ERP for Food Industry

We are independent ERP consultants specializing in ERP for food industry, from software selection through to implementation. We do not accept compensation from any vendor or implementer, so our advice is entirely in your interest.

Compare Food & Beverage ERP Software

Compare food ERP software by scrolling down and across to see their applications/modules, number of customers, underlying technology and critical generic requirements.

Click to filter by Tier, System, Application, Industry, Criteria Category and Criteria Detail.

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Product Information
System
Vendor
Description
Website
Primary Tier
Industries
Applications
Developer Information
Number of customers - all products
Number of customers - this product
Technology
% of application that is web based (just need a browser on workstation)
On premise, cloud or hybrid
Private or Public Cloud
Tenant Architecture
Generic Requirements
Customization/Configuration
Without changing source code
User-defined fields Can define values/dropdowns for fields Used in report selection and ordering Used in workflow
User defined screens Change fields to required, optional or invisible for standard and user-defined field
Multiple Companies
Share inventory across companies
Share customers and suppliers across companies
Automate balancing of transactions across legal entities
PO of 1 company automatically generates the sales order in another company
Multiple Currencies
Maintain source and home currency amount for each transaction
Date effective currency exchange rates
Work Flow
Can apply an approval process to any transaction such as a journal entry or any master file such as a supplier or inventory item
Can generate alerts/escalation if something expected is late or reminders
Configurable approvals or alerts without needing programming
Mobility
Optimized for Android and iPhone
Offline mode and synch when internet connected
Sales tax compliance
Canadian sales tax compliance
US sales tax compliance
Reporting/Business Intelligence
Reporting
Industry standard reporting tool and can change existing reports or add new ones
Ad-hoc reporting (don’t need a programmer) with filtering, sorting and summarizing options
Dashboards
Based on real time updates from all transactions
Role specific
Configurable dashboards - don't need to be a programmer to create or change dashboard
Analytics
Drag and drop dimensions
Visualization/graphic representation of data

Not all ERP systems are created equal. There is a big variance in functionality for a specific industry and for the size of company. Small companies don’t need the complexity required for larger companies. There is also a big difference in the ERP vendors which can be:

Vendors with solutions for multiple industries. These systems are more complicated to setup because of all the industries they support.
Vendors that offer a solution for a specific industry.
Vendors that offer an extension developed by a 3rd party for a specific industry.

This page covers unique ERP requirements for food industry, an food ERP system comparison across leading systems, and the ERP implementers that specialize in this space. If you would like independent guidance on which direction is right for your company, we would be glad to help.

ERP Requirements for Food Industry

Food manufacturing companies operate with requirements that generic ERP systems rarely support out of the box. The list below reflects what a purpose-fit system needs to handle:

– Recipe management, including calculating grams per raw material based on percentages-
– Changes to batch sizes will rescale a work order
– Batches can be split into multiple finished goods
– Multilevel backward and forward traceability of ingredients, raw materials, packaging and finished goods
– Allergen tracking
– Compliance with SQF, ISO 9000 and HACCP
– Testing includes control/inspection plans including target, control limits, parameters, and frequency
– Generate NCR’s
– Catch weights

ERP Implementers for Food Industry

Drill down for information about implementers of Food & Beverage ERP Software including number of employees, systems supported and industries supported

180 Systems conduct dozens of ERP selections every year. With our deep knowledge of ERP for food and beverages industry, we will help you find the right ERP system for your company and the right professional services company to implement it.

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Why Companies Choose 180 Systems as Their ERP Consultant for Food Industry

180 Systems Differentiators

1. Independence

We are independent ERP consultants and do not accept any compensation from vendors or implementers.

2. Requirements Analysis

Our analysis is mostly based on business process reviews rather than generic requirements checklists.

3. Strategic alignment

We identify requirements to attain critical success factors (CSFs) and use KPI’s to measure attainment of CSF’s as objectives for an ERP implementation.

4. Food & Beverage ERP Experience

We have extensive experience in Food & Beverage ERP software selection and implementation with testimonials below.

