Why use Barrel Tags?
Warehouse sensors are being deployed to understand the environmental conditions where the barrels are being matured. Those sensors are likely sufficient to provide insights into environmental variations. Then, what’s the need for Barrel Tags?
Beyond general insights with AI: Warehouse sensors give you general trends — but AI-powered predictions can go much further. AI can help predict color, chemical composition, taste notes, and other quality markers. However, for AI models to be accurate, large amounts of high-quality barrel-level data are needed for training. Barrel Tags automate the collection of this granular data, ensuring consistency and minimizing human error. This data is essential for AI to improve future predictions and enhance bourbon production.
Linking environmental data to Barrels: While warehouse sensors provide environmental data, barrels are often moved to manage inventory and optimize space. This creates a gap: Should the environmental data be linked to the barrel’s previous or new location? Without proper tracking, this information is lost. Barrel Tags solve this by keeping track of each barrel's location. This allows the environmental data to be accurately matched with each barrel’s history, even as they move over time.
Enhanced Inventory Visibility and Tracking: Every barrel has a unique identity — based on its cooperage origin, char level, mash bill, finish, and other factors. Serialization using bar codes or passive RFID tags can track this information, but active Barrel Tags take it further. They enable automated tracking, reducing manual work and improving accuracy. This ensures that you know exactly where each barrel is and what’s inside it at all times.
Accurate Yield Monitoring: Warehouse sensors can estimate average warehouse yield through evaporation tracking — but they can’t measure the yield of individual barrels. WiLO’s Barrel Tags, equipped with fill level sensors, provide real-time data on how much liquid remains in each barrel. Combined with AI, this allows for more accurate yield predictions, helping you identify which barrels are ready for bottling.
Early Leakage Detection: Warehouse sensors might detect alcohol vapor spikes caused by large leaks, but small pinhole leaks are harder to catch. Identifying these early is critical — fixing a small leak is far easier than dealing with a nearly empty barrel. WiLO’s Barrel Tags monitor fill levels in real time. AI models using this data can detect subtle drops in volume, allowing you to address leaks early and prevent major losses.