Industry

Food Industry

The food industry is a complex and dynamic sector with high demands for efficiency, quality, and traceability. Given increasing complexity and competitive pressure, food companies must be able to effectively manage and optimize their operations to remain competitive. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has proven to be one of the most important technologies helping food companies achieve precisely this goal.

AvERP in the food industry

In addition to the standard modules of AvERP for sales (including CRM), purchasing, manufacturing and assembly, warehouse management, production planning, employee management and time tracking, as well as complaint management We offer optimized processes for food production, including the following modules (also available completely free of charge):

  • Recipe management and cost calculation
  • Best before date administration
  • End-to-end batch traceability on the purchasing, sales and production sides
  • Management and optimization of storage times
  • Quality control and assurance.
  • Mobile data capture (order picking, labeling, etc.)
  • Management of framework agreements/contracts
  • Empties management
  • Interfaces to shipping software (including DHL)
  • Recall campaigns

What are ERP systems?

An ERP system integrates all key business areas, such as accounting, purchasing, warehousing, production, and sales, into a single system. This allows companies to share information more easily and automate processes to increase efficiency. With an ERP system, you gain a centralized database where all relevant information about business processes is stored. It also allows users to quickly access this information to make informed business decisions. Furthermore, ERP software can capture and analyze data in real time to improve business processes and identify bottlenecks. ERP software is widely used in many different industries, including manufacturing, retail, and healthcare. Companies of all sizes can benefit from implementing ERP software, as it can help streamline business processes, increase efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction.

What do industry-specific ERP software programs offer?

Although there are many general ERP solutions available, certain industries have specific requirements and therefore need tailored, industry-specific ERP software.

Industry-specific ERP software offers numerous advantages.

What modules are available?

ERP systems typically offer a wide range of modules covering various business areas and processes. Some of the most common modules are:

There are also industry-specific modules tailored to the specific requirements of particular sectors, such as the pharmaceutical, food, or automotive industries. The exact modules may vary depending on the ERP system, but these are some of the most common.

The license-free ERP system for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Why is ERP software needed for the food industry?

The food industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors, where compliance with regulations and standards is crucial to ensuring product quality and safety. ERP software specifically designed for the food industry can help companies meet these requirements while simultaneously optimizing their business processes.

Specialized ERP software for the food industry typically offers a wide range of functions and modules specific to this sector. For example, food companies can integrate product traceability features to ensure they can respond quickly to a recall and rapidly identify affected products. These features can also help ensure compliance with regulations such as the German Food and Drug Regulation (LFGB) or Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

Another key advantage of ERP systems for the food industry is their ability to help companies manage their supply chain more effectively. By integrating modules for purchasing, inventory management, and logistics, companies can track and optimize the delivery of raw materials and products. This can help minimize supply bottlenecks and delays while simultaneously reducing costs.

In addition, ERP systems for the food industry can also integrate quality management functions. Companies can automate quality controls and inspections to ensure that all products meet requirements. With an automated quality management system, companies can improve the quality of their products, minimize the risk of recalls, and strengthen customer trust in their brand.

Key functions of an ERP system in the food industry

Scalability

Scalability in ERP systems describes the ability of such a system to adapt to different requirements and changes and to grow or shrink without affecting performance.

Specifically, this means that an ERP system is scalable if it is able to process an increasing number of users, transactions, and data volumes without compromising the system’s performance.

Scalability is a crucial factor when choosing and implementing an ERP system, as businesses typically grow and change, and the system must grow with them to meet their evolving needs. An ERP system that lacks scalability can lead to problems such as poor performance, system crashes, and data loss.

International usability of ERP systems means that the system is able to function in different countries and regions worldwide and meet the specific requirements of those regions. This includes supporting different languages, currencies, tax systems, legal requirements, cultural differences, and other specific local requirements.

An ERP system with international applicability must therefore be able to process data in different currencies, create localized reports and documents, and support multilingualism.

