Digitalisation: Focus topic at iba 2025

iba, the world's leading trade fair for the baking and confectionery industry is a pioneering platform for inspiration and innovation. A highlight awaits in Hall 14: the iba.DIGITALISATION AREA, where visitors can experience live the bakery of the future.

Munich, April 07, 2025 –

Visitors to iba, the world trade fair for the baking industry in Düsseldorf, will discover future trends in the field of digitalisation. Digitalisation increases efficiency, optimises processes and improves interaction with customers and employees. In production, digitalisation helps to optimise processes - from the recipe and cooling control to the baking process. In sales, intelligent sales planning makes production more sustainable. And digital support is for example available for cash register systems or hygiene management.

iba.DIGITALISATION AREA

The bakery of the future can be discovered at the iba.DIGITALISATION AREA. On 450 square metres, the company AHA 360° and network partner Shop-IQ will be presenting a fully functional bakery branch including catering and live baking. Visitors will be able to experience various operating concepts - from full service to hybrid channels and self-service variations. The highlights: The brand new AI assistant from AHA 360°. It makes the shop self-explanatory and helps to train staff, reduce costs and increase sales. And the AHA Light Cube showcases a illumination innovation. "As a reliable partner for bakers, we are constantly striving to build customised and refinanceable shops that make our customers more successful. Visitors to the trade fair will be able to experience how deeply we dive into this with our AI solutions live at our stand," emphasises Michael Mayer, Managing Director of AHA 360°.

The holistic approach to digitalisation is rounded off by the exhibitors FoodTracks, Samuelson and semco, together with Shop-IQ: “We have digital solutions to relieve employees: in the planning and execution of the baking process - with new digital price tags, displays for the shop window and optimised digital HACCP monitoring and documentation,“ explains David Holzwarth, Managing Director of Shop-IQ.

Digitalisation trends in the baking industry at iba

AI solutions reduce staff workload, help increase sales and protect the environment. At iba, visitors can experience how intelligent baking planning works: By analysing demand in real time, AI systems can plan which baked goods are needed and when - so the right amount is baked and food waste reduced. Visitors will learn how intelligent store assistants can support staff. And AI analyses sales figures, weather data and seasonal trends to calculate the right order quantity.

Personnel management and customer loyalty

Exhibitor E2N GmbH in Hall 13, i.e. will be demonstrating how to keep an eye on daily productivity and key performance indicators thanks to cross-branch, revenue-based staff scheduling. Here, a cloud-based HR tool ensures clear personnel management, time recording, duty scheduling and simple controlling. Customer loyalty is key: visitors can find out how to use cloud-based applications, such as special check-out software or a customer loyalty app and digital receipts, from exhibitor Copago, a company for shop digitalisation in the bakery industry.

Process automation

The shortage of skilled labour is increasing the demand for automation - individual solutions are required here. By using robotic solutions, AI automates production and also keeps product quality at a consistently high level. In Hall 12 you will find innovative bakery machines, systems and ovens, such as those from the manufacturer König Maschinen, which optimise daily processes. Anyone looking specifically for exhibitors with IT and digitalisation solutions will find what they are looking for via the search function on the iba platform; also exhibitor reports on the topic of digitalisation can be found online. And iba is offering a comprehensive technical report on ‘Increasing sales with AI solutions’.

Presentations on the iba.STAGE

The exhibition programme at iba will be rounded off by suitable expert presentations, which will be held live on the iba.STAGE in Hall 15: i.e. the presentation ‘Intelligent planning instead of estimating - using AI to optimise yields’ (19 May, 2 p.m.) will explain how modern AI systems create added value. The presentation ‘Bakery concepts in transition’ (18 May, 4 p.m.) will shed light on how a bakery can be made fit for the future. And the topic: ‘Predictive modelling for improved shelf life’ (19 May, 3 p.m.) will look at how intelligent technology can be used to carry out virtual tests to keep bread fresh for longer.

Industry visitors who want to make their business fit for the future can already look forward to the range of exhibitors and the programme at iba in May 2025.