IFCO Management GmbH

IFCO is a provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh produce. The company operates an extensive pool of over 400 million reusable packaging containers (RPCs) in more than 50 countries. Through its SmartCycle pooling model, IFCO ensures that RPCs are collected, cleaned, inspected, and redeployed for reuse after every cycle.

With its innovative “Tracking as a Service” (TaaS) solution, IFCO prevailed in the final round of the Smart Solution Award 2025. The solution is based on an IoT mesh network that combines Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices with GPS-enabled devices, enabling end-to-end tracking. These devices provide real-time data on key parameters such as location and temperature and feature a robust battery life of more than seven years.

The TaaS solution is seamlessly integrated into a cloud-based analytics platform that offers customizable alerts, intuitive dashboards, and API integration. This gives users quick access to all relevant data and supports them in making well-informed decisions to efficiently monitor and manage their goods across complex supply chains.

In today’s global supply chains, lost assets, inefficient reverse logistics, and lack of transparency drive up costs, cause waste, and disrupt operations – further increasing the need for smarter, connected solutions. This is where IFCO’s TaaS solution comes in: it prevents losses, creates supply chain transparency, sustainably reduces process costs, and cuts waste, transport, and CO₂ emissions.

As a plug-and-play tracking system, it requires minimal setup and no extensive infrastructure – making it ideal for rapid deployment. The solution is scalable, efficient, and tailored for reusable packaging, further strengthening IFCO’s circular business model, while being adaptable to many other use cases and industries.