How Santini is using IoT to bring family recipes to a new consumer

The taste of ice cream is not something often associated with the Internet of Things (IoT), but it is the key outcome for Santini.

As part of our Next Generation of Business campaign, we wanted to share the brand’s story and explore what it takes to keep a 70-year-old business at the top of its game in the 21^st century.

For family owned Santini, it’s about preparing for the future while protecting the legacy of the family name.

Brave, inventive and driven, Attilio Santini’s skill for creating unusual flavours has been passed down through generations and continues to delight children today.

Yet while the original production methods and connection to the Portuguese people is still at the heart of the business, IoT technology now helps the organisation to meet its increasing demands.

With 11 shops between Lisbon and Porto today, I caught up with Managing Director, Eduardo Santini to discuss how connected solutions have helped improve the manufacturing process.

Image: Santini’s original store in Cascais

Iris: What did the Santini ice cream store mean to you when you were growing up and how did it feel to take over the family business?

Eduardo: When you’re a child, it’s difficult to understand the meaning of business. It was great to have free ice creams when I was in school though!

At the age of 16 I went straight into the family business, so when I finally found myself in charge, it was a great sense of achievement.

Iris: What made you first decide to work with Vodafone Business?

Eduardo: In 2009, we realised we needed to do more in relation to innovation and investment, to support the growth of the business. This is when we took the first step by partnering with the Botton family, a family long dear to my father and grandfather, to support our brand expansion.

With 11 stores between Lisbon and Porto, the next step was to ensure reliable and permanent monitoring of the ice cream chests and an alert system that would warn us whenever there is any uneven variation. This is where Vodafone Business comes in.

We can now rely on real-time data driven advice about stock levels and sales and can monitor and control all freezing equipment in the factory and the stores at the click of a button. This means we can guarantee the quality of the product every time.

Iris: What advice would you give to your sons when it’s their time to take over the family business?

Eduardo: The most important thing they must learn is that it is very important to put your heart and soul into everything you do.

At Vodafone, we’re passionate about helping businesses of all sizes reach their full potential and are immensely proud to associate ourselves with Santini and support its journey as it continues to bring one of the world’s best ice creams to future generations.

We understand that whether a business needs help designing, building or managing connected devices, one size doesn’t fit all. We work with you on your unique business needs to help take you into the next phase.