PepsiCo personalizes hydration via QR and mobile app | 08-05-2019 |

Built to reflect how people drink water today it says , a new hydration platform from PepsiCo, is a connected ecosystem that responds to the rise in consumption of low-and-no-sugar drinks as well as heightened focus on plastic's effect on the environment. Consumers can access the system on their smartphones via a QR code sticker on their re-usable container.

As part of PepsiCo's Beyond the Bottle efforts, the new system makes it easier for people to stay hydrated with the company’s range of beverages, digitally track their hydration, and help meet the growing consumer demand for more sustainable packaging.

Following PepsiCo's recent acquisition of SodaStream, the platform is the next step along PepsiCo's Beyond the Bottle journey, it explains. This encompasses ways to deliver beverages without single-use plastic bottles.

The hydration platform is made up of three components: an eye-catching hydration dispenser, a companion smartphone app, and a personalized QR code sticker for reusable bottles - that allows consumers to be recognized by the dispenser.

The ecosystem allows users to set their own daily hydration goals and automatically tracks their way to meet them. Additionally, it tracks their environmental impact with a unique count of plastic bottles saved with each pour. Over time it recognizes and saves unique preferences (like favourite flavours and carbonation levels) for future use.

"This new hydration platform is an exciting step in the PepsiCo Beyond the Bottle innovation pipeline," said Jim Andrew, EVP SodaStream and Beyond the Bottle Ventures. "This platform is a great example of how we are evolving our portfolio to provide more sustainable options for consumers to get personalized, great-tasting beverages."

The experience with the hydration ecosystem is completely customizable and offers a variety of zero-calorie flavour, carbonation, and temperature options. "This new platform addresses a number of trends we're seeing resonate with consumers, including increasing concern for the environment and preference for refillable bottles, as well as desire for choice and personalization whenever possible," said Scott Finlow, CMO of PepsiCo Foodservice. 

In 2019 PepsiCo will launch the platform at select workplaces, universities, and hospitality partners, with additional locations to follow in the near future.