​The Post-COVID Food Manufacturing Landscape

And How Software Can Help

While no one can predict when life will seemingly go back to “normal,” it’s clear that the post-COVID food industry landscape will adopt a new “normal” as certain habits and trends picked up during the pandemic are anticipated to become a permanent fixture in consumers’ lives. For instance, in this “new normal,” it is expected that consumers will eat at home, buy groceries online, and place emphasis on sustainable options more than before the pandemic. With these expectations in mind, it’s not too early to prepare for success post-COVID – and we’re here to help. We’ve rounded up four post-COVID expectations and how you can prepare for them as a food manufacturer – and of course we’ve included how your software can help.

Production Changes

According to Food Processing’s annual Manufacturing Outlook Survey, 41% of respondents plan to increase production in the new year after the pandemic caused 59% of respondents to change production scheduling to meet changes in demand. With fluctuating demand, you need to be able to keep tabs on your production, analyze sales and understand your supply chain in order to make informed decisions for planning production. Your software should not only support these needs, but it should also make it easier to do with features built specifically for analyzing sales, planning production, monitoring real-time inventory and more. Book a demo to learn how NorthScope does this.

Staffing Changes

Similar to production changes, 41% of respondents to the same survey said they plan to add staff in the new year with specific concerns being cited regarding fallen morale in workers and the desire to improve training to deal with reduced labor available. With new employees, it’s important to train them as effectively and efficiently as possible while creating a positive work environment to reduce turnover, especially in times of less available labor. Again, your software should help by being easy-to-use and intuitive while also making your team’s lives easier by automating as much as possible so your team can spend their time working on the things that can make the most impact, thus giving them more impact and adding value to their work. Additionally, your software provider should be readily available to provide support when questions arise and also provide extensive training upon implementation. Book a demo to learn how NorthScope does this.

Increased Digitization

Speaking of automating as much as possible…some respondents to the aforementioned survey mentioned the desire for less paper and more computer-based tech, with 52% mentioning replacing paper records with electronic as well as shifting from local servers to cloud computing. Additionally, according to Food Logistics, technology is the key to food safety, as by “using a comprehensive data platform, it is possible to generate historical insights and identify emerging trends related to specific food sectors or look at hazards for specific raw materials.” When it comes to automating manual tasks, transitioning paper to digital, providing a comprehensive data platform and providing the tools necessary to analyze your business and make strategic decisions, your software should be built to handle all of the above. Book a demo to learn how NorthScope does this.

Increased Safety Concerns

From sanitization to an HACCP plan to third-party certifications, food manufacturers are concerned more than ever about food safety. In order to support this, your software should track lot certifications and track inventory so you can maintain the transparency and traceability needed to verify the quality of your product and to respond efficiently to any potential recall. Book a demo to learn how NorthScope does this.

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