Scottish whisky distilleries have the potential to save £30m over five years by investing in 5G technology according to a new impact report by The Scotland 5G Centre.

The innoovation centre commissioned Jacobs to explore the potential use of 5G in whisky distilleries. The report reveals £376,500 of potential benefits could be realised for a medium-large distillery on an annual basis as a result of the implementation of 5G.

The key findings of the report are based on research and primary data from a distillery in Central Scotland which produces approximately a quarter of a million litres of whisky per year.

With 146 malt and grain distilleries in Scotland producing around 401 million litres per year, the installation of 5G technology could be significant in both modernising and futureproofing the sector – particularly for distilleries in more remote areas of the country.

Exploring the current challenges faced by whisky distillers, the study identified four key areas where 5G technology could support the industry: health and safety, cask management, site management and maintenance and security.

Other findings from the report state that 5G-enabled geofencing, used to set up virtual boundaries across the site, could reduce health and safety incidents by 50% by sending real-time alerts to workers entering potentially high-risk zones.

Also, cask management efficiency processes could be boosted by 15% using 5G-enabled RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems to support real-time data collection and allow warehouse workers to monitor the location of the casks.

The report also stated 5G connectivity can enable the granular mapping and tracking of equipment and assets, enabling more effective planning and sequencing of tasks to maximise working efficiency and resulting in large reduction (50%) in equipment and asset-related downtime.

Finally, with regards to security, the report stated that whisky distillers could cut security breaches in half by the deployment of remote and automated security measures, using 5G-enabled surveillance and monitoring.

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Ian Sharp, head of delivery at The Scotland 5G Centre said: “Given the value of Scotland’s whisky industry, not only to the economy, but also to Scotland’s strong reputational heritage, distilleries are always looking for new ways to enhance innovation and drive operational efficiencies.

“With challenges such as rising inflation and sustainability firmly on the agenda, it’s becoming increasingly important for distilleries to find new ways of remaining commercially competitive.

“This report indicates that investing in a combination of 5G connected technologies and private 5G networks will allow distilleries to unlock new ways of working that will not only reduce costs but boost productivity and efficiency across their business.”