Smart logistics solutions: Increasing need for fresh logistics due to urbanization and the challenge of refrigerated logistics

🏙️ City growth and urbanization 🌍

In today's world, rapid change is taking place, which can be observed particularly in relation to the expansion of urban areas. Urbanization is increasing globally, driven by millions of people leaving rural areas every year to start a new life in cities. This change presents governments, private companies and city administrations with enormous challenges. Coping with the associated growing needs for infrastructure and goods is becoming a central task.

Suitable for:

• Urbanization Stories from Xpert

🤖 Smart Cities and Technology 🌐

One answer to this challenge lies in the idea of ​​Smart Cities (e.g. also with Smart Columbarium ), which is only possible through advancing digitalization, automation and networking. These smart cities rely on innovation to improve quality of life and use resources more efficiently. Using state-of-the-art technologies such as the City Metaverse , smart logistics systems , building-integrated photovoltaics and intelligent power grids ( smart grids ), the foundation for future urban development is being laid.

🌏 Urbanization in Asia and Japan 🇯🇵

The trends and driving forces behind these smart cities can be observed in many places, but it is developments in Asia and Japan in particular that could serve as a model for the future. Japan, which has been experiencing a continuous urbanization process for decades, uses the example of its megacity Tokyo to show how a high quality of life is possible even in an area with over 38 million people. Urban planning and infrastructure development in Japan are considered to be groundbreaking in global comparison.

Suitable for:

• Smart Cities – The solution for mega-urbanization?

🥶 Fresh logistics and cold chains in Japan 🚚

A crucial aspect here is fresh logistics, an area of ​​logistics that deals with the cold chain of perishable goods. Innovative concepts are needed to transport food and medical devices safely and quickly. Japanese cities, particularly Tokyo, have been pioneers in this regard by establishing sophisticated refrigerated logistics systems that serve as examples of efficient urban supply concepts. One company that is setting new standards in this area is Nikko Sangyo Transport – more on this below. Their approaches to cold logistics are characterized by a high level of automation, which guarantees both efficiency and quality of the goods transported.

Suitable for:

• Cold Chain Logistics (fresh logistics/refrigerated logistics)

☀️ Sustainable construction and energy production 🏡

Other important concepts that contribute to successful urbanization are sustainable buildings with integrated solar systems that allow energy to be generated where it is needed. In addition, intelligent energy networks – smart grids – enable energy distribution to be optimized and resources to be used more efficiently. These grids allow supply and demand to be balanced in real time, thereby reducing waste and increasing reliability.

🚛 Smart Logistics and Mobility 🌱

In the area of ​​mobility, smart logistics concepts are used that optimize the transport of goods and people while minimizing the CO2 footprint. By connecting different modes of transport and using big data analytics, traffic jams can be avoided and transport times can be shortened.

🌐 The Metaverse and City Building 🏙️

Another technology trend in future-oriented urban spaces is the so-called Metaverse - a virtual reality that enables a new dimension of interaction and service offerings. In urban development, the Metaverse offers the opportunity to simulate planning processes, promote citizen participation and make urban development visions tangible.

🔄 Smart cities as transformative change 🌟

Smart cities are therefore not just a concept of modern urban development; they represent a fundamental transformation of urban life. By using smart technologies and driving innovation, they can lead to a more sustainable, efficient and livable environment. For governments, urban planners and private actors, this means constantly dealing with the latest technological developments and using them for the common good. This is the only way to meet the challenge of constantly growing urbanization and lay the foundation for a sustainable, resilient urban culture.

📣 Similar topics

• 🌆 The wave of urbanization: challenges and opportunities
• 🤖 Smart Cities: Innovation as the key to the future
• 🚀 Japan as a role model: High quality of life in megacities
• ❄️ Revolution in refrigerated logistics: Japan's fresh logistics systems
• 🌱 Solar energy and sustainability in urban planning
• ⚡ Smart Grids: The intelligent energy solutions for urban centers
• 🚚 Smart Logistics and Mobility: Efficiency on the roads
• 🌐 The Metaverse in an urban context: Virtual worlds plan real cities
• 💡 The transformative power of smart cities
• 👥 New technologies for the common good: discussion and use

#️⃣ Hashtags: #Urbanization #SmartCities #SustainableCityDevelopment #MetaversePlanning #FreshLogistics

Innovative refrigeration logistics from Nikko Sangyo Transport – Image: DAIFUKU

🌱 Hokkaido – fertile ground for a cold logistics innovation

In the advanced world of refrigeration logistics, Nikko Sangyo Transport, a Japanese company based in Ishikari on Japan's northernmost island, Hokkaido, has established itself as a pioneer in end-to-end automation. The region, known for its harsh nature and a stronghold of agricultural products, offers the ideal starting point for a company specializing in the cold chain.

