Dive Brief:
- Rapid change and specialized demands are driving food and beverage distributors to be more creative and become increasingly transparent, according to a recent Iptor e-book.
- Distributor familiarity with foreign funds and labeling procedures will become vital as consumers demand access to foreign products. Where orders cross international borders, effective management of multiple currencies and foreign language labeling becomes non-negotiable, Iptor reports.
- In this environment of international access and demand, technologically agile software is the key to survival. Systems that help connect the dots by linking customers, suppliers and partners all across the world, while still ensuring reliability, easy implementation and support will help companies adapt to change.
Dive Insight:
The food supply chain has long been global — gone are the days when Florida Oranges were found mainly in local grocery stores (if those days ever existed).
However, technology has driven major shifts in food and beverage distribution by improving access for both consumers and suppliers. Consumers now demand Greek yogurt be available at local grocery stores, restaurants and even to their doorstep. A sign of the growth: Amazon Fresh, the instant grocery delivery service, recently announced it would open 2,000 more grocery stores nationwide.
As a result, and as the Iptor ebook makes clear, distributors must wrestle with greater international trade and its associated regulations. As a result, trade management, compliance, inventory forecasting and management software are growing in demand, as is the demand for logistics cold chain capacity.
