Navigating Demand in the Meat Production Industry in 2022

The meat processing industry is one of the core elements of the American manufacturing and distribution network. Despite financial instability in the pre-pandemic era, the level of demand continued to be level, mainly due to the amount of financial assistance that Americans were receiving to offset the effects of market volatility. As financial relief packages come to a close, the meat market suffered limited effects. Looking forward to 2022, we explore what the meat manufacturing and production industry can expect from inflation and fiscal changes, as well as how your brand can remain competitive amid the changes. 

What does the future hold for meat production in 2022? 

Meat producers in 2022 should come to expect market shifts and changes as individuals work to create a diet plan that suits their financial needs. The population is under undue strain due to economic shifts and record-setting inflation. To compensate, many are swapping to meat alternatives or to a vegetarian diet entirely. Despite these changes, Food Business News reported on the figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stating that there aren’t many shifts expected outside of the lower-income sectors. 

The reason that changes in these sectors are expected to be exacerbated is because these populations favor purchase patterns that are very beef protein-heavy. With less money available for them to use to purchase meat products, production and consumption may drop a few percentage points. Despite the shifts in consumer purchase levels, domestic meat production is expected to increase slightly. This is likely due to the influx of cash that the Biden Administration is infusing into the meat production industry as well, in an effort to help stabilize the market amid rapid consumer preference shifts. 

How can meat producers find success in 2022? 

Succeeding in the food and beverage industry in 2022 relies on manufacturers and distributors being as flexible as possible. Stakeholders should focus on new areas of improvement and digitalization to remain competitive in today’s industry landscape. Below, we’ve compiled a list of different considerations that businesses should make when updating their systems in order to remain adaptable and relevant in 2022: 

Adopt a centralized software solution

Time is money when it comes to manufacturing and distribution. Adopting a centralized management system and strategy helps to streamline the overall workflow and can save valuable time and cost spent oscillating between systems. You can also give your employees and customers a better overall experience, relying on the consistency and ease of use that this type of solution can provide. 

Look into cloud-hosted solutions 

Rather than rely on manual or outdated software for your business, we recommend that you look into cloud-hosted solutions. This gives your team greater visibility and insights and can be widely adopted across your organization. Beyond the ease of access, cloud-based software solutions for food and beverage manufacturers offer more uptime and less variability in the experience, offering a more competitive advantage all around. 

Research integration opportunities 

Automation is the future of nearly every industry — and food and beverage manufacturing and distribution are no different. Adopting a software solution that offers robust integration opportunities enables you to be far more flexible, and also creates a better overall team and consumer experience. It can also be a massive time-saving tool to keep your team agile and focused on the coordination of higher level tasks. 

Look for reputable software producers before you buy

When you’re looking for your next inclusive ERP software solution in the food industry, consider doing additional research to ensure that you’re walking away with the best possible product for you. Every company has different needs and requires a flexible framework that is meant to build up and adapt with them as they go through the growth process. Reviews, site recommendations, as well as live tutorials and showcases can all be tools that help you to make this decision. If you’ve found a software solution that you’re interested in, you can always ask for a demo call or for more information. Reputable suppliers should be happy to supply that for you. 

Consider potential traceability opportunities and features 

Traceability and visibility are key benefits that you can enjoy with the right ERP solution. When evaluating your options, consider the different features around traceability and tracking throughout the manufacturing and distribution process. This can help you to choose a more competitive and inclusive option for your meat processing ERP software solution. 

Inecta continues to lead the ERP software industry 

With over 20 years of experience in the field, Inecta continues to be one of the most competitive sources of food and beverage ERP solutions. With our products, you can enjoy enhanced visibility, more advanced reporting capabilities, and consistent use and adaptation throughout every level of your organization. For more information about how Inecta can help you to manage your meat processing and distribution business, please visit our website.