ERP can help the agriculture, food and drink industry bounce back

Blog updated on 29th July 2020 by Harry Procter

QuickLinks

1. The impact of... you know what
2. SME's needs ERP
3. Why SAP Business One?

The UK government's recent initiative is a welcome boost to a sector challenged by pandemic and Brexit. In times like these, companies need business systems with the flexibility to help manage through that change.

The impact of... you know what

Food and Drink is the UK's largest manufacturing sector. According to Food and Drink Federation statistics, exports have grown strongly in recent years with exports to non-EU countries doing particularly well (*). All good. And then.... you know what happened. The hospitality and travel sectors are on their knees, exports are down, and confidence everywhere has taken a knock.

On June 22nd the government announced its 'bounce back' plan for the agriculture, food and drink industry. This is part a programme of support for the sector to help get exports back on track.

The plan includes:

• A series of events at which producers can showcase their products
• A new "SME eCommerce Accelerator Pilot to increase the level of international eCommerce"
• The introduction of an Agri-food Counsellor serving countries in the Gulf ( an area to which UK exports had grown in Q1/2020 despite the pandemic )

The plan focuses on small and medium sized companies (SME's) and trade with those non-EU countries with which the Department of International Trade is negotiating free trade agreements, namely Japan, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Once again, all good.

Or is it?

SME's needs ERP

What about the back-office systems that SME's will need to enable this growth in overseas trade?

We are a specialist supplier of business management software to SME's in the agribusiness and food and drink sectors. Just the sort of companies the Government's bounce back initiative is designed to help.

The companies we speak to are typically those that are investing in systems to support business change. Many of them looking to move away from reliance on combinations of small business accounting software, spreadsheets and manual systems. And for these companies, the case for ERP is compelling:

• One system for management of purchasing, sales, inventory and accounting
  Removing manual updates reduces scope for mistakes, saves time and improves accuracy and timeliness of reporting
• Integration with eCommerce and other sales channels
  Too often, websites are developed in isolation. An integrated eCommerce, CRM and ERP system reduces costs, improves customer experience and builds brand loyalty
• Systems that enable business growth
  As business grows, so might the number of warehouses, business partners and documents being processed. Systems such as SAP Business One can scale with these changes, offering scope to add warehouses, customer portals, multi-currency and other features including EDI and eCommerce

Why SAP Business One?

SAP Business One has the scope to handle all the complexities of a growing food or agri-business. It is designed for small to mid-sized companies and provides an affordable option for any company looking to streamline business and financial management. SAP Business One is trusted by over 65,000 companies and is made by SAP, one of the world's most respected technology brands.

* Source: www.fdf.org.uk/exports.aspx

by Harry Procter

ERP specialist and blog contributor.