It must also be able to meet the requirements of different tax systems and comply with local laws and regulations. The international usability of ERP systems is important because companies today often operate globally and conduct their business processes in different countries.

Mobility in ERP systems refers to the ability of users to access the system from mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. This means that users are no longer tied to a specific workplace or environment to access the ERP system and perform their tasks.

An ERP system with mobile access allows users to access real-time data and information to make quick decisions that impact business processes. However, it should be noted that mobile access to an ERP system can introduce additional security risks.

For this reason, mobile ERP applications typically need to include special security measures such as two-factor authentication and encryption to ensure that data and information are protected from unauthorized access.

Release capability in ERP systems refers to the system’s ability to receive and integrate regular updates, improvements, and enhancements to respond to changes in the business environment. A highly release-capable ERP system can easily install updates and upgrades, ensuring that system integrity and functionality are maintained.

Companies must continuously adapt to changing market conditions and implement new technologies. An ERP system that lacks high release capability can make it difficult to manage changes in the business environment and can lead to compatibility issues, malfunctions, and security risks.

Regular updates and upgrades can keep an ERP system up-to-date with the latest technology to ensure it meets current business requirements and supports the company’s competitive advantage.

In the food industry, accurate recipe management is crucial. ERP software allows companies, especially food manufacturers, to centrally store and manage their recipes. They can record not only ingredients and quantities, but also the quality and origin of raw materials. Furthermore, food industry software offers automated calculations to accurately determine the cost of producing a product. These features are essential for maximizing profitability and ensuring product quality.

The best-before date (BBD) is a critical aspect of food production and management, particularly in the food industry. ERP software enables precise management of BBD data, allowing companies to ensure their products are fresh and safe for consumption. Automatic alerts about expired products not only help safeguard product quality but also protect against legal repercussions and loss of consumer confidence.

Seamless batch traceability is of paramount importance in the food industry, particularly with regard to product safety. ERP software specifically designed for the food sector enables companies to track the origin of every batch, from raw materials to the finished product, in real time. This is crucial for responding quickly and accurately to quality issues or product recalls. Ensuring end-to-end traceability is essential not only for product quality but also for compliance with stringent regulations.

Efficient warehouse management is a key aspect of the food industry. ERP software enables precise inventory management and optimizes storage times. It automatically alerts customers to expiring products and facilitates efficient inventory turnover to ensure a constant supply of fresh products.

Food quality is central to the food industry, as it directly affects consumer health and significantly influences a company’s image. Integrating ERP software provides comprehensive quality control and assurance modules. These enable companies to define quality standards, monitor processes, and conduct quality checks. In case of deviations, immediate action can be taken to ensure product quality.

Mobility and real-time data are crucial in food production. ERP software offers mobile data capture modules that allow employees to collect data directly on-site. This is particularly useful for order picking, labeling, and other processes where speed and accuracy are essential. Mobile data capture significantly improves the efficiency of production processes and minimizes errors.

Long-term contracts and framework agreements with suppliers or customers are common in the food industry. An ERP system therefore simplifies the management of these contracts and ensures that the agreed terms and delivery times are met.

The food industry often uses reusable packaging and empty containers. ERP software simplifies the management of empty containers by monitoring inventory, tracking circulation, and ensuring that sufficient empty containers are available for production. This contributes to cost efficiency and prevents production bottlenecks.

Efficient logistics is a crucial factor in the food industry. Integrating ERP software with shipping providers like DHL and other logistics companies is seamless. This enables smooth order processing, shipment tracking, and automatic inventory updates.

Although the food industry makes extensive efforts to ensure quality and food safety, situations can still arise that necessitate product recalls. An ERP system provides valuable support in such cases, enabling companies to act quickly and precisely. It automatically identifies all affected products, tracks their locations, and facilitates efficient management of the recall process.

AvERP. Tailor-made, yet standard.

The license-free ERP system for small and medium-sized enterprises.