AoFrio (NZX:AOF) has launched Ask iQ, an artificial intelligence (AI) feature in its AoFrio iQ software platform. Customers can ask questions about their connected cooler fleets in plain language, without building complex reports or searching multiple dashboards. Ask iQ analyses each customer's own fleet data to flag issues in asset protection, maintenance, commercial performance, and sustainability. It is built specifically for commercial refrigeration. The launch follows strong interest in AI. In AoFrio's 2026 industry survey, 77% of beverage company respondents wanted to trial AI-driven predictive maintenance within six to twelve months. Chief executive officer Greg Balla said early pilots onboarded more than 30 customers across Latin America, North America, Europe, and APAC. AoFrio has more than 3.7 million coolers connected to its platform.

AoFrio, a New Zealand-based hardware-enabled SaaS company, is relocating Chief Revenue Officer James Rice from New Zealand to Atlanta, Georgia, to support its US expansion. The move follows the 2024 launch of AoFrio's iQ SaaS platform and cellular SCS 800 controller, targeting the US and European cold drink equipment markets. AoFrio designs IoT hardware and software solutions for commercial refrigeration, serving major beverage brands including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. The company holds approximately 85% of the Latin American cold drink equipment IoT market and recently opened an innovation centre in Querétaro, Mexico. Rice will focus on deepening relationships with early adopters and developing commercial partnerships across North America and Latin America. AoFrio is also exploring opportunities in adjacent sectors, including food retail.