Binary Beer

Binary Beer is an Australian technology firm providing smart keg solutions that bring real-time data and visibility to the draught beer supply chain. Founded in 2016 by Michael Burton, who serves as CEO, the company emerged from his background in computer science and passion for homebrewing. The initial idea was sparked by the frustration of kegs running empty unexpectedly, a problem Burton realized was a significant issue for commercial brewers as well. Together with his wife, Brooke Burton (COO), and with early support from the University of Wollongong's iAccelerate incubator program, they developed the core technology to address this market gap.

The company operates on a Beer Data-as-a-Service model, targeting brewers of all sizes, from craft breweries to global giants like Asahi. Revenue is generated by providing access to its platform and the insights derived from its proprietary IoT devices. The core of its offering is the KegLink™, a patented, durable sensor that attaches to existing kegs in under 30 seconds. This device uses a combination of 5G cellular connectivity, GPS, WiFi, and AI-powered geolocation to monitor a keg's location, temperature, and movement, even in challenging environments like cool rooms. A key feature is its ability to detect the exact moment a keg is tapped, providing unprecedented data on sales, freshness, and inventory levels at the venue.

This data is processed in the Binary Cloud, an AI-powered platform that delivers actionable reports and automated alerts to various departments within a brewery, including finance, logistics, production, and sales. For finance departments, this translates to reduced capital expenditure through better keg fleet utilization and loss prevention. Logistics teams can optimize distribution routes and reduce the time kegs spend out of circulation. Sales and marketing can monitor inventory at customer sites to automate replenishment and track performance, while production can ensure beer freshness and quality. The company has received funding from investors including Artesian and iAccelerate to fuel its global expansion.

Keywords: keg management, draught beer, IoT, supply chain visibility, asset tracking, smart keg, beverage technology, brewery operations, real-time data, inventory management, keg tracking, Beer Data-as-a-Service, geolocation, cold chain monitoring, beer freshness, supply chain optimization, 5G NB-IoT, LPWAN, brewery analytics, keg fleet, logistics optimization, Asahi, Michael Burton