Innovation in Action: Enhancing Cold Chain Safety Through Technology and Human Expertise
As cold chain operations become increasingly complex, operators are continually looking for new ways to strengthen safety, improve visibility, and support frontline teams.
From temperature-controlled environments and forklift traffic to high-volume product movement, maintaining safe and efficient operations requires strong processes, engaged leaders, and a culture of continuous improvement.
At Americold APAC, one approach involves combining human expertise with emerging technologies that provide leaders with additional operational insights. By leveraging AI-enabled safety tools alongside frontline leadership, coaching, and training, Americold is building on its strong safety culture while creating new opportunities to support associates across its Australia and New Zealand network.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Safety has long been a core value at Americold.
Operating temperature-controlled facilities requires disciplined processes, engaged teams, and a shared commitment to looking out for one another every day. As part of its ongoing focus on operational excellence, Americold APAC has been exploring technologies that provide site leaders with greater visibility into workplace activities and opportunities to reinforce safe behaviors.
Using AI-enabled monitoring capabilities alongside existing safety programs, leaders can gain additional insight into workplace conditions and identify opportunities for coaching, training, and continuous improvement.
“At a time when customer volumes are growing and operations are scaling, technology provides another way for us to support our people and strengthen our operations,” said Aishling O’Brien, Vice President, Technology APAC. “At Americold, we’re continually exploring new technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, that help us operate more effectively while maintaining our focus on safety.”
High Tech, High Touch
At Americold, technology works best when paired with people.
Digital tools do not replace leadership, training, or accountability. Instead, they provide information that helps site leaders have more meaningful safety conversations, reinforce positive behaviors, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
This high tech, high touch approach helps teams:
- Strengthen visibility into workplace activities and trends
- Support compliance with established safety practices
- Reinforce positive behaviors through coaching and feedback
- Focus training efforts where additional support may be beneficial
The goal is simple: equip leaders with more information so they can better support associates and maintain safe operations.
Supporting Continuous Improvement
Over the past six months, implementation efforts have provided valuable insights for site leaders while supporting Americold’s broader operational excellence objectives.
The technology has helped strengthen visibility into workplace activities, improve consistency across locations, and create additional opportunities for coaching and development. As adoption has expanded, teams have reported stronger engagement in safety discussions and greater ownership of workplace safety practices.
Initial pilots also demonstrated encouraging results, including reductions in risk ratings and safety incidents while helping leaders identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Today, the program has been implemented across more than 80% of Americold APAC sites, with learnings helping inform discussions across the broader global network.
“Our associates are the heart of our business, and their safety is paramount,” said Jonathan Bolton, Vice President, Operations Support APAC. “We’re continuously looking for ways to strengthen our safety culture and equip our leaders with the tools and information they need to support our teams. This initiative is helping us further reinforce that commitment across our network.”
Key Learnings
As Americold continues to evaluate and implement emerging technologies, several key learnings have emerged.
Technology is most effective when it supports people. While technology can provide visibility and insights, culture is built by leaders and associates. The strongest outcomes occur when digital tools support coaching, communication, and engagement.
Visibility creates opportunities for improvement. Better information helps leaders identify trends, reinforce positive behaviors, and address opportunities before they become larger challenges.
Continuous improvement drives long-term success. Innovation is rarely a single initiative. Sustainable progress comes from evaluating processes, testing new ideas, and applying learnings across the network.
Sharing Learnings with the Industry Americold’s experience has also contributed to broader industry conversations around innovation and operational excellence.
Last year, Americold leaders joined technology partner inviol at the New Zealand Cold Storage Association Conference to share insights from the implementation and discuss how emerging technologies can support safe, efficient operations within temperature-controlled environments.
As implementation has continued and results have expanded, the experience has reinforced an important principle: innovation is most effective when technology and human expertise work together.
“The cold chain industry presents unique safety challenges. You’re dealing with extreme temperatures, constant movement of heavy equipment, and busy environments where small mistakes can have serious consequences. What impressed us the most about Americold wasn’t just the technology rollout – it was the organisation-wide commitment to using that visibility to coach and improve every day. When that happens consistently across a network, the results speak for themselves.” – Matt Langston, VP of Customer Success at inviol.
Looking Ahead
This initiative is one example of how Americold continues to innovate across its business.
Whether enhancing workplace safety through emerging technologies, creating new opportunities through strategic import-export hubs, investing in automation and operational excellence, or developing future capabilities that strengthen the global cold chain, Americold remains focused on delivering practical innovations that create value for associates and customers.
For customers, strong safety practices support operational consistency, reliability, and service excellence. That’s why Americold continues to invest in innovations that strengthen both its operations and the customer experience.
Innovation takes many forms. At Americold, it is driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and building the future of the cold chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is AI used in cold storage safety?
AI-enabled tools can provide leaders with additional visibility into workplace activities, helping identify opportunities for coaching, training, and continuous improvement.
Why is safety important in temperature-controlled logistics?
Cold storage operations involve forklift traffic, material-handling equipment, product movement, and temperature-controlled environments that require strong safety processes and engaged leadership.
How does Americold approach innovation?
Americold applies innovation in many ways, from enhancing workplace safety and operational excellence to expanding strategic trade opportunities, investing in automation, and developing future capabilities that strengthen the cold chain.