Food quality through ERP traceability

In this article, we will consider some concerns held by consumers when purchasing food products. We will also delve into the concept of traceability and analyse the capabilities of ERPs and how they work in the food industry. Discover how an ERP can positively influence your SME!

Traceability with ERP, a must to serve the 21st-century consumer

Some food safety specialists have noted a change in consumer attitudes. Most studies indicate that consumers are now more concerned about how food is processed and what methods are used to handle it. Yet many consumer concerns go further,

with greater awareness of issues such as product packaging. Consumers also expect packaging to help products last longer. And, of course, they want to have all the necessary information about the food product. And then there is the question of sustainability. This is another point that customers look at when choosing one product over another.

In short, sustainability and food safety are priorities for the 21st-century consumer. What role does traceability play in all this?

What is traceability in ERP and what is it for?

Traceability is a set of techniques used to trace batches of products in the food industry. By implementing the most suitable procedures, it is possible to know when a food was manufactured, where the raw materials come from, what ingredients are included, what temperature the food was dispatched at, and much more.

As you are well aware, health authorities have imposed various mandatory traceability processes for SMEs working in the food sector to control any irregularities that may arise in the production chain. Therefore, as this is not just an issue for large companies, it is essential that small and medium-sized enterprises follow the rules to the letter.

But food production traceability is not a simple task. Document management of all records can become a real drama, especially when staff resources are limited. With this in mind, it is essential to have effective tools in place to comply with all the requirements imposed by the health authorities in terms of traceability and other issues.

SAP Business One, ERP traceability carried to its highest level

At the beginning of this article, we reflected on the utilities included in many ERPs. Most of them include modules on finance, purchasing and industrial processes. For sure you are already aware of the benefits of implementing digital solutions of this calibre in your SME. However, you might not have thought about them as also the perfect way to manage the traceability of your products.

But you need to choose the right ERP for your food business. SAP Business One, the leading ERP in all sectors. One of the main reasons for this is that it is perfectly suited to all kinds of companies, including SMEs in the food sector. How does it do this? Batch management allows all the following indicators to be controlled:

• Unique product ID. Each batch created is included on a product. This makes it much simpler to manage batches of different products at the same time.
• Product status. Indicates where the batch is in the production process. There are several statuses that can be related to batches. Within the application batches that have passed inspection can be blocked, while released batches are those that are ready to be shipped to a supplier or to end customers.
• Batch code. SAP Business One supports the automatic generation of batch numbers. Even so, it includes a tool to register them manually.
• Key product dates. The ERP traceability system of SAP Business One for SMEs includes key dates for all batches, such as admission, manufacturing and expiry dates.
• Customised fields. A good ERP should stand out for adapting as much as possible to the needs of each business. In SAP Business One, it is possible to add new fields

There is no doubt that all this information, stored in one place and accessible to all authorised employees, facilitates traceability in the food industry.Such a comprehensive system also enhances other aspects of the company, such as productivity and document security.

SAP Business One for your company thanks to SEIDOR

SAP Business One ERP traceability is the ideal end-to-end management software for companies in the food industry. Don't forget that in addition to these processes, this platform unifies all your company's processes. How can you enjoy all these advantages?

Integrating SAP Business One requires a reliable SAP supplier. At SEIDOR we have been working for decades side by side with SMEs and companies from all sectors to optimise their processes and increase the profitability of their businesses. Don't wait! Contact us now to improve ERP traceability and many other departments in your business.