REELING IN EFFICIENCY AND COMPLIANCE

Reeling in efficiency and compliance. With regulations like the Digital Product Passport (DPP) on the horizon, and compliance due in 2028 to the Food Traceability Rule, only item-level identification, such as that offered by 2D barcodes, will efficiently fulfil new traceability requirements. Seafood supply chain expert, BlueTrace, shows how QR codes can streamline operations and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

“In the past, reconciliation took hours. We don’t reconcile inventory anymore, it’s done on the app, and has simplified the process quite a bit.” BlueTrace customer.

BlueTrace is a US-based leader in seafood processing and distribution. It deals with over 500 seafood companies in more than 27 US states. Its warehouses and distribution centres needed a robust auto-identification labelling system that could cope with the chaotic, fast-moving seafood sector as well as withstand the rigours of long hours and harsh conditions. It wanted a solution that could help ensure compliance with stringent industry regulations, all while reducing paperwork and time investment.

BlueTrace was founded in 2018 to help small to mid-sized seafood companies operate more efficiently, become more profitable and comply more easily with regulations. It has developed an inventory management solution in partnership with the US division of TSC Auto ID, whose barcode label printers proved a perfect fit for BlueTrace’s demanding operations.

 The challenges

BlueTrace faced a number of challenges in its seafood processing and distribution operations. It needed to meet industry’s stringent regulatory requirements while also maintaining peak operational efficiency.

• Efficiency: Any solution developed would have to streamline processes, reduce paperwork, and minimise downtime A key element involved implementing a robust auto-identification labelling system that would perform, even in harsh environments, and for long hours.
• Compliance: BlueTrace needed to comply with industry regulations through a robust track-and-trace system for the seafood products it was handling. This system would help ensure food safety and quality control throughout the supply chain.
• Meeting customer demands: BlueTrace works with over 500 seafood companies so its new inventory management systems had to meet the demands of a disparate customer base, which necessitated a versatile and efficient labelling Top of its wish list was a system that could handle high-volume printing, provide real-time inventory communications, and support various labelling needs.

The collaboration

BlueTrace knew it required a comprehensive auto-identification labelling solution to counter the challenges it faced, and chose to partner TSC Auto ID for several compelling reasons: its commitment to quality, innovation and customer service.

TSC’s team of experts worked closely with BlueTrace to implement a labelling solution that met its specific needs. The collaborative approach ensured not only a smooth transition but also provided ongoing support. The end solution included TSC’s high performance barcode label printers, rugged mobile devices and innovative software.

TSC is a global leader in automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) and thermal label printing technologies. The durability, speed, and ease of use of its rugged barcode label printers proved an ideal choice for BlueTrace.

“We were impressed with the ruggedness and reliability of TSC printers. They have significantly improved our labelling process.” BlueTrace representative.

Robust mobile devices also proved highly valuable as they enabled workers to print labels on the go thereby improving efficiency and reducing downtime. They integrate seamlessly with TSC’s barcode label printers, which are built to last as well as withstand the harsh conditions of a seafood warehouse environment. Their durability ensures minimal downtime and a long lifespan, making them a cost-effective solution for BlueTrace.

TSC’s innovative software also helped BlueTrace streamline its operations and ensure compliance with industry regulations. It provided a centralised platform for managing labels, tracking inventory, and generating compliance reports. This streamlined approach improved efficiency and reduced paperwork.

The new inventory management system enables seafood businesses to easily and accurately manage product transformations, ensuring real-time inventory updates and comprehensive traceability throughout the supply chain.

BlueTrace claims the new system puts sales, operations and compliance all in one place, even enabling businesses to comply with upcoming FSMA 204 food safety regulations.

Key benefits of the new seafood processing system

• Simple: designed like consumer-grade software so it’s easy to use; BlueTrace claims if you can use your phone you can use its system.
• Versatility:the system allows users to handle various product transformations and processing activities like shucking, freezing, and grading. Source details, quantities, and essential data like time and temperature can be inputted, ensuring precise tracking of each process.
• Real-time updating: The system automatically updates both source and destination inventory in real-time, as processing events occur, providing accurate views of stock levels and reducing the risk of discrepancies.
• Traceability:Seafood businesses can keep a thorough history of each lot, even through multiple processing stages, which ensures that every product’s journey is fully traceable, enhancing quality control and simplifying audit preparations.
• Storage management:The system enables shellfish entering wet storage to be efficiently logged by location, date, and time in and out. Any necessary certifications and new lot records can be generated and attached on retrieval, thereby helping maintain detailed records that facilitate compliance and transparency.

10-minute trace-back!

One of BlueTrace’s customers, Denarius, does an annual inspection with the State of Massachusetts and claims a Boston health inspector uses the seafood wholesaler as a Gold standard of what to do in an inspection. “It’s honestly the simplest process available in the seafood industry, it takes less than a minute to produce everything.” Because Denarius uses BlueTrace, it was able to do a trace-back on an oyster in about 10 minutes. It claims the health inspector asked for this exact information from another party and it took three days to get!

How QR codes help

2D barcodes are being described as game-changers and none more-so than with BlueTrace’s new system. With the printing of the shellfish tags there’s a QR code which enables products to be scanned in and logged. This technology makes the difference of time, enabling staff to get onto the next task, plus there’s no error.

2D barcodes like QR codes powered by GS1 are becoming increasingly important for the kind of item-level detail that’s required for regulations such as Europe’s DPP. They enable supply chain traceability and transparency, they enhance efficiency, help ensure product quality and safety, help prevent counterfeiting, and are being used increasingly by brands to deliver important information to consumers. When added to packaging, QR codes can not only deliver detailed product messaging and interactive experiences but can also provide recycling instructions and information around sustainability initiatives.

2D barcodes allow for much more data in less space than traditional 1D (UPC/EAN) linear barcodes, a real advantage as packaging becomes smaller and brands have less room to impart key information. TSC’s printers are designed to deliver exceptional performance, even when faced with the most complex symbologies, and the most extreme of environments.

As part of the BlueTrace inventory management system, TSC’s printers offer advanced features that streamline operations and enhance efficiency. These features include:

1. High-speed printing for minimal
2. Mobile device compatibility for on-the-go
3. User-friendly interface for easy adoption by
4. Compliance with industry regulations for shellfish
5. Digital solutions that reduce paperwork and streamline

Initiatives like Sunrise 2027, regulations such as the DPP and Food Traceability Rule are due to come into effect in the next few years and TSC is urging companies to get ahead of the curve and look at the possibilities offered by 2D barcoding technology. TSC would be happy to discuss practicalities and collaborate to find solutions.