Interview
Interview: Edward Porter Food and Drink Manufacturing UK interviews Edward Porter, Director of IoT Solutions at IMS Evolve
Firstly Edward, thank you for talking with us, what drove you into the food technology industry? I have always had an interest in the food industry, and actually started my career as a Chef and Restaurant Manager before joining the team at IMS Evolve, an Internet of Things (IoT) company in Milton Keynes.
The IMS technology optimises organisations machines and processes, including food and small box retailers, to increase efficiency, lower emissions, and minimise food waste. I was drawn to IMS because of the cutting-edge technology and targeted solutions that effectively maximised existing resources and infrastructure without the prohibitive investment costs often attached to innovative technologies. The benefits to sustainability that IMS brings to both the customer and the broader industry was a real source of inspiration. Fast forward 20 years, and I am the Director of IoT Solutions at IMS Evolve. My role involves a relational and collaborative approach with our customers so that I can understand their challenges and evolving needs and can effectively lead the charge on new and innovative applications of our
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technology to address market concerns and continue driving value for our customer base. Can you talk more about your role as Director of IoT at IMS Evolve and how your role has developed over the last 20 years? IMS Evolve has undergone significant growth since my early days at the company. What began with a one store trial of which I personally monitored, quickly became a rollout to hundreds of stores and a team to manage. Our initial objective was to reduce stock loss through centralised monitoring. Prior to IMS, the customer was managing this with their staff in stores responding to the flashing lights and beeps of the monitoring panel. The foundations we laid in the core monitoring paved the way for other opportunities to be exploited,