The agricultural value chain starts with crop input manufacturers. As the first step, their responsibility and role is, of course, extremely important. Ever balancing the need to evolve products, increase yield, and provide for the growing population. All while ensuring execution of their sustainability commitments, and maintaining healthy working relationships with the growers who use their products.
Their customers are all different. Each work in different areas of the world, each has a businesses that is run differently, and demand fluctuates. So how do manufacturers prioritize in a way that ensures they are able to secure solid working relationships with their customers, while maintaining the ability to focus on their strategic objectives? Manufacturers are required to realize their customers demand, produce accordingly, and do so simultaneously — as efficiently as possible.
What manufacturers are coming to realize is that the web of CRM tools, spreadsheets, excel documents, and emails that communicate all of these details are no longer the most efficient way to track their transactions along the way. What used to work “good enough” is no longer cutting it, putting efficient success, and profits on the line.
Let’s look at an example of a leading seed producer, KWS, who identified that a more automated and integrated solution for communication and trading with customers and partners was needed. A solution that would allow them to scale and facilitate efficient business with their partners during their most demanding periods.
For seed producers, the seasonal demand and supply of seeds combined with a very tight window for production and order fulfilment, means that there is little room for error.
There is a heavy reliance on working effectively with third parties (growers, processors, distributors and hauliers) to meet strict deadlines. A lack of visible, accurate information in real-time can mean that validating and processing orders takes time and is reliant on customer service during these peak times. Committing and fulfilling these orders based on inaccurate information can lead to delays and cancellations, which along with an inability to provide reliable order, delivery and invoice status information, can ultimately impact customer satisfaction and lost revenue.
By connecting to the Proagrica Network, KWS was able to deploy a robust solution for data integration into their SAP system. This enabled full visibility and traceability of inventory throughout the seed production cycle, as well as streamlining the order, delivery and logistics processes.
The solution consisted of a combination of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and an online portal which enables greater connectivity and a more efficient data exchange between parties. Information can be captured or viewed with minimal disruption to the supply chain. Data is shared electronically, and automatically, giving real-time visibility of the production process and accurate tracking of orders and status.
Some of the key benefits KWS have gained through working with Proagrica to digitize and automate their channels to market include:
- Reduce errors caused by multiple keying of information
- Track seed batches and ensure all parties are operating with correct information
- Track logistics and reduce time delays
- Avoid elevated levels of inventory write-offs
- Increase customer satisfaction through offering reliable delivery dates
- Make third parties more accountable and monitor their efficiency
The Proagrica Network is a digital supply chain platform that electronically connects agricultural trading partners, automating and streamlining the order-to-cash process. With more than 130 ag retailers already connected, manufacturers can easily gain access to large numbers of retail partners, removing the need for costly and time-consuming point to point EDI connections, and reducing manual order processing. The solution is cloud-hosted with little up-front costs and a low, forecastable cost of ownership. It also helps to reduce pressure on internal IT resources and the organization as a whole, removing many time consuming and costly tasks which otherwise would occupy valuable resources which can be better used supporting customers directly.
By connecting organizations to numerous partners and customers, The Proagrica Network ensures there is not only room for scalability, but that the scalability itself is easy and reliable. With a network that is already developed and well-functioning, manufacturers can be sure that from the moment they connect the system is ready to work for them, with virtually no hassle. Connecting to The Proagrica Network means you are connecting with hundreds of other supply chain partners, including eighteen of the top 20 U.S. ag retailers.
When you consider the time saving, and cash saving benefits of supply chain automation, the increased accuracy, reliability, and scalability, as well as the ability to reduce pressures on your own team, you quickly become aware of the competitive advantage available to be gained. When the business you do is hassle free, and accurate- your customers will keep coming back. They will always be happy and confident in your working relationship. Input manufacturers working with The Proagrica Network suddenly find themselves an invaluable partner that their customer couldn’t imagine ever working without.
