Falco stresses companies should select a new system that will not negatively impact current efficiencies. “Any system they choose must move as fast as they do and provide information on the fly.”
It pays to carefully consider whether you want a ‘bolt-on’ solution, something that is scalable, a more robust solution, or one specifically customized to your business.
Heim points out that bolt-ons may be relatively inexpensive initially, but can end up being more expensive in the long run due to the need to pay for upgrades to maintain compatibility with other systems. Similarly, selecting an initial package with customized elements can lead to costly upgrades over time.
What the Future Holds
“In produce, we don’t have a supply chain, it’s more like a supply web,” Treacy explains. “There are many steps along the way. It’s important for the industry to get a higher rate of adoption to get the product out of the supply chain as fast as we can in the event of a recall.”
Heil states the obvious yet still elusive fact to some produce businesses: if they want to continue selling to their top-tier customers, they need to get ready. Everyone, he says, must understand PTI “is not going to go away.”
“It’s just smart project management,” Townsend stresses. “Before you do anything to change a process, you need to understand your business very well first,
including the work flows and the corresponding data flows.” In addition, he emphasizes, “You need to have a project team that has ownership over both selection and deployment, so everyone has a stake.” Lastly, he notes, “unwavering management support is critical.”