🚛 Cargo transportation: The heart of Nikko Sangyo's business model

Nikko Sangyo Transport manages a multi-layered business model that spans three main areas: freight transportation, delivery services and warehousing. The heart of this model is freight transport. Here the company operates fixed truck routes all year round, which represent an essential link between Hokkaido and the economically vital regions of Kansai and Kanto. Dairy products and a variety of other goods from Hokkaido find their way to their destinations via these routes. In return, Nikko Sangyo supplies imported goods for restaurant chains and wholesalers in Hokkaido.

📦 Distribution business: A vital interface

Its distribution business acts as an essential interface through which the products transported through the freight business are delivered to approximately 4,500 locations throughout Hokkaido. This not only creates efficiency in distribution, but also ensures freshness and quality of food upon arrival.

🏠 Warehousing: State-of-the-art distribution centers

The excellence in warehousing is manifested by two advanced distribution centers, where Nikko Sangyo takes on the defrosting and packaging of goods in addition to traditional storage tasks. A significant achievement of the company is the Ishikari No. 2 distribution center, which became operational in 2020. With three different temperature zones - frozen, chilled and room temperature - and an immense area of ​​over 36,000 square meters, it represents a modern hub for the storage and processing of products from around 30 contractual partners.

🤖💡 Automation in goods handling

The cost efficiency and operational efficiency that the company has achieved by handling different types of business allows Nikko Sangyo to ensure stable work volumes throughout the year. These factors are not only important from a business perspective, but also contribute to regional economic performance by ensuring a constant and reliable supply chain.

❄️🔧 Implementation of automated systems

A key step in the evolution of Nikko Sangyo's operations was the implementation of automated storage and order picking systems (AS/RS), which fully automated warehouse operations in the refrigeration facilities. These systems work in an environment of 0°C, which is significantly more pleasant than the usual -25°C in freezer storage. This not only increases employee safety and job satisfaction, but also reduces the risk of human errors and increases the company's overall productivity.

🛑🏗 Earthquake-proof measures

Nikko Sangyo has also invested in earthquake-proof measures. Company management designed the layout of its AS/RS to provide optimized protection in the event of an earthquake.

👨‍💼🌟 CEO Proud of innovative progress – sustainable success through automation

Kimio Asai, CEO of Nikko Sangyo Transport, speaks with pride of the company's efforts to continuously improve living and working conditions through innovative technologies. The vision is to automate all operations in the cooling departments in order to increase employee satisfaction and contribute to the sustainable success of the company through stable productivity. This ongoing optimization not only illustrates Nikko Sangyo's claim to be a leader in refrigeration logistics, but also its desire to create added value for the community as an employer.

“We want to further improve work environments across the company by automating all operations in our refrigeration departments. “We also strive to eliminate human error as much as possible and increase productivity, which will lead to the happiness of the company and its employees.” Kimio Asai, CEO of Nikko Sangyo Transport

🌐🌿 Pioneering work in a sustainable industry

In an industry necessarily driven by high standards of food safety and sustainability, Nikko Sangyo Transport shows how it continues to set the standard for efficiency, safety and environmental sustainability with intelligent, automated systems. This company's achievements underscore how innovation and careful planning contribute to food security - an aspect of logistics that is often taken for granted but is essential to modern societies.

📣 Similar topics

• 🚚 Automation in refrigeration logistics: A look at Nikko Sangyo
• 🏢 Innovative warehousing: Nikko Sangyo's automated distribution centers
• 🥛 From Hokkaido to the world: Dairy products on the routes of Nikko Sangyo
• 🌡️ Efficiency in three temperature zones: Nikko Sangyo's modern distribution center
• 🔗 Stable supply chains thanks to Nikko Sangyo Transport
• 🤖 Increasing occupational safety through automation at Nikko Sangyo
• 🏠 Contribution to the community: Nikko Sangyo's vision for better working conditions
• 👨‍💼 Humanization through automation at Nikko Sangyo
• 🍣 Freshness and Quality: Nikko Sangyo's food distribution chain
• 🛑 Earthquake-proof operations: Investing in safety at Nikko Sangyo

#️⃣ Hashtags: #NikkoSangyoTransport #Cold Logistics #Automation #Food Safety #Sustainability

Automation in refrigeration logistics: A look at Nikko Sangyo – Image: DAIFUKU

📈 The development at Nikko Sangyo Transport

Efficiency and flexibility in order processing and warehouse management are crucial factors for the success of logistics companies. The industry is faced with the challenge of meeting rapidly changing market requirements while maintaining profitability. With this in mind, Nikko Sangyo Transport, a pioneer in the logistics industry, has made a name for itself by implementing groundbreaking strategies and technologies.

Two decades ago, the company began using innovative systems that allowed customers to track the position of their transport vehicles in real time. This advanced method opened a new dimension of transparency in the logistics industry. Equally important was monitoring the temperature in the warehouses, a crucial aspect for maintaining the quality of temperature-sensitive goods such as food or pharmaceutical products.

