan FRISO products using their phone and experience the grass-to-glass journey of the exact product in hand. They can check authenticity, learn more about the product and its source.
First launched in Hong Kong in 2019, the app is now being rolled out across the rest of the world. In China, TrackEasy is integrated with the WeChat platform, allowing consumers to scan directly within the app. A unique QR Code is printed on the bottom of the can for tracking and traceability purposes.
The project involves the application of unique, secure, and traceable identities to every product. By tracking the products from farmer to consumer, the solution helps to mitigate concerns regarding fraudulent products in-market and enable Friso to directly engage consumers.
In the first phase of the project, Rockwell Automation and Kezzler serialized the complete annual production of formula intended for China. The two organizations formalized a partnership last July to help manufacturers capture the journey of their products from raw material sources to point-of-sale or beyond using cloud-based supply chain solutions focusing on product traceability.
One unique QR Code on the bottom of the can is used for tracking and tracing through the supply chain. FrieslandCampina can trace a unit all the way from manufacturing to the end consumer. Stakeholders throughout the supply chain are able to validate the product in real time and access the relevant information by scanning the external code, delivering end-to-end traceability.
Manufacturing
Unique IDs, generated by Kezzler’s encryption-based serialization technology, are printed, paired, and activated on the FrieslandCampina production line. Upstream information related to the milk (farm and milking date) is associated with the cans to give the user full traceability from grass to glass. The solution also registers product and manufacturing data like GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), manufacturing date and expiry date. Furthermore, the packaging hierarchies, unit box-pallet, are built and registered at the end of the manufacturing line.
Warehouses and distribution
Before shipment, quality approval information and the government clearance certificate for export are registered. Top level packaging hierarchies (pallet–container) are registered, and also relevant shipping information.
The aggregation allows for explicit hierarchy details to be visible from can through to box, pallet, and container level. The movement of the products from distributors to retailers is tracked all the way out to the intended retail store. Every supply chain tracking event is shared using the EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services) standard.
Multi-tier aggregation
The solution enables a multi-tier aggregation process, which in the case of the FrieslandCampina project consisted of three levels: lid to can, can to box, and box to pallet. Each respective level is serialized using Kezzler codes and any subsequent rework or reaggregation throughout distribution is tracked, with every supply chain tracking event shared using the EPCIS standard.
With TrackEasy, parents are able to find out when their tin of FRISO product is produced, from when the milk is collected from farms to the quality assurance checks. Such details are made possible through full chain control, where FRISO owns all steps from the cows in Dutch farms to the final product.
This article was adapted from a case study published by Kezzler, a Rockwell Automation Digital Partner.
