Using a generic ERP system straight out of the box will give you standard functionalities that help manage your business activities such as accounts, manufacturing and supply chain.
But you’ll quickly find the complexity of foodstuff means you need additional features to meet its requirements. And at this point, it can be tempting to keep adding more and more point solutions but this can be costly and hinder internal productivity.
Avoid this by investing in food-specific software from the very beginning. That way, you can help unify your tech stack, encourage growth and prevent costly inefficiency at scale.
In our debut podcast episode, Laura Gilbank is joined by Dynamics 365 Consultants Steve Weaver and Chris Nichols to chat about what makes the food sector different and why businesses need industry-specific ERP software.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the episode:
- Food businesses using generic solutions are having to “compromise” because their systems don’t offer all the functionalities they need. This means they’re relying on multiple, disparate systems that are designed to work on their own. Working with siloed data makes it difficult for businesses to access real-time information, delaying their ability to make critical decisions
- An industry-specific solution gives flexibility over forecasting/planning, helping you solve the challenge of building supply chains around varying consumer demands
- The food industry has to comply with specific laws and regulations to protect consumer health (and these can vary when crossing borders). So, you must evaluate what protocols are relevant to you before deciding on whether to invest in a generic or food-specific solution. For example, in the meat industry, food ERP software can give specific attributes of products such as where did the cattle come from, when was it slaughtered, what date, etc
- Traceability remains the biggest requirement from our customers looking to implement an ERP solution
- A food-specific solution can give crucial OEE (overall equipment efficiency) data, such as yield percentage, which is standard in food industry but not in other industries
And much more!
Scroll up to the top of this post to listen to the episode. Or, search for 'ColumbusCast' in your podcast app.
Why standard ERP software isn't enough for the food industry
If you want a quick snapshot view of how a standard ERP compares to a food-specific one in terms of functionalities, our comparison sheet might interest you. We lay out:
- The major differences between standard and food ERP software
- The limitations of a generic solution when dealing with food products
- Why an industry-specific ERP platform is key to successfully transforming your food business
Download it below.