The food processing industry is changing at a rapid pace. Stricter traceability regulations, a greater focus on food safety, disruptions in the supply chain, and shifting consumer preferences all demand a thoughtful approach. Do you want your food and beverage company to remain successful not just now, but in the future as well? Then you need an industry-specific ERP system that optimizes your processes and gives you control over the entire supply chain.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central combined with Aptean, or Finance & Supply Chain Management (FSCM), provides the tools you need to work more efficiently, reduce costs, and enable growth. Here are seven ways an ERP can future-proof your food production:
1. Effortless Traceability and Compliance
Food safety and regulations in Belgium and the EU require complete transparency. With Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management or Business Central combined with Aptean, you can register and track ingredients from supplier to end product using lot and serial number management, barcode scanner integration, and automated reporting. In the event of a recall, you’ll have all the necessary data available within seconds, minimizing risk.
2. Smart Inventory Management and Less Waste
The integrated inventory management features of Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management and Aptean in Business Central help you manage shelf life, batch tracking, and FEFO (first expired, first out). This prevents waste and ensures you use the right raw materials before they expire. AI-driven demand forecasts and automated replenishment suggestions help you respond to market fluctuations without overstocking or shortages.
3. Recipe Management and Quality Control
New product developments and modifications require a streamlined process. With recipe management in Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management or Aptean for Business Central, you can record exact proportions, safeguard quality, and optimize production efficiency. Quality controls are integrated directly into the process, allowing you to detect and correct deviations early.
4. Efficient Production Planning and MRP
With integrated material requirements planning (MRP) in Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management and Aptean combined with Business Central, you can align production planning with raw materials and demand forecasting. Capacity planning, automatic production orders, and real-time shop floor insights prevent bottlenecks and keep your production lines running optimally.
5. Supplier Management for a Strong Supply Chain
Supplier reliability is crucial in food production. The supplier management features in Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management and in Business Central with Aptean give you insight into delivery times, performance, and pricing. The integrated supplier portal makes communication easier, helps prevent delays, and enables you to make better purchasing decisions.
6. Profitability Management and Margin Optimization
In a sector with tight margins, Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management and Aptean ERP help you better manage production costs and sales prices. By making cost structures transparent and using real-time data for pricing strategies, discounts, and promotions, you maximize returns and customer satisfaction. Trade promotions are tracked automatically so every euro spent delivers measurable results.
7. Integrated AI and Automation
With built-in AI capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Aptean, you receive predictive analytics for demand planning, inventory management, and maintenance. This reduces downtime and optimizes your production lines. Additionally, AI assists in automating administrative tasks such as invoicing and order processing.
Which solution fits your business?
Whether you choose Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management or Business Central combined with Aptean, you'll have a powerful and scalable solution that helps you stay compliant, produce more efficiently, and improve your profitability.
Want to find out which solution best matches your business needs? Try out our ERP-simulator or contact us for personal advice.
This blog is based on the article 'How a Food Manufacturing ERP Can Future-Proof Your Success'' from Aptean.