LoRaWAN and Cold Supply Chain

Common wireless technologies that provide the connectivity for these wireless sensors struggle to perform in harsh cold supply chain environments, where insulated metal walls and other factors can negatively impact technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Because of this, LoRaWAN technology has emerged as a key wireless technology for these cold supply chain applications

In ordinary times, cold supply chain wouldn’t be a dinner table conversation. That’s even true in my house, despite it being a focus of my job for the past few years. Cold storage monitoring just isn’t the kind of topic that fits neatly in between asking someone how their day was and offering to pass the mashed potatoes.

But that was then. Now is a very different story. Today, cold supply chain is a household topic in a way that no one would have predicted a year ago. Seemingly everyone has an awareness of the critical role that temperature-controlled storage and distribution is playing in the rollout of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. It will continue to be a household topic because cold supply chain will also be important for distribution of other COVID-19 vaccines that are in the development and approvals process – all of which must all be kept within precise temperature ranges. This cold supply chain infrastructure will also continue to be important for delivering booster shots to maintain the levels of antibodies in vaccinated people. Specialized refrigerated containers, refrigerated vehicles, and ultra-cold storage warehouses are the foundation for the last mile delivery channels that enable shots to be administered in clinics, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and other locations for as long as the virus remains a threat.

Cold supply chain deserves all the attention not just because of its critical role in distributing vaccines, but because modern life wouldn’t be possible without it. So many of the foods we eat and products we use must be distributed in temperature controlled environments that ensure their safety and quality. As an example, salads would only be seasonal if not for the sophisticated cold supply chain that delivers those vegetables year-round. Many kids would be perfectly happy if salads were only seasonal, but they are stuck with vegetables being available 365 days a year. Then again, chicken nuggets wouldn’t be a thing without cold supply chain either, so thank goodness for those refrigerated warehouses and trucks.

This white paper from Laird really dives deep into how LoRaWAN influences and impacts cold supply chain.