Hello Lena, you have been working at Hellmann since 2018. Tell us a little about your professional background and how you became responsible for the "Smart QR" product.

Back in 2018, I joined Hellmann for a dual study program. For three years, I alternated between lectures at Lingen University of Applied Sciences and practical phases at our branches in Bielefeld and Osnabrueck, until I proudly received my certificates in 2021. I already spent my last practical phase in the Smart Solutions team and also focused on Smart Visibility in my bachelor thesis. It's fair to say that this specific topic fascinated me right from the start. So I was more than happy when my department head Henning Pottharst asked me to join his team permanently. One of my first projects is our new product "Smart QR". I have had full responsibility from the very beginning, from contracts, planning of the marketing and communication activities up to the final product launch. Now, after the launch, I am the sales contact for the integrated solution globally.

What makes the "Smart QR" stand out from other trackers?

Our new tracker was developed by the Finnish start-up company "Logmore". It's a passive dynamic QR data tracker that can be easily scanned by a smartphone camera, storing the current location as well as measuring temperature, humidity, light, and shocks. And it has some pretty cool features "up its sleeve":

The screen updates itself every 15 minutes and then displays a new QR code each time, which contains the measured sensor data. Another handy feature is that via scanning it, the data automatically uploads into the cloud or the web-based Hellmann platforms SmartAir! and Smart Ocean. This allows employees and customers worldwide to track the measured data in just a matter of seconds. It is even possible to set alerts that send notifications if, for example, the temperature has exceeded. Compared to other passive loggers, this can save more than half of the time in the operational process.

The battery lasts up to a full year, which means the tracker can be used for multiple transports. But that's not all: By integrating the "Smart QR" into our real-time solution "SmartAir!", the sensor data can now be allocated to precise locations of the transport. This creates a tracking method comparable to active tracking systems, while being much more cost-efficient. With "Smart QR", we are changing the way of passive tracking.

Which customers would you recommend the "Smart QR" to?

The new product is interesting for anyone who transports sensitive goods and needs information about temperature and other parameters. Our main target groups are the perishable and pharmaceutical industries. For the first time in our department’s history, we are taking over the unique role of being the exclusive distributor in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Mexico. For our customers, comprehensive supply chain transparency is becoming increasingly important. We make it possible - simple, cost-effective, and efficient because, with us, they get all logistics services from one single source! 

Thank you for the interview, Lena!