From data to decisions: The power of integration, traceability, and reporting with TrueSort 2.0

In today’s produce industry, grading is just one piece of the puzzle. Packhouses face increasing pressure to improve product quality, boost operational efficiency, ensure food safety, reduce waste, and meet growing demands for traceability from field to fork. That’s why Ellips TrueSort 2.0 isn’t just a sorting system. It’s a smart data platform that connects, automates, and empowers your entire operation.

From infeed to packing and from live dashboards to historical insights, TrueSort provides full visibility, smart automation, and real-time control. All designed to help you make better decisions and grow with confidence.


What you’ll learn in this article
In this article, we’ll explore how Ellips TrueSort 2.0 helps you take full control of your packhouse by focusing on four key areas:

1. Seamless integration into your existing operation.
2. Full traceability from field to fork.
3. Real-time dashboards and reporting for smarter decisions.
4. Big data insights that drive better outcomes.

You can read through or jump directly to the section that matters most to you. 

1. Seamless Integration into your operation

Ellips TrueSort 2.0 fits effortlessly into any packhouse setup. Whether you use ERP systems, WMS platforms, packing lines, or third-party analytics tools, TrueSort connects everything. Bringing more automation and control with less manual input.

1.1 Smart software integration

TrueSort’s open Web APIs allow you to:

• Automatically activate sorting batches (e.g. via bin tipping or scanning)

• Create batches from ERP/WMS systems with all relevant metadata

• Sync product and packaging presets from your database

• Generate exit-specific packaging instructions

This level of automation not only reduces operator workload but also prevents input errors and keeps all your systems aligned.

 

We developed TrueSort 2.0 with openness in mind. Our API and integration capabilities make it easy for any packhouse to align TrueSort with their unique workflow.

Ivo van Eck, Product Owner, Ellips

1.2 Hardware integration with your line 

TrueSort also connects with a wide range of external equipment such as:

• Multi-head weighers
• Bin tippers
• Packing tables
• Palletizers
• Automated packing lines
• and more....

It uses industry standards like Modbus and Profibus to ensure interoperability, regardless of brand or supplier. Everything stays in sync from intake to packing, making workflows smoother with fewer hands needed.

1.3 Guided packing with Ellips TrueTouch and exit displays

Reduce human error on the packing floor with smart user-friendly tools:

• Ellips TrueTouch: A touchscreen scale with step-by-step animations that guide packers through the packing process. Regardless of language or experience. The display updates in real time with the correct product, class, and weight instructions. Reducing the need for verbal instructions or manual checks. Logos and packaging visuals help ensure consistent branding and packing accuracy.
• Exit displays: Monitors at each output show which product is currently being packed and which packaging type to use, keeping everyone aligned and informed.

Together, these tools minimize mistakes, improve efficiency and packing accuracy, and streamline communication.

 

2. Full traceability from field to fork

TrueSort tracks every package from infeed to exit, tracing it back to the grower, field, and batch. This isn’t just about compliance. End-to-end traceability gives you control over the full journey of every product.

These insights help you:

✅ Improve product quality
✅ Prevent costly recalls
✅ Support accurate grower payouts
✅ Reduce food waste
✅ Protect your brand reputation 

Traceability is no longer optional. TrueSort 2.0 helps customers stay in full control. Knowing where their product came from, and how it was handled every step of the way.

Roland Scheffer, CTO, Ellips

Customer highlight: Elbe Obst

As a premium apple brand, Elbe Obst uses TrueSort 2.0 to generate SSCC traceability codes for each package. All data is exported to their ERP system via our External Statistics Database, giving them total control over traceability from orchard to table.

“Elbe Obst takes product quality and food safety seriously. Not just at harvest, but throughout the entire process. From the appearance to the internal condition of every apple, everything is carefully inspected to prevent issues and ensure consistent quality.”

Ulrich Brain - Elbe Obst

Discover customer story

3. Real-time dashboards and custom reports

From the operator on the floor to management teams in the office, TrueSort 2.0 provides real-time visibility to help teams make smarter decisions.

Live Dashboards

Display dashboards on big screens to monitor:

• Current production status
• Defect rates and waste levels
• Packing performance by product or classification

Your team can spot issues early, optimize decisions, and stay aligned in real time.

Built-in Reports

TrueSort provides ready-made reports for:

• Classes
• Products
• Packages

These reports can be downloaded or connected to Microsoft Power BI (or similar tools) for deeper, custom analysis or grower/customer communication.

Customer highlight: Koala Cherries

Ellips helped Koala Cherries move from manual dashboard updates to live, custom dashboards using Web APIs. Reducing errors and saving time during packing. 

4. Big Data that drives better outcomes

Ellips TrueSort 2.0 doesn’t just grade produce. It captures detailed measurement data on every piece, including size, shape, color, and internal and external quality. With the optional Data Acquisition feature, this raw data can be exported for advanced analysis or integrated into external systems.

Customers use this data to:

✅ Compare growing techniques across fields
✅ Monitor yield differences between growers or batches
✅ Predict harvest timing and volume
✅ Build predictive models for quality optimization
✅ Support phenotyping and R&D with deeper insights

Customer highlight: Vegafruits

 Vegafruits is building a central data lake that combines TrueSort data with weather inputs, mineral analysis, and phenology to develop predictive models for harvest planning and quality forecasting. Their agronomists and data scientists use TrueSort’s detailed measurement values (and even image data), as part of their R&D efforts. By scaling the size of their datasets, they aim to uncover deeper insights into how growing techniques, orchards, and environmental factors influence fruit quality.

Looking ahead, Vegafruits also sees TrueSort as a source of training data for future robotics and AI applications. Collecting image-based defect data at scale will allow them to train smarter machines while keeping their field robots lightweight and efficient. 

Customer highlight: Sant'Orsola

By using TrueSort data across different fields and growing techniques, Sant Orsola continuously improves crop quality and yield. The insights allow them to validate experiments and make data-driven farming decisions.

Customer highlight: ABB Growers

ABB Growers uses a one-lane TrueSort system to pre-analyze every incoming blueberry batch before storage. Later, they use this data to match the right batch with the right customer order based on specific quality needs.

More than just sorting

With Ellips TrueSort 2.0, packhouses move from manual, reactive workflows to smart, proactive operations. Driven by real-time data, deep traceability, and full automation.

By combining:

✅ Seamless integration

✅ End-to-end traceability

✅ Real-time dashboards

✅ Big data insights

Ellips TrueSort 2.0 becomes the central source of truth in your packhouse, helping you reduce risk, increase consistency, and grow your business with confidence.



Ready to take your operation to the next level?

Let’s talk about how Ellips TrueSort 2.0 can fit into your unique environment.