If there’s one thing retailers, restaurants, and supermarket chains have in common it’s this: They must keep their customers happy.

Whether it’s fresh food, fast dinners, or frozen goods, shoppers rely on food retailers to give them what they want, when they want it, how they want it. If these retailers can succeed at delivering outstanding customer experiences, they should have customers for life. If not, they’ll be facing angry customers, social media outrage, and reputation ruin.

Maintaining customer loyalty is significant because customer satisfaction has a direct and profound effect on the bottom line.

So, what does the customer experience have to do with industrial automation and gas leak detection systems? Everything. For retailers, reputation, loyalty, and trust are the outside manifestations of an inside operation that’s safe, efficient, and compliant.

Keep reading to learn why and how remote monitoring is key to retailers’ success equation.

What Is Remote Monitoring?

Remote monitoring is a critical aspect of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The IIoT, sometimes known as Industry 4.0, relies on a connected network of sensors, devices, and cloud-based platforms to capture and process data and disseminate insights for operational efficiency and performance improvement.

Remote monitoring is exactly what it sounds like: It is the ability to observe and manage device and system activity from a distance.

For retailers, real-time remote monitoring is critical to enhancing leak detection capabilities, ensuring rapid response, cutting energy costs, and maintaining overall system efficiency—all of which ultimately support the customer experience.

4 Benefits of Remote Monitoring for Restaurant and Grocery Retailers

1. Remote Monitoring Helps Retailers Maintain Optimal Temperatures

When it comes to anything food- or beverage-related, keeping the goods in optimal condition is imperative. The right temperature and humidity settings are key to ensuring that food stays tasty and safe.

With IIoT-enabled automation, temperature control monitoring can be faster, easier, and done in real time. One small yet essential component of this automation system is an IIoT gateway. The gateway is the communication device that enables all the other devices to “talk” with one another. It also gives retailers the ability to tap into the devices and the data they generate.

Here are just a few of the many things an MSA FieldServer gateway can do with real-time temperature monitoring:

• Alert operations personnel about temperature deviations
• Promote proactive response to reduce contamination and food waste
• Help comply with FDA and other food safety requirements

2. IoT-enabled Remote Monitoring Promotes Predictive Maintenance

Retail stores like grocery chains depend heavily on their high-value assets, including chillers and freezers. Unplanned downtime and unexpected equipment repair or replacement can be costly, in terms of both budget and labor.

With a connected industrial system that includes an IIoT gateway, retailers can keep tabs on the performance, maintenance, and useful life of their equipment.

The gateway facilitates the delivery of data-driven insights, so retailers can reduce equipment downtime, predict and prevent equipment failure, lower repair costs, and extend the life of their assets.

3. Remote Monitoring Supports Energy Efficiency

Sustainability initiatives are more important than ever and one of the key benefits of an automation system. With remote monitoring, retailers can measure and manage their energy consumption and determine the steps they need to take to lower their carbon footprint.

Remote monitoring via an IIoT gateway is effective for tracking and assessing the energy consumption of food-related equipment, such as chillers and refrigerators. Even better, with remote monitoring, retailers can make energy-saving adjustments to further reduce energy costs and achieve their sustainability goals.

4. Remote Monitoring Enables Efficient Control of Multiple Locations

Thanks to IIoT-enabled remote monitoring, larger retailers with multiple locations can reduce the need for manual checks by field personnel.

For example, FieldServer gateways deliver solutions that give retail customers:

• Cost-effective, out-of-the-box remote connectivity
• Equipment diagnostics capabilities
• Speedy remote troubleshooting
• Real-time remote data visualization

In addition to gas leak detection, our FieldServer gateway solutions can support lighting automation, climate control, and security systems monitoring and reduce the need for on-site personnel and the potential for human error.

Case Study: National Grocery Chain

One of the largest food retailers, with hundreds of locations worldwide, relies on our Parasense Software Platform and FieldServer Gateways to enhance its refrigerant leak monitoring program and reduce its reliance on service technicians in the field.

With the FieldServer gateway’s robust remote monitoring and edge computing capabilities, this retailer can quickly monitor equipment alarms at over 140+ sites. In addition, remote connectivity enables the retailer to fix refrigerators and other HVAC-R equipment to better ensure the safety of its food, workers, and facilities.

Real-time Remote Monitoring Is an Easy, Cost-Effective Way to Maintain Refrigeration Systems

At the end of the day, national grocery store chains, restaurants, and other retailers may find that real-time remote monitoring is a more efficient and effective way to manage and maintain their refrigeration systems and, by extension, increase customer satisfaction.

Contact us to learn how FieldServer can empower retailers to promote food safety, ensure equipment compliance, cut food waste, and reduce energy consumption to deliver a better brand experience for their customers.