Technology has altered the way businesses are operated. It has evolved so much that we have intelligent solutions for all business problems. ERP is one of the brilliant solutions to simplify the business’s daily operations.
We all live in a highly competitive world. So it isn’t easy to stay competitive in the business world. All the conventional practices are useless as the world moves on to digitalisation. Likewise, even businesses are using technology to stay competitive in the market. Enterprises require an efficient system and creativity to ace their field.
ERP or enterprise resource planning software is an enhanced solution to control and monitor business. It’s an intelligent business management system that seamlessly manages the entire company’s workflow. Even the ERP system has evolved so much, and in this decade, the ERPs ultimately help ease the business’s core functions. ERP solutions are fully automated and advanced technology developed to help businesses worldwide.
Modern ERP solutions provide industry-specific customisation. The rich features enhance the efficiency of the business. Plus, it is an automatic, faster, modular and flexible solution for all businesses.
Multiple businesses have benefitted by deploying ERP systems for their business. They have witnessed more organised data and increased revenue after deploying an ERP system. There are numerous benefits of ERP implementation. It performs all the core functions of the business seamlessly. Plus, it automates all the business functions so that any work can be done quickly.
Food industry
The food industry is the only one that makes perishable products that expire quickly. The industry must be extra vigilant regarding food safety compliance and quality control.
The food industry has to be very careful when manufacturing the product. They have to use high-quality raw materials, check for allergens, and ensure that the product is safe to consume till the expiration date.
The traceability of food products is essential in the food industry. Food traceability is tracking food products in the entire supply chain process, like production, distribution, and processing inventory.
How to effectively implement a food traceability system?
Food traceability is an essential aspect of the food industry. Before you implement a food traceability system, you must have a plan and overcome specific challenges.
- Optimising and managing large amounts of data.
- Consumers are interested in accessing information regarding where their food is coming from.
- Adhere to strict food regulations to avoid health hazards.
Challenges of food traceability system
A food traceability system is critical for any organisation, especially the food industry. But there are challenges with the implementation of the traceability system.
High cost for maintenance
Food traceability is a complex task and is expensive. The tools for a proper traceability system must be purchased, which is costly. Traceability systems are custom-based, so investing in labour is vital.
Legal compliance
If your business is global, it is complex to follow the regulations. Every country and state will have its rules to be adhered to. Here adhering to all the regulations is impossible.
How to implement food traceability effectively?
Implementing a food traceability plan is crucial for the company. It can only be done slowly and carefully. You must wait to immediately implement a traceability plan and expect results.
Define your purpose
First, inspect and examine why you want the food traceability system in place. Identify the weak spots and how the traceability system will benefit those areas.
Get insights
Research and get insights so that you will create effective strategies to implement the best food traceability system.
Discuss the issues with your team
After gathering insights, your next step is to build a case. Discuss the issues with your colleagues and plan to make a robust food traceability system to achieve your business goal.
Find the suitable traceability model
In this step, find the proper traceability that will match your requirements. The model will help your company to instantly help in product recalls and which helps in improved food safety.
Implement the traceability plan
Use the right tools to implement the traceability plan without any issues. Maintain a good rapport with the stakeholders and communicate with them regularly to get insights if the plan aligns with their expectations.
Steps to achieve effective food traceability system
2 Types of traceability
Traceability can be achieved when the data is accurately recorded in the supply chain process. There are two types of food traceability systems.
Internal traceability
It is the process of tracing the product within the organisation. Internally, from the sourcing of raw materials till the product is finished, all the actions are recorded and traced internally. In this type, the major purpose is to trace the source of raw materials. The product source is associated with the outcome of the product.
External traceability
In this type, with the help of lot/batch number, it is easier to trace the product after it is shipped from the inventory to suppliers and other external places till it reaches the customer.
Impact of food traceability system
The effectiveness of the food traceability system becomes extremely important when there is a product recall or safety issue. In the traceability process, every piece of data regarding the product is recorded. So it will be easier to retrieve the effects immediately.
Factors affecting food traceability
- It is only possible for some organisations to implement internal and external traceability systems. It can be applied after considering the company’s size, business and financial requirements.
- There will be constraints in getting all the information regarding the product’s origin.
- Legal compliance regarding the traceability process.
- The amount of seamless collaboration in the supply chain process.
Traceability requirement and implementation
There are many methods for tracking food traceability. But the traceability methods can be applied in the company based on the size and the business needs. In that, considering financial requirements is also equally important.
Raw materials data is crucial for food traceability. Details on where, how and what the raw materials have gone through matter the most because even the consumers will be given access to view them.
Food traceability is beneficial for your company to improve the quality of the product, stay compliant with regulations and maintain a positive brand image.
Author’s Bio:
Ishant is an SEO expert with a rich and long history of helping companies across industries to rank high on multiple search engines. Currently, he’s working with Sage Software Solutions, a leading ERP Software, CRM, and HRMS provider in India.
