Usave’s implementation of SmartSense™ technology represents a strategic response to operational challenges in South Africa’s volatile energy landscape. The move demonstrates how cost-saving measures can simultaneously enhance sustainability and product quality.

Usave collaborated with local tech firm Azoteq to develop a customized system that intelligently manages power consumption during outages through automated equipment rotation, inverter use, and battery storage. The technology’s real-time monitoring of refrigeration units prevents food spoilage while optimizing energy use, with data analytics enabling proactive maintenance decisions that reduce generator runtime and fossil fuel dependence.

This dual focus on operational efficiency and waste reduction allows Usave to maintain its core value proposition of low prices while addressing systemic issues like load shedding and peak-time energy tariffs. The initiative further positions the discount retailer as a forward-thinking player in South Africa’s retail sector.

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Usave