The Benefits of Remote Temperature Monitoring Systems

Remote temperature monitoring systems made headlines last year during the COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. The Pfizer vaccine requires a cold storage temperature of -70C, while the Moderna vaccine must be stored at -20C.

Understandably, there were many logistical concerns to work out when manufacturing, shipping, and storing these vaccines.

Meanwhile, in the restaurant industry, 85% of food safety issues result from improper temperatures. Despite this, less than 5% of restaurants use any type of continuous temperature monitoring system.

These are just two examples of why temperature monitoring systems play a crucial role in our society. From laboratory temperature monitoring to food safety compliance concerns, many industries rely on round-the-clock temperature control.

Which types of businesses could benefit from this technology? What are the practical benefits of temperature monitoring systems? Most importantly, where can you find the best products for your company’s needs?

We’ll dive into these topics and more, so keep reading below.

Industries That Benefit From Temperature Monitoring Systems

First of all, who needs to consider using a wireless temperature monitoring system? Let’s look at five industries and settings with very specific product temperature requirements.

1. Laboratory & Pharmacy Temperature Monitoring

COVID-19 vaccines aren’t the only temperature-sensitive items created in labs. For a laboratory, testing site, or biopharma facility to be safe and compliant, temperature control is vital 24/7.

Why is this so important? Temperature plays a critical role in the integrity and chemical composition of biological matter and volatile substances.

At best, the wrong temperature can render an experiment or a product useless. At worst, the resulting product can become harmful to human health — or even fatal. There’s also the wastage factor to consider, with WHO estimating that 50% of all vaccines produced eventually become unusable.

To ensure regulatory compliance and safe conditions, a remote laboratory temperature monitoring system is a must. It ensures that all samples and products remain at the proper temperature, leading to trustworthy results.

2. Inventory & Warehouse Management

Many products are sensitive not only to temperature but also humidity. A storage climate that’s too hot or cold (or too dry or humid) can lead to huge losses for your company.

If you sell such products, you likely already store them in a temperature-controlled warehouse facility. But here’s something to think about: What happens if something goes wrong? What if there’s a power outage or an unexpected fluctuation in temperature or humidity levels?

Without constant temperature monitoring, you wouldn’t know anything was wrong — until it’s too late. 

Again, a wireless temperature monitoring system comes to the rescue. Wherever you store your products — a warehouse, an industrial freezer, a heated facility — you’ll receive real-time notifications if anything changes. This gives you the power to track what’s happening at the warehouse and make any needed adjustments with just a few clicks.

3. Manufacturing Equipment

If you’re involved in manufacturing, you know that your equipment is the lifeblood of your business. An unexpected malfunction or breakdown can bottleneck your entire operation and leave you far behind schedule.

Equipment problems arise from many causes, but overheating is a common culprit. A sudden or sustained rise in temperature can turn normal wear and tear into a costly manufacturing disaster.

Luckily, you can prevent this problem from happening in the first place. Temperature monitoring systems will alert you to any unexpected changes that could signal a performance problem. That way, you can take a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach after something breaks down.

Bonus: This is also a great way to reduce equipment downtime, further boosting your output and profits.

4. Food Safety Compliance (Restaurant & Retail)

The CDC estimates that there are over 47 million cases of food poisoning every year in the US. With numbers like that, it’s no wonder there’s such a huge emphasis on food safety in both restaurant and retail settings.

It’s challenging enough to develop and maintain consistently safe food products for small, independent businesses. If you’re a major franchise or food supplier with outlets across the nation (or the world), the logistics can be mind-boggling.

How can you move your food products from Point A to Point B while maintaining the perfect temperature? How can you ensure your refrigerators, freezers, and heating equipment are functioning properly at all times?

Once again, a temperature monitoring system is an invaluable ally. It will alert you if your products need attention at any stage during the preparation, storage, or transportation processes.

5. Temperature-Sensitive Goods in Transit

Perhaps more than at any other time, products are most venerable during the shipping process. Even with the use of specialized containers and short-term storage facilities, there’s still a lot of room for error.

It’s not always possible to predict changing environmental conditions. A snowstorm, a heatwave, and other severe weather conditions can wreak havoc on the supply chain. If your products get held up during shipping and they get too hot or too cold, you could face a huge loss.

Fortunately, most shipping companies now use temperature sensors to maintain a suitable environment for their goods. Remote temperature monitoring means that someone can track changes (and make adjustments) while a truck, ship, or plane is en route. For the cold supply chain especially, this technology ensures product quality from beginning to end.

The Benefits of Remote Temperature Monitoring Systems

As you can see, remote temperature monitoring is an asset in many different settings. But aside from the obvious, what other benefits does a wireless temperature monitoring system offer?

Let’s consider some of the top benefits you may not have thought of yet.

1. More Than Just Temperature Control

Yes, maintaining the correct temperature is crucial for many products. But if you receive an alert about a temperature change with no other information, how can you address the issue from your remote location?

