The urgency of digitization is being recognized: In Switzerland, the Charter for the Digitization of the Swiss Agriculture and Food Industry, adopted in 2018, forms the basis for digital transformation. Since then, various studies - including foreign ones - have recently examined the potential of digitalization in the food industry.
According to these studies, digitization simplifies complex processes and makes them safer and faster. Digitalization also promotes innovation and opens up new business areas - B2B and B2C can be served simultaneously - as well as new digital sales platforms. The control of production and trade is also to become more effective and more precise, and traceability is also better guaranteed.
As challenges for the digital transformation, the studies name these aspects: Securing data, the complexity of integrating technology into production processes, and employee qualifications. Deep Impact AG is making a specific contribution to digital transformation with Deepico. The Swiss cloud ERP was developed specifically for the various sectors of the food industry, such as fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat, and beverages. Frutico, as a solution for the fruit and vegetable industry, is the starting point for the Deepico cloud ERP.
Since 2019, Frutico has already been successfully used by companies and distribution networks in the fruit and vegetable industry in Switzerland and has established itself as a reliable solution. In addition, Frutico's radius is continuously expanding, as customers from Germany and Austria have already expressed interest.
Specific solutions for a particular industry
Industry experts advise Frutico on its further development in an expert council. "We see the greatest development potential in linking the various Frutico tenants in a marketplace, even greater automation of ordering based on artificial intelligence, and refining the software so that the most diverse types of production operations can control their planning," describes Christian Fehrlin (pictured above), the company's CEO.
He says the challenge of digital transformation in Switzerland is evident in the technology legacy, some of which is 20 or 30 years old. Fehrlin: "It is patchy, fragile, and laborious to maintain. It has to be replaced with new technology. Another difficulty is change management: new technologies allow new, more efficient processes and ways of working. These changes often cause people trouble."
Although recognized software giants such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft are also active in the Swiss market, Deepico has been able to expand its position little by little. "We solve specific problems of a particular industry. And our focus is on optimizing business processes. That's where we are strong. Large vendors usually have core software that they then have to rebuild, depending on the industry or company. Our software always already fits."
In addition, Deepico is a cloud ERP, meaning it is an application that runs online and is not installed on the device. According to Fehrlin, this brings some important advantages. "The respective customer is relieved of all IT issues. The software always runs securely. The customer thus acquires a worry-free package and can reduce costs. In addition, cloud technology enables easy scaling, the development of new business areas, and agile response to changing market conditions or customer requirements."
Optimized sales planning, a more attractive shopping experience
Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of today's software industry, Fehrlin continues. "AI will massively simplify sales planning. Purchasing will become more precise thanks to all the data, food waste will decrease with it, and this will help profit. ERP will also become more and more verbal. People will enter information via spoken language, and the ERP itself will also give tips and information - for example, also in spoken language."
The continuous further development and refinement of the processes mapped in Deepico will remain a top priority in the coming years. "On the one hand, the focus is on optimizing sales planning, and on the other hand, our customer's shopping experience will be further simplified and thus made more attractive," concludes Fehrlin.
For more information:
Bernadette Hug
DEEP IMPACT AG
Rychenbergstrasse 67
8400 Winterthur
Tel.: +41 52 551 07 07
[email protected]
www.deep-impact.ch
https://deepico.ch/
https://frutico.ch/