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<p><i><strong>QSTA Uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Reduce Food Waste</strong></i></p><p><strong>QSTA, part of the Bieze Food Group, connects supply and demand in the food sector and delivers fresh (refrigerated) products to food professionals. The Nijkerk-based company launched an e-commerce platform over two years ago for smaller customers, such as restaurants, campground stores, and neighborhood grocery stores. “We now have about 500 partners. Orders placed before 6:00 p.m. today are delivered the next morning. We combine delivery routes so we can deliver sustainably and prevent city centers from becoming clogged with vans and trucks,” says Director Mark Kornet. QSTA—pronounced “kwesta”—stands for “questions and answers,” as well as “quattro stagioni”: connecting supply and demand in every season. </strong></p><p><img src="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/QSTA_4c5db37d82.jpg?token=JQ6dLA1BFni6DwG44gKbvydNfcM1Vm-1PBfDbnk_9Cs&amp;expires=1777454288" alt="QSTA.jpg" srcset="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/thumbnail_QSTA_4c5db37d82.jpg?token=Zh52Xwc2jRFQ2ueI1LuRH0auW8kpzw5opNgDHI5jKaw&amp;expires=1777454288 234w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/small_QSTA_4c5db37d82.jpg?token=7DVdko1WQZEv2pypChDsygJV_YIBc9UXOJGSxwo49jQ&amp;expires=1777454288 500w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/medium_QSTA_4c5db37d82.jpg?token=jbQEzEUrYz6G95DUBOpVZWRMz_vEhCZMxj1i7hngZB8&amp;expires=1777454288 750w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/large_QSTA_4c5db37d82.jpg?token=o3r09JPFh2GPgnIp9sayH1Y2_Lr8TS46bdg9Y3URQqo&amp;expires=1777454288 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="683"></p><h2>Using AI to Combat Waste, Unsold Inventory, and Labor Shortages</h2><p>QSTA uses artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce food waste and better predict which products are needed. “We use AI to prevent products from becoming unsellable because they’re past their expiration date. And to prevent stock shortages,” says Kornet. “Look, if you sell bolts and nuts, you can easily store 1,000 pallets without any issues. But for us, it has to be done very carefully.”</p><p>The tight labor market also played a role in the decision to adopt AI. Together with Erasmus University, QSTA developed a so-called forecasting tool.</p><p>The development process was “quite a laborious one.” Kornet: “It takes time to collect and properly define data. That took about a year to a year and a half, and it’s not the most fun part. We sometimes wondered: should we really keep going with this? It takes a lot of time, and we weren’t seeing any results yet. But we’re incredibly glad we stuck with it. We’re now reaping the benefits!” Using the tool, QSTA managed to reduce shrink by 55%. The number of times a product couldn’t be delivered (lost sales) also dropped by about 50%.</p><blockquote><p>Don’t give up too quickly. AI can work wonders, but you have to use it the right way.</p></blockquote><p><strong>In 2023, QSTA won the Foodvalley Region ICT Award for the FCast tool.</strong></p><p><img src="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/QSTA_Winnaar_Foodvalley_ICT_award_2023_bf3ff79e57.png?token=OV1xvP6fjjHJsfO5vjGqCvzAWm6KjqXvWURRw0jLMJw&amp;expires=1777454374" alt="QSTA Winnaar Foodvalley ICT award 2023.png" srcset="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/thumbnail_QSTA_Winnaar_Foodvalley_ICT_award_2023_bf3ff79e57.png?token=dq4TY5r3AfvSTVGaeUSchN96szqE9Txi2mDhh0JYjts&amp;expires=1777454374 122w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/small_QSTA_Winnaar_Foodvalley_ICT_award_2023_bf3ff79e57.png?token=HqfvhyPC0UDp-Z8HyyJeJ6wtP3uYFV8jFdmAQWAibBM&amp;expires=1777454374 391w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/medium_QSTA_Winnaar_Foodvalley_ICT_award_2023_bf3ff79e57.png?token=jkuk9vK2Ls6n0DwNkGsC3ocaHH9DlPRwAuAbFg6fCZ8&amp;expires=1777454374 586w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/large_QSTA_Winnaar_Foodvalley_ICT_award_2023_bf3ff79e57.png?token=-N5Odn1kRESLkOtaJW3vRBBvuDz0mPLpuaA2JILRx8I&amp;expires=1777454374 781w," sizes="100vw" width="876" height="1121"></p><h2>How it works</h2><p>“The tool has 800 parameters,” Kornet explains. “That could be an API from the KNMI or from Buienalarm. But it also includes: what’s happening on social media? What’s a food influencer doing? What bonus offers are available? Is it Easter or Eid al-Fitr? You name it.” The self-learning tool combines these factors with historical data to estimate whether and what customers will order—and in what quantities. This allows QSTA to purchase in a timely and targeted manner and avoid unnecessary inventory. “This increases the likelihood that we’ll have the right inventory available at the right time, and in volumes that prevent us from having to throw anything away at the end of the week. It also saves us 10 supply chain planners, which is a real benefit given the tight labor market.”</p><h2>Don’t Rush It</h2><p>Developing AI solutions often requires patience. “If you want truly sustainable results, you have to strike a balance as an entrepreneur. You want it fast, but it also has to be done right. If you only do half the work, you’ll get half the results.” His advice to other entrepreneurs? “Don’t give up too quickly. AI can work wonders, but you have to do it the right way. If you think: I’ll buy a tool, feed some data into it, and it’ll work… that’s not how it works. It takes a long time. You have to properly define and structure the data, and that’s not the most fun part—but it’s a necessary one.”</p><h2>Sharing Knowledge</h2><p>Kornet recognizes the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking, such as through the AI Hub East Netherlands. “We don’t work with just one partner. We want to learn from everyone, which is why a network is important.  There are many AI initiatives and events, and there’s always an eye-opener—something that makes you think, ‘Hey, that’s another way to do it.’ And I give back, too; I encourage others not to give up too quickly and to prioritize quality over speed.”</p><p>Kornet has plenty of plans for the future. “We want to further reduce waste rates and ‘no-sale’ rates. In addition, we’re using AI to automatically recognize and record all product characteristics.  We’re also using AI for solar forecasting as part of our energy management. We’re working with AI on many fronts.”</p>

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<p>QSTA Uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Reduce Food Waste</p><p>QSTA, part of the Bieze Food Group, connects supply and demand in the food sector and supplies fresh (refrigerated) products to food professionals. The Nijkerk-based company launched an e-commerce platform over two years ago for smaller customers, such as restaurants, campground stores, and neighborhood grocery stores. “We now have about 500 partners. Orders placed before 6:00 p.m. today are delivered the next morning. We combine delivery routes so we can deliver sustainably and prevent city centers from becoming clogged with vans and trucks,” says Director Mark Kornet. QSTA—pronounced “kwesta”—stands for “questions and answers” as well as “quattro stagioni”: connecting supply and demand in every season.&nbsp;</p>