This is why the best remote monitoring systems go beyond a basic temperature reading. They also provide vital details such as:

• Humidity levels
• CO₂ levels
• Open/closed doors
• Ambient light
• Power outages
• Pressure differentials
• Flooding or water leaks

As you can imagine, these details make all the difference in maintaining optimal conditions. No matter where you are, you can monitor your freezers, refrigerators, warmers, cryogenic equipment — the list goes on and on.

2. Reduces Human Error

No matter how well-trained your staff may be, mistakes happen.

A restaurant cook can leave the walk-in refrigerator door ajar on a busy night. A truck driver can record the wrong temperature during transit, or fail to check it as often as they should. 

And here’s a shocking fact to make you sit up and take note: 33% of hospitals get slapped with noncompliance for mishandling medications. Most of these violations revolve around improper storage and security, which is alarming considering their importance.

True, temperature monitoring systems can’t completely eliminate the chance of human error. However, by knowing what’s happening with your products 24/7, you’re in a much better position to stop these costly (or even deadly) mistakes.

If someone leaves the walk-in door ajar at your restaurant, you’ll be notified instantly. Rather than placing the burden of temperature checks on drivers, remote sensors provide real-time data while your goods are in transit. And in the setting of a hospital or pharmacy, you can rest assured that medications, vaccines, and biological samples are stored at the proper temperature.

3. Fewer Compliance Issues

FDA. USDA. HACCP. AABB. NIST. CAP. VFC.

Besides the potential to give you a headache, what do all these acronyms have in common? They’re the regulatory powers-that-be that require companies like yours to meet certain standards.

Failure to comply can — at best — result in fines and penalties. For serious violations, you risk having your entire business shut down.

Temperature monitoring systems help you to meet the stringent requirements set out by these agencies. They allow you to track your products through every phase of the manufacturing, shipping, and storage process. Best of all, they provide detailed, error-free reports about the temperature and other conditions surrounding your goods.

No matter where your products are in the supply chain, you can prove that you’re in full compliance from beginning to end.

4. Detailed Reports & Analytics

Gone are the days of manually monitoring temperatures and jotting down numbers on a piece of paper. Remote monitoring sensors provide all the information you need at the touch of a button. They’re accessible from anywhere, even if you’re on the other side of the country (or the planet).

This data is invaluable to your company’s success. As mentioned above, you can provide it to the organizations that regulate your industry to show compliance.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For example, 12% of global food waste occurs before the products reach their destination. The main culprit? You guessed it: Fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels.

Detailed analytics allow you to pinpoint and correct any problems during the shipping or delivery process. You can then use this data to improve the reliability of your storage facilities and transportation options.

5. Improved Problem-Solving Abilities

Imagine you’re shipping items and you’re using a remote in-transit system to monitor them throughout the process. You receive a real-time alert that the temperature is higher than it should be.

What happens next? 

One option could be to reroute your shipment to the nearest cold storage facility that can accept the volume of products. If available, you could also transfer the products onto a different vehicle or container.

Another option could be to alert the driver and have them segregate any products affected by the temperature change. This would prevent damage or spoilage from spreading to adjacent items.

The point is: When you know exactly what’s happening, you’re better equipped to come up with a fast, effective solution. This will significantly cut down on product waste and compliance issues.

6. Save Time & Money

Think of how much time and energy gets wasted on manual temperature checks. A remote monitoring system allows employees to focus on tasks that are more urgent and less redundant.

You can also set up instant notifications for your computer, tablet, or smartphone. There’s no need to be at the office sifting through paperwork or waiting for a phone call to come in. You can see exactly what’s happening in real-time and make adjustments as needed, rather than letting temperature monitoring control your day.

What about the cost? A remote temperature monitoring system will pay for itself by eliminating product waste and loss. When you consider it from that angle, it’s an incredible investment.

7. Transparency & Accessibility

Problems arise due to a lack of communication in the supply chain. A remote monitoring system eliminates this concern by providing real-time data to everyone involved.

Let’s say you’re shipping products from your biopharma facility in California to a customer in New York. The driver is somewhere in Oklahoma, halfway through the transportation process. Meanwhile, you’re attending a business meeting in Hong Kong.

All of you can log in and track the exact conditions surrounding your products, no matter the time zone or your physical location. This level of transparency and accessibility means you can correct any issues immediately — before they become costly mistakes.

Trust Your Temperature Monitoring Needs to SensoScientific

By now, the benefits of remote temperature monitoring systems are clear. They ensure safety and compliance in a wide variety of settings, from kitchens and laboratories to warehouses and transport vehicles.

If your industry relies on temperature-sensitive products, don’t leave it to chance. There’s too much room for human error, equipment malfunction, and other unforeseen events. Your best bet is to invest in a wireless temperature monitoring system from SensoScientific.

Since 2005, we’ve proudly offered the most advanced and practical monitoring systems on the market. Our products are designed to meet or exceed all required regulations. Best of all, they give you peace of mind knowing you have one less thing to worry about.

Are you ready to learn more about our temperature monitoring systems and how they can benefit your business? Click here to get in touch or give our sales team a call at 1-800-279-3101.