5. Methodology

We have a documented best practice methodology with numerous proven templates to manage ERP selections and implementations.

6. Efficient

We don’t waste anyone’s time. For example, ERP vendors are asked to only respond to critical requirements in an RFP with the goal of 20% of requirements deemed critical.

7. Cost

Our fees are low because we have little overhead, and don’t exceed a maximum unless there is a change in scope and it has been approved.

8. Trusted Advisors

Our clients know that we will always act with integrity and honesty.

Testimonial

From clients we’ve helped with Food & Beverage ERP Software Selection and/or Implementation

Michael’s very good. Michael definitely provided value and food for thought which is not always the case with consultants. He has a wealth of knowledge in the field, so when he even reaches conclusions that I might not necessarily like, they are still valuable. I grew to respect him enough to know that he can know better than I do. As a person he’s a great guy, very professional, knows his stuff, and listens and understands and thinks.

We were all quite impressed with the completeness of the process in a compact way. The methodology was great. I have been through these before, and sometimes this type of process is quite extended, and results might take a lot longer than the approach by 180 Systems that gets to the heart of the matter in a shorter time frame. Their approach includes meeting with the people in the major functions of the organization with pointed questions, and highlights the important issues, not the minor things that do not affect the decision. With 180 System's help we were able to get to the RFQ quicker than we would have otherwise. We were very happy with 180 Systems' work.

Lawrence did exactly what we wanted to have done. We needed someone else to sort through all the systems, and find out which were the best for us. Though we knew the top three, through the work of 180 Systems we decided to select a different system at a much lower cost than one of the top three. Some of us had some experience dealing with evaluating systems but we were too busy to focus, so Lawrence took that "bull by the horns" and ran with it. He took a very disciplined approach to the process and handled all the required legwork. Because of his background, he would ask the penetrating questions and keep the vendors in line and sharp. The way he ran the process, pencils were sharpened sufficiently to offset the cost of 180 Systems fees, so it didn't really cost us anything, in my opinion.

Resources for Food and Beverages Industry ERP Selection and Implementation

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What is food industry ERP and why does this industry need a specialized system?

ERP for the food industry is an enterprise resource planning system built or configured to handle the specific operational and compliance requirements of food and beverage businesses. Unlike generic ERP systems, food manufacturing software manages lot traceability, recipe and formula management, catch weight, shelf life and expiry tracking, regulatory compliance, and food safety documentation in a single platform. Without these capabilities, food and beverage companies face significant risk in the event of a product recall or regulatory audit.

What are the key ERP requirements for food and beverage companies?

The most critical requirements for ERP in the food industry include lot and batch traceability, recipe and bill of materials management, catch weight and variable weight handling, shelf life and expiry date management, food safety and regulatory compliance, quality control, and demand forecasting. Requirements differ depending on whether your business is a food manufacturer, distributor, or a combination, so a thorough requirements analysis should always come before any vendor evaluation.

How do I choose between food-specific ERP and general ERP with food modules?

Food-specific systems typically handle traceability, compliance, and recipe management better out of the box, with less customization required to meet regulatory standards. General ERP platforms with food manufacturing software modules can work well for larger businesses that need broader functionality across other areas, but the configuration cost and timeline are typically higher. Independent ERP consultants can help you assess both options based on your specific compliance requirements and operational model, without a preference for any particular vendor.

How much does ERP for the food industry cost?

ERP costs in the food and beverage industry vary depending on company size, number of users, complexity of traceability and compliance requirements, and deployment model. Food manufacturers typically face higher implementation costs than distributors due to the complexity of recipe management and production workflows. For a realistic breakdown of what to budget for, read our article on ERP Total Cost of Ownership.

Why should food and beverage companies use independent ERP consultants rather than going directly to a vendor?

ERP vendors and their implementation partners are motivated to sell their own solution. Independent ERP consultants like 180 Systems do not accept compensation from any vendor or implementer, so the recommendation you receive is based entirely on your business requirements. This is particularly important in the food industry, where compliance and traceability requirements are non-negotiable and the cost of implementing the wrong system can extend well beyond the initial investment.