In this series, we examine the key challenges facing businesses in the agriculture supply chain, and the benefits gained by adopting digital systems.
The problem
Manual data entry processes are slow and risk the effects of human error. The standard process involves re-keying orders submitted via email into an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. On the customer side, this can result in delays and lost business, especially during peak season. On the business side, this puts staff under pressure and directs resources away from more valuable areas.
The solution
A completely integrated system removes the inefficiencies of manual entry. Data is entered only once by the customer, usually via an ordering portal or EDI connection. Orders can then be updated real-time as the status of orders changes. The resulting order process is more streamlined and valuable for the customer, and much more efficient for the supplier.
The results
A mid-level US ag retailer adopted automated order processing for their annual 2,050 transactions, usually taken through a combination of telephone, email and postal orders.
Most orders took 38 minutes to process, although orders submitted by field sales staff via email to the sales administration team require an extra 5 minutes’ processing time. After switching to Proagrica’s fully automated ordering process, these times and other associated costs greatly reduced, resulting in a substantial increase in revenue. After two years, the total revenue saw an upsurge of 31%.
Why Proagrica?
Proagrica is the first international provider of these connectivity solutions specifically for the agriculture industry. Our industry knowledge means we understand the pain points and challenges across the agricultural supply chain, which, combined with the tech expertise and resources of RELX, uniquely position us to work with businesses to solve those problems.
We connect your business with your partners in agriculture. More and more businesses in the supply chain are taking advantage of our innovative solutions and extensive network in the agriculture industry, so the benefits provided by data exchange will only grow.
Find out more about achieving 100% connectivity and the benefits for your business >
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