"The food industry is facing a decade of seismic disruption" says the FWD
Enormous changes are predicted to impact the UK's food & drink wholesale industry over the coming decade. New technologies, increasing & changing consumer demand, accelerating disinter-mediation & the widespread growth of innovations are placing a large burden on a wholesaler's ability to adapt, incorporate and accommodate for changes on a huge scale.
In June 2019, the FWD released funded and published research investigating the key destructive mechanisms impacting the Wholesale industry for years to come.
The necessity to adapt, innovate and overcome is rarely this vital, given predicted industry circumstances.
Technological innovations can be either a blessing or a curse for the UK's Wholesalers; the answer lies in the individual business's ability and willingness to adapt & evolve with digitalised advancements.
The Report encouraged;
"Distributors should select, implement, and leverage technologies that work together to enable innovations that deliver new and alternative business models and processes."
The report outlined 3 key areas, which are crucial for Businesses to orientate their objectives around as we navigate the digital age.
These are:
"Become more customer-centric, working to provide a more personalised experience across an omnichannel environment."
RouteMagic can implement seamless supply-chain communications, from back-office, to field-operative, right down to the customer.
Track your deliveries in real-time, with immediate recall on updates. This means your operations can run smoothly, and your everyone is kept in the loop.
Returns and invoices are electronically produced, on the spot. Along with Electronic PoDs, there is no longer need for paper waste and no delays and issues regarding payments.
RouteMagic puts your customer into the loop, giving them the ability to tap in and communicate with you and your workers, building stronger relationships. Streamline supply-chain communications and watch your exponential growth.
"Leverage the power of data to provide insights into internal operations, as well as into customer requirements and segmentation."
Easily draw upon, and analyse reports from across your business. From customers, vehicles, sales, deliveries, finance, stocks, routes and further, you can track your changes and growth, permitting you the luxury of more accurate growth predictions, and productive management over your operations.
Customer relationship history is provided, meaning algorithms on our systems can suggest relevant additional items, personalising your customer's experience and ensuring they receive exactly what they need.
"Extend sensor-based inventory management, their e-commerce channel, and renewable service offerings."
RouteMagic's implementations for easy returns on damaged units means less unexplained waste.
The easily-accessible possibilities of 0% paper waste through digitalised invoices & delivery documents is a huge step away from ageing practices which contribute to environmental degradation. Moving forward with forward-thinking, rapid and productive digital changes means wholesale distributors can stay at the top of their industries, leveraging data & technologies through economic expansion.
Quicker routes using GPS systems means less fuel is needed on those fast-track delivery routes.
All of the recommendations by the FWD can be catered for by RouteMagic.
The easily navigable and integrating nature of RouteMagic results in a rapid transitional phase; get your workers trained in less than 2 days and grow with our highly proficient route management system.
"In order to remain competitive in the medium to long term, it is essential that wholesalers embrace digital transformation and fully utilise the new opportunities that e-commerce presents."
- Dr Frank Shaw
Foresight Director
Centre for Future Studies
