Smart Labels, Smarter Decisions: How Identiv is Transforming Supply Chains with BLE

Think you know what a label does? Think again

Identiv is reimagining item-level visibility with its latest Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) smart labels, giving logistics providers, retailers, and healthcare companies access to real-time data about temperature, location, and product integrity. The result: more control, less waste, and better decisions across the entire supply chain.

From the outside, these BLE labels may look like traditional stickers. Inside, however, they contain compact electronics that periodically broadcast valuable information including temperature history, identification, and movement status. The labels are powered either by a battery or by energy-harvesting mechanisms, and they connect seamlessly with BLE gateways installed in warehouses, trucks, or even customer locations.

“BLE beacons have a radically simple design, allowing our customers to place active monitoring devices in places where it would not have been affordable just a few years back,” explains Michael Zehnpfennig, VP of Engineering at Identiv.

Why Now? Why BLE?

As BLE infrastructure becomes more affordable and flexible, new opportunities emerge not just for tracking items, but for triggering immediate action. Temperature spike during transport? The system can alert logistics personnel in real time. Need to prove the integrity of a cold chain? BLE provides continuous, item-level data without requiring manual scanning.

And BLE labels aren’t just passive trackers. They are capable of sensing changes and reporting secure, authenticated data in near real time, even to a smartphone. That’s an industry first.

Beyond RFID: A New Era of Smart Sensing

While RFID tags are a staple of many tracking systems, BLE brings additional advantages. It eliminates the need for line-of-sight readers, extends the communication range, and enables continuous monitoring between checkpoints. This is a major leap forward for cold chain management, pharmaceuticals, and perishable goods.

In Identiv’s own words, “Customers want more than location. They want smart, tailored solutions. That’s what specialized IoT is all about, and BLE is making it possible,” says Klaus Simonmeyer, VP at Identiv.

Strategic Partnership with IFCO: BLE at Scale

Identiv’s BLE solutions are already being deployed at global scale. In a strategic partnership with IFCO, the world's largest provider of reusable packaging containers, BLE smart labels will soon be integrated into a network of over 400 million containers. The goal is real-time traceability for fresh groceries, from producer to retailer.

“This partnership will provide unprecedented visibility into our supply chain,” states Dr. Sebastian Grams, Chief Digital Officer at IFCO. “These smart labels will allow us to optimize logistics, reduce food waste, and enhance the quality of fresh food delivered worldwide.”

Pilot programs begin in 2025, with full deployment planned for 2026. The partnership highlights a shared commitment to digital innovation and sustainability in the global food industry.

Takeaway: BLE Labels are More Than a Trend. They’re a Necessity.

For industries where condition, timing, and accountability matter, Identiv’s BLE smart labels unlock the next frontier of wireless IoT.

Whether you manage perishable goods, sensitive medical supplies, or high-value inventory, you may need a BLE label even if you don’t know it yet. Get in contact with Klaus Simonmeyer, Vice President, Strategic Accounts EMEA at Identiv!