SteadyServ Technologies, an Indiana-based technology company, has launched the iKeg, a mobile SaaS-based (software as a service) inventory management solution, for the beer industry.

iKeg measures and reports the real-time inventory of draft kegs and automates the order and fulfilment process for draft, bottled and canned beers.

The iKeg system consists of three parts – the hardware, software and mobile app, where the hardware combines a removable sensor ring attached to the bottom of the keg and a RFID tag.

Once the tag is scanned, the cloud-based software receives the data from the sensor, tracking how much beer remains, type of beer, age and when it was delivered.

All this information is then tallied with the stock, the next delivery date, previous order information, event information, and past and future beer consumption trends.

The iKeg uses machine-to-machine communication technologies to ensure that the system is secure, reliable and highly scalable.

SteadyServ CEO and co-founder Steve Hershberger said beer sold in retail establishments accounts for a $21bn industry, yet the industry still relies on the inaccurate process of ‘shaking the keg’ – the same method used since the inception of the product.

"Not only do bars, restaurants and distributors lose millions of dollars each year on this guesswork, but beer-drinking consumers are frustrated with being denied their favorite beers due to poor inventory management," Hershberger added.

"SteadyServ will alleviate this archaic process at every point in the supply chain to forever change the way beer is distributed and consumed."

SteadyServ is launching the iKeg in partnership with distributors such as Indiana-based Monarch Beverage, which is the largest single-location distributor in the US, and Ohio-based Premium Beverage Distribution.