Danfoss and Microsoft have announced an expanded partnership aimed at accelerating the use of artificial intelligence and cloud-based technologies in food retail. The collaboration will focus on improving energy efficiency, reducing food waste, and cutting emissions in supermarket refrigeration systems.
The partnership builds on a relationship established in 2019 and centers around Danfoss Alsense, a cloud-based monitoring and management platform for refrigeration systems. By integrating Microsoft’s AI capabilities, the two companies plan to enhance the system’s performance and accessibility.
Danfoss claims that Alsense helps reduce food waste in supermarkets by up to 30% and lowers energy consumption on refrigeration by up to 15%. The system provides 24/7 monitoring and real-time data, enabling operators to minimize downtime and identify issues such as refrigerant leaks before they escalate.
“Alsense makes my grocery business more efficient. The 24/7 monitoring is our eyes and ears - it gives me peace of mind and saves the stores a lot of money by detecting and avoiding incidents before they grow into larger issues,” said Lars G. Andersen, General Manager of 12 Coop stores in Denmark.
The companies say that combining Danfoss’s knowledge in energy-efficient technologies with Microsoft’s AI and cloud expertise will allow for faster deployment of solutions that support low-carbon operations in the food retail sector.
“By deepening our collaboration with Microsoft, we’re taking a significant step towards making sustainable solutions more accessible and impactful for our customers,” said Natalie Schnippering, Vice President of Danfoss Climate Solutions Digital Services.
According to Microsoft, the enhanced AI-driven solution will help food retailers lower their environmental impact while also improving operational efficiency.
“Our collaboration with Danfoss demonstrates the transformative power of AI for a sustainable future. By leveraging AI to optimize refrigeration systems, we’re helping food retailers minimize their environmental footprint,” said Matt Walsh, Director Industry Advisory at Microsoft.
The updated Alsense platform is expected to support faster market adoption by reducing technical and economic barriers for food retailers transitioning to more sustainable operations.