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What can you do to successfully take on the challenges of a labor shortage in the food and beverage industry?

Your business has probably felt the impact of the labor shortage in Canada. And you’re not alone. According to a BDC study, almost 40% of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses are finding it difficult to hire new employees. The situation won’t get better any time soon.

In the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing industry, small businesses are even worse off. Food processing is the country’s biggest employer in manufacturing, according to Statistics Canada, with 290,000 people working. Research by the non-profit Food Processing Skills Canada found that by 2025 the gap between job vacancies in the sector and the people available to fill them would reach 65,000, or 24% of the current workforce.

You’ve completed the rounds of ERP software demos for your business. Now what?

Now is a good time to pause. Sit with the power-user colleagues who attended the (hopefully) in-depth demos with you, and get some clarity on all the information you gathered. 

After all, this digital transformation is a high-stakes project for your manufacturing, distribution, or agri-food business. You’re looking for a cost-effective ERP solution that meets your list of requirements, fits well with your industry’s specific needs, and is easy-to-use.

Did your business hit a wall during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Whether your activity rocketed and strained your operation’s limits, or your company had to perform major surgery on its business model, the pandemic became a moment of truth.

In a survey of over 710 business executives, about 56% of the respondents said they were revising their business models since the first wave of the pandemic; 57% accelerated their digital transformation. Almost one-quarter of the businesses started their digital transformation as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. 

Is your business growing? Congratulations! Perhaps it’s time for your company to invest in a tool that will allow you to support your development in the long term. Up until now, you certainly must have used basic accounting software and Excel files which started your growth. But these tools quickly hit their limits when your sales volume increases. Certain signs are telling: do you feel like you don't have much control over your production and traceability? Do you have poor visibility on your results?  Are your clients sometimes unhappy or have you even lost certifications or labels? An ERP system provides many advantages that can help you tackle these issues. Here are 5 signs that your food business is ready to invest in an ERP.

Does your SME want to kick off an ERP project but does not know where to start? Does it seem too complicated? Do you want to make sure you are investing in the best possible management system for your business? For an investment like this, using the services of an ERP consultant could be wise. An expert’s opinion is precious! What does their work entail? How do they bring added value? Here are a few details to help you better understand what they do.

How can you choose the best ERP software for your business? We asked an ERP consultant, who shared their advice with us. Whether it is implementing a company’s first ERP or changing their systems, they regularly make their expertise available to their clients so they can choose the best solution for their needs. They tell us their evaluation criteria and selection methodologies for choosing an ERP software.