Thanks to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains have been taxed to the limit due to shortages of labor at food processors and farms. Logistics companies have also faced labor issues, not only directly attributable to coronavirus, but also strikes, lack of an ample supply of drivers, rising fuel costs and problems getting internationally shipped items off ships and onto the mainland.
For food processors who have graduated from spreadsheets, ERP systems have been typically the go-to in getting a digital transformation project off the ground when it’s time to expand a food manufacturer’s knowledge base to become more competitive. For example, an ERP’s production planning and material planning applications provide the tools to balance supply and demand, supporting the requirements of an agile supply chain.