A paradigm shift is currently underway that may significantly impact a multi-billion dollar global issue — the estimated $35 billion (Forbes Magazine, April 24, 2006) of annual waste in perishable goods. There can be enormous opportunity for companies to differentiate themselves in the marketplace through leveraging the emerging technologies that improve supply chains.

Most Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies and agribusinesses are no longer just considering process improvements in their supply chains — they are investing in and revamping entire business strategies to survive the game. For companies handling temperature sensitive perishables, the challenges may be accentuated by the additional cold-chain logistics involved with effectively handling and preserving these goods.

Converging issues such as fierce competition; strict mandates and global standards for product identification, tagging and security; and the need for enhanced traceability to improve operations and quality are influencing significant change in the CPG industry. The consequences of resisting change related to these and other emerging issues are potentially lost distribution channels and a weakened competitive edge.

By making information and computing power available anytime and anywhere, companies can more quickly adjust to these issues and the ever-changing environment. Additionally, they can significantly improve how they operate, what they deliver, and potentially their bottom lines.

Related Content:
White paper: The Forests and the Trees — Tax Aligned Supply Chain