Working with fresh produce is often a 24 hour operation. It requires attention to detail, and efficient business processes. One aspect of wholesale food supply which is stuck behind the times is manual order entry.Â
As online shopping is now the preferred way to order, why is this something food wholesalers don’t often offer? Moving digital will remove the task of mundane order entry and more importantly, simplify the lives of chefs and restaurant owners.Â
What's order entry like now?​​
Traditionally, wholesale fruit & veg orders are interpreted from voicemails, vague emails, and whatsapp messages which lack clarity and in turn, create errors. As a result, additional hours are added to a working day to both consolidate orders and rectify mistakes.
While errors are easy to make, they have costly consequences in the form of credit notes, wasted produce and customer dissatisfaction. Order entry processes are outdated and labour intensive resulting in wrong products, missing products or incorrect quantities.
Manual order entry inhibits growth​​
Outdated order entry also inhibits the growth of wholesale fruit and veg businesses.Â
Order capture is a highly manual and time-consuming process equating to higher labour costs, and staff performing repetitive tasks. The resources wasted on this aspect of the business could be utilised more productively to grow and develop wholesale fruit and veg businesses.Â
Gaining the time spent on order entry back could free up time to attract new business, new chances for growth, and a new approach to food wholesale.
A solution in software​
Venture capitalists are claiming kitchen technology to be the way forward in fresh produce services. Crunchbase is even considering it a ‘sexy concept’.
Statistica, one of the largest data resource websites, recognises the importance of how digitalisation can reduce labour costs and lower the amount of incorrect orders. With statistical backing, moving online has never been so attractive.
What improvements can be made?​ ​
Customers shifting to online ordering creates a snowball of improvements.
Firstly, online ordering creates greater transparency of what customers want. Placing orders themselves means that suppliers can be more confident that they are correctly being fulfilled. This creates accountability between customers and suppliers and minimises any potential dispute. Online ordering ensures clear communication at both ends of the supply chain.
How Fresho can help​​
Fresho’s online ordering platform can provide the solution to manual order entry. The cloud-based software operates under the values of simplicity, ease, and convenience. Greengrocer Jay Carroll describes himself as ‘one of the least tech-minded people you will care to meet’, but has embraced the changes that have come with Fresho.
Fresho’s online ordering platform can provide the solution to manual order entry. The cloud-based software operates under the values of simplicity, ease, and convenience. Greengrocer Jay Carroll describes himself as ‘one of the least tech-minded people you will care to meet’, but has embraced the changes that have come with Fresho.
Fresho materialised as a technology by suppliers for suppliers. This understanding puts supplier needs at the forefront of development and ensures they are effectively met. Software will revolutionise this old school part of the supply chain and Fresho’s passion for food and technology will offer a seamless transition to modernisation.
