The Importance of Choosing a Food and Beverage ERP Provider

There are many providers of enterprise resource planning systems and food and beverage process manufacturers should be cautious when deciding the best one for their operations. Chances are, investing in an ERP system is a decision that will continue to benefit them, or cause them headaches for years to come. Choosing a system must include many considerations not only for the present, but also the future. If it is not a system developed specifically for the food and beverage process manufacturing industry, chances are pretty good that it will not have the various features you need. Also, changes in compliance, competition, and company growth can severely change your ERP needs. This can make finding the right ERP more challenging, but there are ways that you can be reassured that the ERP you choose will suit your unique needs.

Food and Beverage Specific

The number one focus you should have before even beginning to look for an ERP system is ensuring that the ERP provider you choose has a system designed specifically for the food and beverage industry. When it comes to ERP’s the lowest bidder with the biggest promises may end up a complete disaster. You vendor should specialize in providing industry specific solutions and have the ability to show you they are experienced in them. Ask them for references to other similar companies they have served and do your research. Reputable ERP providers will be more than happy to answer your questions and discuss their experience and your specific needs.

There are a number of reasons why this focus is important. First, through their experience in the food and beverage manufacturing industry, they will have come across and found solutions for many common issues that you may face. They also will have a better grasp on the needs of similar businesses and will have individuals on staff that will be more likely to have a background in the field. It eliminates the time consuming process of training your provider in food and beverage manufacturing so they are able to implement a system. Finally, an industry specific provider will have the functionality needed in your key business areas.

Key Focus Areas

Even if you do seek out only providers who focus on the food and beverage industry, it is important to make sure that their systems can answer to several key issues that face you. By obtaining right ERP capabilities, you will be proficient in meeting industry demands all while increasing your profits, satisfying your customers, and improving productivity. It is important that you will have the essential technologies to detect and immediately overcome challenges that come at any time throughout your operational processes. While this is not a complete list, it is a basic look at functionality that food and beverage manufacturers need in an effective solution.

• Flexible and Extensive Lot Control
• Code Tracking
• Materials Tracing
• Regulation Management
• FDA Requirements
• Storage and Handling
• Packaging and Labeling
• Recall Management
• Test/Mock Recalls
• Recall Data Organization
• Expiration Date Monitoring
• Warning Notices
• Inventory Rotation Management
• Waste Tracking
• Growth Capabilities
• Addition of Processes
• Additional User Support

ERP solutions can be an amazing tool that will do wonders for your business, but it is important to remember that without the right ERP, those benefits begin to lessen rapidly. An ERP provider that caters to the food and beverage industry can help you ensure that your investment in a system is a wise one.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kathryn_McDowell/1908194