Real-time asset visibility is helping leading retailers improve operational efficiency, reduce unnecessary capital expenditure and build more resilient supply chains. By embracing digital asset management, SPAR has demonstrated how technology-driven visibility can deliver measurable improvements across a large retail distribution network.
Driving operational excellence through visibility
Managing thousands of material handling assets, including rolltainers, dollies, meat trolleys and cooler boxes, is essential to maintaining efficient product movement between distribution centres and stores.
Recognising the opportunity to improve visibility and optimise asset utilisation, Spar sought a solution to gain real-time insight into its assets. The objective was clear: create greater operational transparency, improve asset availability and enable faster, data-driven decision-making across the distribution network.
A scalable digital solution
In early 2022, Spar deployed the Smartee360 asset monitoring throughout its distribution and store network.
Each material handling asset was fitted with a Smartee Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon, allowing assets to be automatically detected through the Smartee360 mobile application during SPAR’s existing delivery sign-off process. As deliveries were completed, asset movements were automatically recorded, geo-coded and synchronised to the cloud without requiring additional manual tasks from drivers.
By leveraging existing delivery workflows instead of installing fixed scanning infrastructure at every store, Spar implemented a highly scalable nationwide solution while keeping deployment efficient and cost-effective.
Operational teams now access live information through the Smartee360 portal and integrated Power BI dashboards, providing continuous visibility into asset locations, movement patterns and dwell times across the network.
Delivering measurable business results
Since implementation, Spar has achieved significant operational improvements driven by accurate, real-time asset intelligence.
Average asset dwell time decreased from 4.93 days in 2022 to just 2.61 days in 2026, representing a 47% improvement. Faster asset turnaround has increased fleet availability while improving overall distribution efficiency.
The platform has also captured more than 435,000 geo-coded asset movements, creating a reliable digital history for every tracked asset and providing valuable operational insight across the supply chain.
Improved utilisation has delivered substantial financial benefits. Rather than purchasing more than 800 replacement rolltainers during the deployment period, Spar required approximately 200 new units, avoiding significant capital expenditure while maintaining operational capacity.
Enabling smarter operational decisions
Beyond asset tracking, the platform provides Spar with actionable operational intelligence.
Live dashboards highlight asset movement trends, monitor dwell times and identify opportunities for continuous improvement, enabling managers to make informed decisions using real-time operational data.
This increased visibility supports stronger planning, faster asset recovery and more efficient resource allocation across the distribution network.
Building the future of retail logistics
Spar's successful deployment demonstrates how digital visibility is becoming a strategic advantage in modern retail logistics. By investing in real-time asset intelligence, the retailer has strengthened operational performance, improved asset utilisation and created a scalable foundation for future innovation.
As the platform continues to evolve with AI-powered anomaly detection, predictive dwell time modelling, automated WhatsApp recovery alerts and deeper enterprise integrations, Spar is well positioned to continue enhancing supply chain efficiency and operational resilience.
Ashveer Ramparsad, Chief Technology Officer, Smartee
