According to Statista, roughly 43% of food shoppers in the United States are continually hunting for healthy alternatives. People are growing more concerned about the order of their consumables and how they are stored and handled in general, aside from a general shift in eating patterns from junk to healthy produce.
As a result, distributors and grower-shippers are increasingly required to maintain supply chain visibility. It’s critical to follow safety standards as closely as possible when packing, handling, and transportation, especially as a precautionary step against recalls. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is meant to assist you in completing this task quickly and accurately.
When researching a recall, ERP software can assist you in tracking the tainted lot across the whole supply chain. This allows you to pinpoint the most likely source of contamination and take prompt action to prevent it, such as switching suppliers if the inquiry uncovers their activities.
This organization provides an excellent ERP solution that allows you to communicate seamlessly with your new supplier while keeping track of your product orders. You can work with your produce providers to ensure low food waste and a more uniform operations process by including this and other steps into your approach.
What Are The Questions You Should Ask Your New Produce ERP ?
When switching suppliers, it’s critical to spell out the terms and conditions of your contract so that you and your new provider are on the same page about the work process. Their methods of operation may differ from yours, and you may need to spend some time fine-tuning the details of how you may bring your operations together. However, you must be sure that it is something you can deal with and that it fulfills your criteria and policies.
Here are some inquiries you should make of your new produce supplier:
1. Do you Have an Online Ordering System?
Online ordering offers a level of ease that is unrivaled. If you’re out of stock, go to the supplier’s website or download the app and place an order for the product you want in the quantity you want.
You get everything you need to know about the order, including the projected delivery time and mode and the ease of placing orders from virtually any digital device. The order and bill history may be necessary for record-keeping needs in the future.
When using a supplier’s website, keep the following in mind:
- When processing orders, there’s a lower possibility of making mistakes.
- You can track orders until they arrive at your wholesale plant.
- Â Orders can be processed much faster.
- Â The supplier acknowledges your order almost immediately.
- Â Multiple sorts of products can be ordered in bulk.
Suppose you have an ERP system in place. In that case, it can be configured to make orders for restocking your produce goods depending on your inventory database. This offers a level of convenience while also ensuring that you won’t run out of supplies.
2. What are Your Terms and Conditions for Payment?
To avoid any problems later, it’s critical to talk about the payment details. What method of payment does the produce merchant accept? Is a deposit required, and if so, is it a set fee or a % of the order value? Is it necessary to pay in full when the order is delivered, or will you be sent an invoice first?
If you’re used to buying supplies on credit, it’s good to find out if your new supplier offers this to their clients.
Another crucial aspect of payment is determining how they wish to be paid. Credit cards and online transfers are usually the most popular payment methods. In situations like these, having an ERP system that can handle payments digitally based on invoiced amounts is beneficial.
3. Do you Offer any Discounts for Large Orders?
Any buyer who wants to buy produce in quantity should look for a bulk order discount. Almost every supplier offers a discount on large orders, often known as volume discounts because it’s a widespread practice. Having stated that, there are no hard and fast rules to follow. You might not obtain a discount unless you specifically ask for one.
As a result, it’s critical to inquire about discounts and iron out the details before formalizing an agreement. This will assist you in determining whether or not their terms are advantageous to you. It’s worth noting that specific ERP software allows you to negotiate discounted rates and upfront payments on larger product orders.
4. What are Your Order Minimum and Maximum?
The majority of vendors have a minimum and maximum order quantity. What will work for you is determined by the size of your product business and the current state of your inventory.
You risk producing deterioration and subsequent losses if the minimum order is substantially more significant than the amount you require. Working with the correct produce provider will ensure that you can order exactly what you need.
5. Can You tell me About your Delivery Schedule?
Produce merchants are likely to have many orders to complete at once, especially if they are well-established and well-connected companies. Unless they have a well-optimized delivery system and schedule, the longer the order fulfillment time increases as the number of clients they work with increases.
Because you want your product to be as fresh as possible, you should look for a quick fulfillment time. Fresh produce has a longer shelf life and is less likely to go wrong.
When you’re putting together your orders, see whether they have a set delivery period. It’s also crucial to find out if they deliver on weekends. This will allow you to plan ahead of time and meet your distribution deadlines.
6. Do you have Proof of Liability Insurance?
Do not be tempted solely by low pricing or discounts; instead, inquire if your produce merchant has a liability insurance certificate or something similar. In the event of a recall, a liability certificate can save your bacon by allowing you to avoid ultimate responsibility if contamination occurs after one of your orders has been fulfilled.
Suppose your product seller has a liability insurance certificate. In that case, you could save yourself much trouble because the insurance will usually cover most, if not all, of the loss and help you get back on track quickly.
7. Can you tell me About your Safety Procedures?
Knowing the safety practices of your produce merchants should play a significant factor in your decision to cooperate with them. What are the quality control metrics that they employ? What kind of pest control methods do they employ? Are there any guidelines in place for washing vegetables and storing them properly? Based on the replies, you’ll get an idea of how far they go to guarantee that safety regulations are met.
Testimonials, recommendations, and reviews can give you a good notion of these aspects, but if possible, paying a visit to the supplier’s facility can offer you a more accurate picture.