If you’re looking for new opportunities to build revenue and refine your processes, AI and software are a strategic way to do it. The future and potential for growth with the help of food ERPs and related AI-based platforms is exponential – and will be the factor that can drive your business to be an industry leader over the next several years. 

The question is: How are computers and AI effectively used in food manufacturing? And how can business owners leverage the most benefit with their current pool of resources and technology? 

Below, we’re uncovering the ways that AI-based food manufacturing software options can assist you in growing and scaling your food and beverage business. 

What does food manufacturing software do in the food industry? 

The term “food manufacturing software” is broad, and covers a variety of different functions. You can choose to go with a more fractional setup to address a certain need, or opt for a comprehensive, centralized system – which is ideal if you’re working to actively grow and scale. You can tailor your software management strategy for your current season of business, making this type of resource your most scalable and relevant asset for business growth and development. 

Read on to learn more about the different functionalities and roles that food manufacturing software can play in your business. 

1. Organization: CRM Functionality & Order Management Assistance 

This type of industry-specific software isn’t just related to manufacturing – it also plays a large role in the quality and distribution of your products and goods. When you choose a centralized software solution, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefit of an included CRM for easy customer management and support. 

Order management can be a time-consuming and resource-heavy process, often resulting in inefficiencies. This is especially true if customers are working within a fractional system. Additional risks of this separated process include lack of adaptation and standardization across the board and your agents, which is not conducive to an industry-leading food brand experience. 

Leveraging your software to also include this core functionality is essential to streamlining and refining your business’ operational model and customer experience. While there is no “right time” to implement CRM functionality in your business’ growth plan, you may benefit from taking a proactive approach and choosing a software that includes this vital component. 

2. Support: Food Safety & Quality Control 

In today’s transparency-driven era, food safety and quality control is paramount to the success of your business. Finding new ways to cater to the client’s overall experience is a worthwhile investment, setting you clearly above the others in your space. 

Every year, it’s estimated that 1 in 6 American citizens suffer from foodborne illness. While it is somewhat common, an acute case of compromise in your food line can be enough to have lasting damage on your brand perception in your client base and in your industry. 

Choosing a food technology solution that addresses traceability, transparency, and food compromisation prevention is important to protect the integrity of your brand’s image and perception both in and out of your industry niche. 

Ideally, you’ll want to look for a solution that incorporates traceability strategies and tools up and down the production and distribution pipeline – from factory or field to the customer’s kitchen cabinet.

3. Support: Tracking & Distribution 

While transparency is essential to your food business, tracking is equally important as you begin to grow and scale. Distribution centers and tracking information are difficult to track at a larger industrial scale, and demand industry-specific software to try to tackle the organization and management process. Choosing a software with this natively included can help save you significant time and cost. 

4. Operations: Standardization & Training Opportunities 

As the business grows, so does risk of error. Having a food industry software option that has tools to support recipe management, training, and standardization can minimize risk while giving you ample benefits; building your customer’s confidence and brand loyalty in a single step. 

The time to invest in ERP software to assist you with recipe management and standardizing procedure has never been better. As the corporate work culture becomes more focused on employee engagement and satisfaction, more businesses are taking the time to refine and optimize their own internal processes. Taking this step empowers your team to take initiative and grow your business for you within their own area of expertise, streamlining your operations and encouraging efficiency across departments. 

How to Pick Your Food Manufacturing Software

Picking your food manufacturing software of choice doesn’t have to be a lengthy process. To streamline your decision-making steps, consider the following three questions to help you narrow down your choices: 

• What are the top three areas of operation that ought to be addressed by this software? 
• What are the gaps in our current processes? 
• What are the current budgetary considerations for this investment? 

You may also benefit by collaborating with your team members and department heads to ensure that their needs are met with this company-wide technology shift. 

Inecta Continues to Lead the Industry With Award-Winning Food Technology & Software 

Looking for a way to elevate your operational processes? Inecta has continued to lead the industry with over 20 years of experience, assisting thousands of businesses like yours in improving traceability, operations, and customer experience. For more information, please connect with us today. Our specialists look forward to connecting you with software that suits your unique business needs.