Temperature and Humidity Monitoring for Cold Chain Transportation Using BluLite BLE Data Loggers
About the Customer:
A large fresh produce distributor responsible for moving temperature-sensitive vegetables from harvesting centers and field collection points to cold storage facilities and packaging sites. The company must maintain reliable temperature and humidity monitoring from the earliest stages of post-harvest handling through to arrival at processing or retail distribution hubs.
Key Customer Challenges:
Fresh produce is highly sensitive to temperature and humidity fluctuations, especially during the early stages of transportation from the field. Without access to active cooling infrastructure at the harvest site, the company needed a mobile and easy-to-use solution to monitor environmental conditions during short- and mid-range journeys. To comply with cold chain safety regulations and customer traceability requirements, the company required a solution that would:
- Monitor temperature and humidity for all stages
- LCD screen alert to notify teams to any deviations in temperature
- Enable easy access to recorded data for traceability and regulation compliance
Solution Implementation:
The company used Fourtec’s BluLite, a Bluetooth Low Energy data logger for Temperature and Humidity data monitoring for a wide variety of applications in the supply and production processes. The BluLite is a compact and simple-to-use data logger designed for both portable and stationary multi-use operation with a replaceable 3V coin battery lasting up to 1 year, depending on the operating conditions.
Key features of the BluLite Bluetooth logger:
- Up to 32K samples of memory capacity
- Bluetooth Low Energy (5.0) connectivity
- LCD alarm indication with key parameters information
- Boomerang feature for automatic PDF data report of data abnormalities
- Replaceable battery
- Water and dust resistant IP5
The BluLite's data can be monitored and managed with the DataSuite software (for windows) and the FourtecLite Android App (for Android devices). Both the software and the app are provided with a free license to use and can be downloaded from Fourtec website or App stores.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Using BluLite for Cold Chain MonitoringThis SOP is based on the BluLite user manual and outlines the recommended process for monitoring temperature and humidity during fresh produce transportation from field to storage.
Logger Placement: Place the BluLite logger inside a representative produce box during loading at the harvest or collection point. For larger shipments, use multiple loggers distributed across different zones (top, middle, rear) to capture environmental variations.
Configuration: Configure the logger using DataSuite (desktop) or FourtecLite (Android). Set sampling intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes), define alarm thresholds, activate the Boomerang feature for automatic PDF reporting, and press “Run” to start the session.
Data Collection: The BluLite stores up to 32,000 temperature and humidity data points and supports continuous monitoring for extended trips. Battery life lasts up to one year, depending on sampling rate.
Data Download: Upon arrival at the storage facility, connect to the logger via Bluetooth using the FourtecLite app or DataSuite software. Review data, download reports (PDF, Excel, CSV), and access alarm summaries as needed.
Measurable Results:
The BluLite solution allowed the company to establish accurate and continuous temperature and humidity monitoring during critical early transportation stages where traditional infrastructure was unavailable. Staff could easily deploy the loggers at the field, retrieve them at the packing house or warehouse, and quickly generate automated PDF reports to validate shipment conditions by connecting to an Android device via Blutooth (FourtecLite) or a computer using the DataSuite software.
Learn more about the BluLite data logger here.
