Östersund Hospital has made an important change to improve food availability by introducing smart refrigerators from VP Salestech AB. These refrigerators have streamlined the way the hospital manages food supply, by giving staff, patients and visitors access to food around the clock. The project has resulted in several benefits, including a reduction in food waste by 70%. This success has attracted media attention, and the hospital has been recognized for its efforts to provide a sustainable and accessible food service.
Project development and results
The project started with the installation of six smart fridges in the hospital to see how the technology could improve the food supply. In the first six months, the coolers had over 1 367 unique users and over 6 000 transactions. The positive response led to the installation of six more coolers, bringing the total number of smart coolers in the hospital to 12 in different locations.
The smart fridges used offer a range of sandwiches, salads and boxed meals, produced by the hospital's café and restaurant. The fridges were strategically placed to ensure they were used as much as possible and were easily accessible to both staff and visitors. In this way, the hospital has not only improved access to food, but also helped to reduce food waste.
Electronic tagging for better management
An important part of the smart fridges is the electronic tagging of each product, which works similarly to traditional barcodes. With these tags, the hospital can digitally track each individual product - how long it has been in the fridge, its expiration date, and when it's time for a promotion. This makes it easy to automatically discount food that is nearing its expiration date, increasing the likelihood that products will be sold before they get too old.
Refilling the smart coolers is also easier thanks to the electronic tagging. Staff can set up a whole basket of products, such as sandwiches or salads, and the system automatically registers them. This makes the work faster and more user-friendly compared to traditional refrigerators where each product has to be registered individually.
Daily operation and management of the smart chillers
Running the smart fridges in the hospital requires careful planning and flexibility. Carl-Johan Norrbelius, food manager at Region Jämtland Härjedalen, uses a planning board to keep track of each fridge's range and location. This helps him to quickly adjust the range based on needs and demand. To avoid food waste, a system is used to move food between the different fridges based on sales data.
One of the initiatives that has helped the most is the 'Save the Planet' fridge, which sells goods approaching their expiry date at up to 50% discount. This has been an effective solution to reduce waste and provide consumers with an affordable alternative.
The smart fridges are also equipped with screens that display information about the products and can be used as a communication channel. Carl-Johan customizes the content of the screens to suit the specific location of each fridge. One example is how the screens could be quickly used to inform about a billing error that occurred during the traditional Friday breakfast in the surgery department, saving time and simplifying communication.
To make the use of the fridges as smooth as possible, they have also been equipped with QR codes that users can scan to get instructions on how to use the fridge and what to do if something does not work. This has been much appreciated and has reduced the need for staff support.
Product range - "Less is More
The assortment in the smart fridges has evolved over time through user feedback and sales data. Initially, the fridges were stocked with a wide range of products, especially beverages, but it was found that a more focused range was easier to manage and more appreciated by users. The hospital has therefore reduced the number of brands and products, focusing instead on six primary beverage brands, as well as a selection of sandwiches, salads and lunch boxes. This has made it easier to manage the coolers and increased customer satisfaction.
Sandwiches are the most popular choice, followed by fresh foods such as salads and yogurt. Sweets have been deliberately excluded from the range as other suppliers already meet that demand more effectively. The focused product mix has led to better turnover and less waste.
Strategic location and use
As Östersund Hospital is large, it was important to place the smart fridges in the right places. The coolers were placed in locations such as cafés, central surgery, doctors' day rooms and the emergency room to maximize their use. One of the fridges in the emergency room has proved particularly popular, as both patients and relatives often wait there for long periods without being able to leave the area. This fridge is now the best seller in the entire hospital.
Positive feedback and a sustainable future
The feedback from staff and visitors to the hospital has been very positive. The ability to access food around the clock has been a great benefit, especially for those working late evenings or weekends. The smart fridges have also allowed the hospital to reduce and optimize staffed opening hours at the other food outlets, leading to a more cost-effective operation.
One of the most appreciated aspects of the smart fridges is their role in reducing food waste. By offering discounted items nearing their expiration date, the hospital has not only reduced its waste, but also created a habit among staff of looking for good deals. "It's not unusual to see staff gathering at the fridges when it's discount time," says Carl-Johan. This behavior has contributed to a positive attitude towards sustainability and reduced waste.
Lessons learned from implementation
For institutions considering the introduction of smart food solutions, it is important to think about strategic placement and ensuring that the range meets the specific needs of each location. Simple solutions with a limited range work best at the beginning, and then the range can be adjusted based on real demand and user feedback.
"We have managed to reduce food waste with the 70% at the hospital. Being able to sell food through the smart fridges has been a big part of this. For example, we sell all short-dated food boxes in the 'Save the Planet' fridge, where everything is discounted by 50%," says Carl-Johan.
Want to know more about our smart refrigerators and how they can help your business? Read more here at vpsalestech or contact us directly on 08-747 52 50 or by e-mail: info@vpsalestech.se.
