5 Needs Of Your Food & Beverage ERP Solution

Cloud-based ERP solutions are designed to bring your business to its next level of success by providing you with a streamlined, centralized way of managing your production operation from source to plate. When evaluating your potential software options, there are several vital things to be aware of to ensure that you get the most possible out of your investment. This article discusses the six essential features of a full-spectrum food ERP, and the benefits you can expect from each. 

Inventory Management With Cloud-Based ERP Systems

Inventory management demands have risen thanks to the accessibility and variety of vendor options added to the supply chain. By creating a management system that is consistent, trackable, and easy to use, you can easily create a template and workflow that is exclusively suited to your company’s needs. 

Having a cloud-based inventory management solution is essential for your business to track and trace every product that goes out. Utilizing an advanced RFID or QR code tracking system greatly enhances your process and can provide an extra assurance of transparency for your client base. These technologies allow personnel to retrieve relevant information on stored or shipped products in seconds and save you valuable time and cost spent instead of other, more traditional tracking methods — such as logbooks or basic spreadsheets. 

Customer Relationship Management Differentiates Your Business 

When was the last time that you evaluated your client experience? This concept alone is differentiating businesses, causing major marketing shifts for businesses in all industries. The customer experience dictates your level of success. Having a client-forward model and supplying your business with necessary information and practices for your customer service staff to rely on is key to your funnel and brand perception. 

You can also leverage your CRM for efficiency, as well. Your client orders can come in around the clock — making coordination and accuracy essential for your business’ success. With a readily available and well-organized CRM, you can easily reference and input key details within your CRM, such as delivery dates and coordination notes, client preferences or past orders, and identifying client information. CRMs also allow you to process returning orders or invoicing requests in seconds, thanks to the power of automation and data technology. A single powerful CRM can help you to make more efficient staffing decisions, logistical shifts, and pivots based on customer preference. 

Supplier Prioritization Made Easy With ERP Systems 

If you’re a modern-day food and beverage business, you must consider how to prioritize your sources and suppliers. This is a major concept in 2022, especially as the global supply chain continues to be volatile. You can introduce new suppliers at any phase of the supply chain seamlessly, setting you at a significant advantage compared to your competitors who are still struggling to pivot. 

You can also tailor your supplier prioritization strategy to align with a more efficient purchasing cycle and place your time on higher-level tasks without sacrificing the pace of production or the quality of your output. 

Transport Management to Protect Your Fleet (And Time) 

Your ERP system should have the ability to completely manage and track your fleet. By managing your transport, suppliers can provide all necessary information to logistics companies to ensure that the quality of the deliveries is preserved and delivered on time. This is especially important with perishable goods facing a longer transportation window. 

By including a transport management system in your ERP solution, you have greater insight into the customer experience and efficiency of your distribution chain. This data can empower you to make more strategic decisions as you work to refine your model. You can also effectively manage and record critical data points for your fleet that can be referred back to in the case of quality concern or other needs. 

Reporting and Analytics to Drive Your Business Strategy 

Ideally, you’ll look for software with detailed reporting capabilities and storage and a user-friendly reference system for your team to adapt to. Efficient reporting helps to inform your business strategy in every area and contributes to budgeting, operational forecasting, and financial tasks within your business. 

Having readily available reporting also enhances an organizational culture of transparency. Information should empower, and shouldn’t be kept hidden in any way. Your team can work more effectively when they have the most accurate information available to them at any given time. 

Inecta Offers The Top ERP Solution In The Food Industry 

With over twenty years of industry experience, Inecta has created the ideal tool for food suppliers at every step in the supply chain. Our solution is backed by Microsoft and curated for your specific needs — providing you reporting, management, transportation, tracking, and distribution services at your fingertips. For more information about how Inecta can help to streamline your process, visit our website today.