💡 Innovative storage solutions and projection mapping

More recently, Nikko Sangyo Transport has taken another step towards innovative storage solutions by introducing a system using projection mapping technology. This system revolutionizes product identification and sorting by projecting information onto surfaces in the storage area, making it easier to correctly assign goods to individual orders. The flexibility of the system is reflected in the ability to easily adapt the layout of the warehouse depending on the type of business and current needs. This turns the sorting area into a multifunctional, dynamically adaptable workplace.

Another significant improvement is the introduction of barcodes attached to pallets and carts. These barcodes are linked to the incoming or stored products and make it easier to accurately track and locate the goods in the warehouse. This method of inventory control ensures that every item movement can be documented and monitored. This is particularly important for items that are subject to strict expiration date controls or need to be turned over quickly.

Efficiency in logistics: How Nikko Sangyo Transport is paving the way – Image: DAIFUKU

📊📦 The concept of “needs-based inventory counting”

The concept of “demand-oriented inventory counting” is an extension of barcode-based warehouse management. This system enables regular, demand-based inventory counts during picking. It not only speeds up inventory checking, but also minimizes sources of error because deviations can be identified and corrected immediately. Such increased inventory accuracy contributes significantly to reducing out-of-stock quantities and at the same time optimizes the ordering process, as it is known exactly which items are in stock and in what quantities.

🌟 Benefits and customer satisfaction

The benefits of these sophisticated warehousing and inventory management strategies are many. They lead to increased customer satisfaction by ensuring delivery accuracy and reliability. Additionally, they help reduce waste by avoiding overstocking and moving products well before their expiration date. Improved warehouse organization and management also helps to use labor more efficiently and thus reduce operating costs.

💡 Digital innovation and market adaptation

Nikko Sangyo Transport's commitment to implementing innovative solutions in order preparation and inventory management shows how digitalization and the use of smart technologies not only improve existing processes, but also enable new business models and services within the logistics industry. This example shows that continuous adaptation to technological advances and understanding market requirements are central to future developments and long-term success in the logistics industry.

With such a forward-thinking, technology-enabled strategy, Nikko Sangyo Transport positions itself at the forefront of an industry driven by innovation and sets a benchmark for other companies seeking to remain competitive in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

📣 Similar topics

• 🚚 Efficiency in Logistics: How Nikko Sangyo Transport is paving the way
• 🛰️ Revolution in real time: Tracking systems are transforming logistics
• ❄️ Cool calculation: temperature monitoring in the logistics center
• 🎯 Projection mapping: The future of warehousing
• 📦 Barcode Systems: The Evolution of Inventory Tracking
• 🔍 Demand-oriented inventory: Innovation in warehouse management
• 🔖 Barcode-controlled storage strategies and their advantages
• 📈 Inventory accuracy: Key to reducing stockouts
• 🌐 Smart Technologies: Digitalization in the logistics industry
• ⏩ Nikko Sangyo Transport: The vanguard of logistics innovation

#️⃣ Hashtags: #Logisticsinnovation #Digitalization #Warehousemanagement #Inventorycontrol #TechnologydrivenLogistics

In 2027, the data matrix code or QR code will replace the barcode - Image: Xpert.Digital

By 2027, the retail industry is planning a global initiative called “Sunrise 2027” to replace the traditional 12-digit barcode consisting of vertical lines printed on packaging with a two-dimensional version that is web-enabled. The effort is being coordinated by GS1, a nonprofit organization responsible for standardizing barcodes worldwide. In the US, the current Universal Product Code (UPC) barcodes are being replaced by a new 2D type that encodes information both horizontally and vertically. The aim of this measure is to only accept 2D barcodes at checkouts worldwide by 2027.

More about it here:

• A successor to the barcode on product packaging is now in the starting blocks

☑️ Smart City & Factory: Industry expert for energetic 5G buildings and halls as well as advice and installation of solar systems

☑️ Xpert.Plus - logistics consulting and logistics optimization

☑️ Industry expert, here with his own Xpert.Digital Industry Hub with over 2,500 specialist articles

Konrad Wolfenstein

I would be happy to serve as your personal advisor.

You can contact me by filling out the contact form below or simply call me on +49 89 89 674 804 (Munich) .

I'm looking forward to our joint project.

Xpert.Digital is a hub for industry with a focus on digitalization, mechanical engineering, logistics/intralogistics and photovoltaics.

With our 360° business development solution, we support well-known companies from new business to after sales.

Market intelligence, smarketing, marketing automation, content development, PR, mail campaigns, personalized social media and lead nurturing are part of our digital tools.

You can find out more at: www.xpert.digital - www.xpert.solar - www.xpert.plus

Lathe in photorealistic representation (3D product presentation) - Image: Xpert.Digital

XR technology offers a superior solution for creating photorealistic images and allows companies to free themselves from the expensive fees of external media agencies. It is common knowledge that media agencies charge high costs to create such images as it requires expertise, special software and collaboration with various experts.

More about it here:

• The superiority of (Industrial & B2B Business Metaverse) XR technology for photorealistic images