Increasing competitive pressure, a rich online offering, and changing customer needs – direct producers today must find new ways to compete with rivals and better meet the desires of their customers. The first step: By integrating a comprehensive ERP system, they automate and optimize office work, package shipping, inventory management, supplier communication, and all sales channels. Software solutions for checkout products can also be profitably integrated here.
ERP System – Foundation for Digitalization
Whether it's a dairy, farm butcher, or fruit and vegetable trade – for many, agriculture, food, and digitalization don't seem to go together smoothly at first glance. In reality, however, automated processes help direct producers focus again on their core tasks: high-quality products and satisfied customers. Only when they fulfill both aspects can they withstand the increasing competition from online retailers and large discounters. However, this requires a comprehensive plan for the company and the available resources like personnel, capital, and material. A software can assist with this: an Enterprise Resource Planning system, or ERP system for short.
With this software, direct producers control all business processes – from suppliers to employees to end customers. The result: an overview of materials, work hours, billing, or their own capital. This way, those responsible can optimally plan inventories and resources, create efficient processes, and ultimately increase sales. Conversely, this means: If businesses miss the transition to digital everyday helpers like ERP software, the benefits of modernization will not be realized. High manual efforts, media disruptions, lack of evaluation possibilities, and non-transparent inventories remain the order of the day.
Select Digital Functions Precisely
The question of whether an ERP system makes sense for direct producers can clearly be answered: Absolutely! Because the digital management of inventories and the easy creation of online invoices saves time, unnecessary stacks of paper, and costs. Since bakery delivery services, poultry producers, local beverage suppliers, or potato farmers have different needs, software is needed that adapts individually to these requirements. This model, consisting of core functions and specific add-ons, is also what the ERP system FrachtPilot is based on.
"Manage delivery notes, invoices, and documents with just one click: This mission stood at the beginning of our business founding. Together with companies from various industries, we implemented this goal. The result: a digital all-rounder for optimized direct marketing," says Dr. Sebastian Terlunen, CEO of FlexFleet Solutions GmbH. "With core functions, our customers can conveniently start their digital direct marketing. For example, included is data preparation for the tax consultant, a Customer Relationship Management for optimized customer contact, and a cockpit that analyzes and highlights cost drivers in the business." However, the founders quickly realized: Depending on the industry, further functions are needed to facilitate daily working life. For this, FrachtPilot offers various modules for booking, such as
- – Online shop,
- – Subscription orders,
- – Package shipping,
- – Tour planning, or
- – Delivery app.
A Checkout Software that Can Do It All!
"Especially for direct marketers, one product is particularly relevant: the checkout. Here too, our ERP system connects and offers, together with ALVARA | Digital Solutions, a fast, easy, and reliable alternative to manual predecessors," summarizes Dr. Sebastian Terlunen. Thus, non-transparent and inefficient operation processes give way to centralized data management and regular checkout synchronization. The interaction of FrachtPilot with the ITR cash register and the resulting synchronous data exchange gives businesses more time. The solutions do not rely on the constant online world: If there is no internet connection, synchronization is still ensured. Because the ALVARA cash register system is offline-capable and securely stores all data such as bookings temporarily.
In addition, the integrated cash register focuses more on the customers. According to their wishes, direct marketers can now issue invoices – by cash payment, transfer, credit card, PayPal, or direct debit – one click is enough. Through the cloud integration via FrachtPilot, online sales and in-store sales can be combined. Thus, there is nothing in the way of automatic synchronization of articles and prices in seconds.
Important for direct producers: By integrating a calibrated scale, products can be accurately billed by the gram. Besides classic cash register solutions, self-checkout models for farm shops are also conceivable. To meet the demand for sustainability, ALVARA relies on the digital receipt for their cash register solution. Thus, businesses avoid unnecessary receipt paper and save at the same time.
With the ITR cash register and the real-time connection to FrachtPilot, direct marketers can kill multiple birds with one stone. You can find the 100 percent tax office-compliant solution here.
Have you read enough and want to exchange ideas about the cash register solution directly? Then feel free to contact us!