Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and the future of their IoT-enabled assets

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is one of the world’s largest independent bottlers of Coca-Cola products, serving more than 600 million consumers across 29 countries. With such a vast reach, it is paramount that CCEP maintains its position of being at the forefront of innovation and technology. Recently, we ran an innovation day with CCEP to unpick their Internet of Things (IoT) strategy, and uncover what’s next for their fleet of 3 million assets (drinks coolers, coffee machines and package-free drinks dispensers). In this blog, we will explore the benefits of having a connected, smart asset network and what the future looks like for CCEP in this space.

What are IoT-Enabled Assets?

IoT-enabled assets refer to the tracking and management of individual network-connected assets via sensors which can capture and report on detailed asset information including how, where and when they are being used — without human intervention. This information can be analysed to uncover new insight into customer behaviour, trends and preferences, but also the optimal way to maintain and manage the fleet itself.

The Benefits of IoT-Enabled Assets

With this rich information, businesses can optimise their product offerings and tailor them to specific locations and demographics, while also streamlining their supply chain operations. For example, if a particular drink is not popular in a certain area, CCEP can replace it with a more popular option and automate the subsequent supply chain activities.

Moreover, IoT-enabled assets allow CCEP to monitor asset health and stock levels more efficiently. For example, sensors can detect when a particular product is running low and can trigger a fully automated reordering process, or can uncover if equipment components need replacing through vibration, acoustic or other sensory inputs. This not only saves time and reduces wastage, but ultimately, it ensures that customer expectations are consistently met.

IoT-enabled assets not only streamline operations, but they also enhance the customer experience. For instance, assets that have built-in cameras can use facial recognition technology to detect a customer’s age and gender which can promote products that are more likely to appeal to that particular demographic. Additionally, you can connect asset behaviour to sensors outside of the immediate shop floor to personalise experiences. For example, assets can capture external inputs such as local footfall, weather conditions and other geographic information to present the most enjoyable and contextual experience for the consumer.

The Future for CCEP and IoT

CCEP’s IoT-enabled assets represent just the beginning of a new era in customer experience and operational efficiency for them. As IoT technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more sophisticated sensors and analytics tools being used to gather and analyse data, leading to even more personalised and efficient services for CCEP. Right now, CCEP need to be clear on which use cases make the most sense to them as the technology, in this case, is an enabler rather than the immediate solution. We can expect to see even more innovative applications of this technology from CCEP in the future, but let’s get the head right, and the rest will follow.