"Fruit Logistica 2025 clearly showed that fruit wholesalers are facing growing challenges. They have to manage increasing complexity, ensure quality, and document sustainability aspects," says Daniela Sternal, Account Manager at Freshfin/B.i.Team. "Many companies are still working with outdated merchandise management systems and are reluctant to switch to new solutions. But business relationships are becoming increasingly complex – both with suppliers and with customers," explains Sternal.
"What is needed are systems that simplify and digitize processes and ultimately relieve the burden on staff." After all, staff shortages are one of the most pressing problems in fruit wholesale. Seasonal workers come and go, and it's often hardly possible to provide them with proper training. This is where digital solutions can help: "A modern ERP system like Freshfin can clearly define processes and control workflows so that new employees can quickly work independently. This reduces errors," continues the account manager for Freshfin.
In particular, the integration of electronic processes is essential. Old AS/400 systems or Windows 95 programs may be powerful, but they focus exclusively on managing jobs and orders. They are not designed for integrated processes. Sternal: "That's why they can't be linked to modern technologies such as document management systems, EDI, or scanner systems. But that's precisely what's needed to manage operational processes efficiently."
Reducing errors and increasing efficiency
Another major topic at the trade fair was quality assurance. "Many companies use Agriplace to manage certificate data – but often still as a standalone solution. As an ERP platform, Freshfin already offers an interface to Agriplace to synchronize data and make certificate management even easier and more efficient. The future lies in integrated systems that not only store PDFs, but also process data intelligently and make it available for use in other processes. The more companies use digital interfaces like this, the more efficient certificate management becomes. This saves time, reduces errors, and ensures greater transparency along the supply chain," says Sternal.
Sustainability was also one of the core topics at Fruit Logistica 2025: both customers and authorities are increasingly demanding proof of the environmental performance of products – from CO₂ emissions to water consumption. "Many companies don't even know exactly what data they need to collect or how to get it," Daniela Sternal explains. "With Freshfin, they are already collecting a lot of valuable information. Our job as a software provider will be to link this data with other sources in a meaningful way and make it optimally analyzable."
For more information:
Daniela Sternal
B.i.Team
Gesellschaft für Softwareberatung mbH
Tel: +49 721 27662-0
Daniela.sternal@biteam.de
www.biteam.de