Vendor management is one of the most important elements of your food manufacturing software; helping to manage every aspect of the business that is vendor facing. It acts as a CRM that organizes purchases, communications, and member relations by record, allowing your team to access any data they need in just a few clicks.

Most often, food and beverages harness the benefits of vendor management through the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) food management software.

Below, we're digging into what vendor management looks like with an ERP solution, and the additional benefits you can gain from centralizing your operations. 

Is vendor management software and ERP worth it for food and beverage businesses? 

Yes, both vendor management software and ERP are absolutely worth it for businesses in the food and beverage space. However, there are a few things to consider before finalizing your operational flow.

While you can take a fractional approach to this area of business, we recommend against it. With separate software or tools for key steps in your process (such as vendor management, communication, CRM and purchase tracking), you run a greater risk of letting details slip through the cracks – causing irreparable damage to brand trust and experience.

That's why most businesses opt to go with a type of Enterprise Resource Planning Software (ERP) to help manage and support vendors for a particular business need. 

Plus, there are other perks to centralizing your operations. Your food management software option offers additional cost-saving opportunities while ensuring quality assurance and achieving business goals, empowering your team with data-driven insights that they can rely on for their next iteration of strategy.

What is food manufacturing software and how does it relate to your vendor management strategy?

Food management software is a business management support category executed through an ERP: or Enterprise Resource Planning tool. An ERP is a type of software that helps you manage day-to-day business activities and flows, vital in strengthening your supply chain operations, procurement, and performance.  It organizes your systems into a central, accessible tool, offering seamless visibility and transparency through every step of your supply chain.

No matter what season of business growth you're in, ERP has become critical for businesses to manage successfully via an integrated software system.

What other software do I need with an ERP for vendor management? 

None! ERP software ties all managerial processes of a company together by easily aggregating data, eliminating duplicates and minimizing errors, and compiling results with to-the-minute accuracy – giving you a reliable single source of information.  

Is ERP cloud technology worth it? 

Cloud technology has redefined excellence in the ERP space. Inecta was an early adapter of this tech, leading the industry in food management software development with our ERP option for food businesses. 

Why? 

Using cloud gives businesses a better modicum of control, minimizing the risk of error in reporting and aggregation. You'll also be able to transform information in seconds, going to any remote or on-site entity with remarkable transparency and speed – incorporating real-time efficiency with incomparable transparency and user experience. 

What should I look for for vendor management in my ERP solution of choice? 

Your ERP is comprehensive. However, there are a few things to look out for to help you with food and beverage business vendor management. We've listed them below: 

Real-Time Data

Your ERP system of choice should offer a  balanced view of daily operations in real-time performance.  This helps you to perform efficiently without compromising financial integrity with added costs. Refunds, discounts, and sourcing are all areas that can quickly become financially inefficient, which is why having everything flowing through a single centralized ERP can add benefits.

You'll also provide a better overall vendor experience, fostering a deeper connection between both parties. Trust in quality, reliability, and safety control is established, centralizing your communications and needs through a single channel.

Reporting Made Easy

A continuous flow of relevant information is needed to run a balanced food and beverage business.  The ERP cloud-hosting software system is designed to give that needed information with down-to-the-minute accuracy.  You can access vendor reports, source data, and answer customer service inquiries in just a few clicks, providing. better overall experience. 

Food and beverage companies can maximize visibility via reports across all departments. You can then take a proactive approach to make lower-risk supply and manufacturing decisions more accurately. This affords you the flexibility, speed, and agility you need to keep up with the demands of the modern marketplace. 

Address Recalls & Collaborate 

The ERP traceability feature also gives companies a proactive approach when dealing with product recalls and vendor collaboration. Immediate reactivity must be present to minimize fallout and damage to the brand. With lot traceability support found in food manufacturing software solutions, companies are given the tools to pinpoint and trace the affected product immediately, identifying all the details of the supply chain. Products can be traced back to their originating batch and lot number, securing safety for the consumer and allowing safe production to continue.  

You can then use this to collaborate with vendors and manage the risks accordingly. 

Streamlined Vendor Connection

Your ERP cloud-hosting software system should provide a centralized communication forum that allows a deeper, more personal connection between the company and each vendor. As a company grows and develops trusted vendors for its food and beverage business, the community is important to maintain a healthy relationship between buyer and suppliers.  

 Inecta leads the food manufacturing software space 

Considering using a food manufacturing software for your vendor management needs? Connect with the team at Inecta today. We've led the industry for over 20 years, and are here to provide you with the most cutting edge technological solutions for your business needs. For more information and to get started today, please visit our website.