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THE FIELD COMMENT —Technology
Let’s talk about tech ross-on-wye—Jonathan Evans, managing director of quality assurance and compliance solutions specialist Muddy Boots Software, identifies ten reasons for using technology to better manage the supply chain within the fresh produce industry.
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Muddy Boots Software Over 2,000 businesses in more than 40 countries use Muddy Boots’ web-based solutions
ack in 2013, the horsemeat scandal
information live and up to date. At
Data can be entered on the go
brought food supply chains into the
any point in time, customers, produc-
whether in a field, in a warehouse,
spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
ers and food processors can access
or on the shop floor. The days
In its aftermath, major brands and
and share information with a partic-
when suppliers and assessors had
supermarkets have had to pay more
ular contractor, instead of having to
to burn the midnight oil writing up
attention than ever before to where
rely on a phone call or email which
their notes and laboriously enter-
their food is sourced from, who sup-
may be missed.
ing records are gone forever.
plied it and what checks are being carried out en route. Thankfully, the explosive growth in digital technology seen in recent
2
Go mobile
3
Manage in real time
years isn’t just about music-sharing
Internet-based solutions and the
and video streams. There are many
profusion of tablets and smart-
The wireless syncing of data and
reasons why it can also help food
phones mean live data is accessible
notifications of record changes
retailers and suppliers work togeth-
from anywhere, making suppliers
gives users immediate access to
er to create a stronger, more resilient
truly mobile. They can even securely
important information, so there’s
supply chain that stands up to the
record, share and store their cropping
no delay in making time-critical
harshest scrutiny.
data on the cloud whilst harvesting
decisions. The Muddy Boots Green-
crops in the field. Alternatively, busi-
light Supplier Approval system, for
nesses can complete supplier assess-
example, allows users to manage
ments when travelling or during
by exception: only at the moment
farm visits, making data collection
the software detects a problem
and submission a more efficient and
are users prompted to take action.
streamlined process.
If everything is as it should be
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Better collaborative working Collaboration is key to a successful supply chain – and thanks to technology, no longer are the various stakeholders forced to work independently of one another. With software solutions in place, agronomists, farmers, food packagers, wholesalers and retailers can access, record and share activity simply over the web or offline using a mobile app. Cloud-based systems, in particu-
lar, allow businesses to share relevant internal information and the specific customers they are working with can enter information as well. They are live online systems that are visible to other parties, making it easier to keep
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Jonathan Evans MANAGING DIRECTOR
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Mitigating a greater risk
Food safety risk management has never been more important to businesses than it is right now. Errors are not just costly to fix, they can be enormously damaging to brand reputation and can have a significant
according to the predetermined
vided by Muddy Boots allow both
impact on share prices. Technology
businesses to manage their supply
creates a valuable and accurate online
chains equally effectively – or a sup-
audit trail so that food brands and
plier that works with both compa-
retailers can know – and more impor-
nies can ensure the produce that
tantly, prove – that all the disparate
goes to each has been audited to
elements of their supply chains are
their own individual requirements.
fully compliant and up to scratch.
compliance protocols, the software accepts it.
4
You don’t have to be online 24/7
6
It’s not just about the product
9
Annual audits don’t cut it any more
Quality control and compliance involve more than just the food
Because the risk is greater, the need
There’s been huge investment to
item itself – it’s about the qual-
for more regular analysis is greater
improve connectivity in rural areas,
ity and integrity of the people and
too. Suppliers can’t just be audited
which has resulted in significant
organisations supplying it. Soft-
every year; every individual lorry-
advances and wider adoption of
ware allows businesses to accu-
load has to be approved, 24/7, 365 days
crop-recording software. But even
rately understand and trace the
a year.
so, new-generation app technology
origin and quality standards of
and offline data capture mitigates
every link in the supply chain –
any connectivity issues. Business
something that paper records could
in the field can continue as normal
never do.
even if users are offline, with data
time 10 Itandsaves money
These days, businesses can’t just
captured as usual and stored on an
accept that they ‘didn’t know their
The main reason businesses employ
app, until connectivity is found and
supplier was sourcing meat from
technology in any sector is to reduce
syncing kicks in.
an unknown company in another
costs and improve efficiency. Soft-
country’ – because their customers
ware solutions allow auditing and
certainly won’t accept it.
compliance to be tracked and man-
5
Tailor the system to your specific needs Every business has its own supply
aged far more cost-effectively, drasti-
7
It’s not just about food safety
chain approval systems and pro-
cally
reducing
the
number
of
man-hours involved and saving tens of thousands of pounds. The fact that these software solutions also ensure a safe, secure and fully compliant
cesses and no two are exactly the
Food safety risks may have been
supply chain makes them even more
same. Fortunately, the software
in the headlines recently, but
appealing. _ E
that now exists can be tailored spe-
they’re not the only elements of the
cifically to track the specific audits
supply chain that food and grocery
each business requires.
businesses want to track. Many
One brand might wish to track general
industry
standards
for
have sustainability requirements for suppliers to fit their own
whichever market they’re serving,
corporate social responsibility (csr)
while another could implement its
objectives, and technology enables
own sustainability standards for
those to be recorded and managed
their suppliers to adhere to. Soft-
just as effectively as health and
ware solutions such as those pro-
safety compliance.
OPPOSITE PAGE—Muddy Boots’
Greenlight Supplier Approval software ABOVE LEFT—Live data should be
available anywhere, field to warehouse ABOVE RIGHT—Regular auditing is crucial
august 2014 - eurofruit magazine
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