43% of US food customers, according to Statista statistics, are constantly looking for healthy options. Apart from a broad shift in eating patterns from processed food to fresh produce orders, consumers are also growing more concerned with the source of their consumables and the general handling and storage practices.
As a result, distributors and grower-shippers will increasingly need to keep an eye on their supply chain. Safety regulations must be followed as carefully as possible when handling, shipping, and packaging products, especially as a preventative step against product recalls. ERP software is made to assist you in completing this task effectively and completely.
When looking into a recall, an ERP software option can assist you in tracking the contaminated lot along the entire supply chain. This enables you to identify the most probable source of contamination and take prompt preventive action, such as switching suppliers if this study reveals their methods.
This business provides a strong ERP solution that will facilitate smooth communication with your new supplier and assist you in keeping track of production orders. You can work with your produce providers to ensure minimum food waste and a more uniform operations process by including this and other steps into your strategy.
What Inquiries Need to You Make of your Fresh Produce Orders?
Clarifying the terms and circumstances of your contract before switching suppliers can help to guarantee that you both grasp the desired work procedure. They may operate differently than you do, so you may need to spend some time addressing the intricacies of how you can coordinate your operations. However, you must ensure that it satisfies your standards and policies and that you may use it.
The following are some queries you ought to put to your new produce supplier:
1. Do you Allow Online Ordering?
Unmatched ease is offered by online ordering. If you’re out of stock, you can place an order for the produce you want and the amount you need by logging onto the supplier’s website or mobile app.
In addition to the ease of placing purchases from almost any digital device, you receive all the information you require, such as the delivery method and the estimated time of arrival. The history of the orders and bills may also prove helpful in the future for keeping records.
Using a vendor’s website
- Fewer mistakes are likely to be made when processing orders.
- You can follow orders until they arrive at your wholesale facility.
- Â Orders can be processed faster.
- You receive almost immediate order confirmation from the supplier.
Your ERP system may be set up to automatically place orders to replenish your produce orders depending on your inventory database if you already have one in place. This increases convenience while making it less likely that you will ever experience a supply shortfall.
2. What are Your Terms and Conditions for Payments?
To prevent any problems later, it is crucial to discuss the payment’s specifics. What method of payment does the produce vendor employ? Is a deposit required, and is it a set amount or a % of the order value? Is payment required in full at the time the order is completed, or will you first get an invoice?
If you are accustomed to purchasing products on credit, you must ascertain whether your new supplier offers their clients this payment option.
Finding out how people wish to be paid is a crucial subject relating to payment. Credit cards and online transfers are typically the most widely used payment methods. An ERP system that can digitally process payments based on invoiced amounts is helpful in situations like these.
3. Do you Offer Special Pricing for Bulk Purchases?
Any customer wishing to buy products should try to get a discount for large orders. Since it is a standard practice in the sector, almost every supplier offers a discount on large orders, often known as a volume discount. Despite this, there are no set rules that must be followed. You might not always receive a discount unless you inquire for one.
So, before making a formal agreement, it’s crucial to determine if they offer discounts and iron out the terms. This will enable you to decide for yourself whether or not their terms are advantageous to you. Certain ERP systems let you pay upfront and receive discounted access to larger product orders.
4. What is Your Lowest and Highest Orders Amount?
The majority of vendors have a minimum and maximum order quantity. The size of your product business and the current status of your inventory will determine what will work for you.
You risk producing deterioration and related losses if the minimum order is substantially bigger than what you need. To ensure you can order exactly how much you need, it’s crucial to work with the correct produce provider.
5. What is the Frequency of Your Orders?
Produce suppliers probably have many orders to complete, particularly if they are reputable and well-connected companies. If they don’t have an efficient delivery system and schedule, order fulfillment will take longer the more clients they operate with.
To acquire your produce as fresh as possible, you should search for a supplier with a quick turnaround time. Using fresh vegetables has a longer shelf life and fewer chances of food waste.
When putting together your orders, try to inquire whether they have a certain delivery window. Finding out if they deliver on weekends is also crucial. This might assist you in making the necessary plans and ensure you can achieve your distribution deadlines.
6. Do you Possess Proof of Liability Insurance?
Ask your produce vendor if they have a liability insurance certificate or anything before you let low prices and discounts convince you to buy from them. In the event of a recall, a liability certificate may be your only chance to avoid full culpability if there is a contamination problem after one of your orders has been shipped.
Suppose your produce seller has proof of liability insurance. In that case, you could be saving yourself many headaches as the insurance will typically cover the majority, if not the entire loss and assist you in getting back on track more quickly.
7. What Safety Procedures Do you Follow?
Your choice to cooperate with your produce merchants should be heavily influenced by your understanding of their safety procedures. What metrics for quality assurance do they employ? What methods of pest control do they employ? Are there guidelines in place for cleaning produce and safe storage? You’ll get a sense of the extent they take to ensure that safety requirements are upheld based on the responses.
You can get a good notion of these details through testimonials, recommendations, and reviews. Still, if it’s possible, you should think about visiting the supplier’s facility in person to get a precise idea.