Smart Bakery Box: Efficient stock management for the modern food retail bakery station
The Smart Bakery Box from umdasch The Store Makers has recently been added to the product portfolio of modular sales systems for small baked goods. The smart add-on is particularly beneficial for retailers, who benefit from optimised processes and automated workflows.
The situation probably brings back immediate memories: Upon entering a grocery store, with customers eagerly wandering the aisles, the tantalising smell of fresh bread and pastries immediately creates a familiar atmosphere, just like the small bakery around the corner. But that good feeling can quickly evaporate if customers can't find their favourite products. After all, when it comes to bakery products, freshness and availability are the two key factors that can make or break a purchase.
The right amount of bakery products in the right place at the right time and in optimal freshness - this is the motto with which umdasch The Store Makers developed the Smart Bakery Box. Combined with the Shop-IQ Process module, the umdasch Smart Bakery Box enables efficient and automated management and control of production processes and workflows. Ultimately, the smart solution ensures that the required quantity of baked goods is available on the shelf at the right time.
Automated workflows with no manual intervention
For sales staff, the Smart Bakery Box offers a number of benefits. One of the most important is efficient stock management. The integrated weighing sensors per presentation tray allow for continuous stock monitoring in real time. For this purpose, the Shop-IQ process module can be used to link cash registers and merchandise management systems, providing full control of sales and stock levels. This also minimises the loss of potential sales due to out-of-stocks.
As soon as the Smart Bakery Box falls below a defined minimum stock level, an automatic process can be triggered for replenishment according to time and demand. Bakery equipment, such as ovens and proofers, can be controlled without manual intervention and used more efficiently. A dashboard shows the current status across all stores, monitors upstream and downstream processes, reports minimum quantities and keeps an eye on product freshness by location.
Weather data or statistics from other sales days can also be incorporated into the system. In this way, more accurate forecasts can be made about demand on individual days. As a result, overproduction and bottlenecks can be avoided and quality and freshness standards can be maintained. The optimised process and the automatic control of the equipment also efficiently reduce energy consumption.
"With the intelligent expansion of the Bakery Box product portfolio, we not only want to offer consumers a sustainable shopping experience, but also support sales staff in their daily work," explains Nina Christandl, Product Manager umdasch Multistore Solutions. "Efficient stock management, needs-based sales support and optimised work organisation are just some of the benefits retailers will experience with the Smart Bakery Box. We are proud to have created a solution that sustainably increases the efficiency and success of our customers and at the same time supports the working environment in the stores".
