With new trend data revealing that almost half (46%) of food distribution and manufacturing businesses will this year be investing in tighter inventory management systems, Sajani Cups and Cones turns to Fishbowl for the way forward.

The recent CommBank Manufacturing Food & Drink Insights Report found that producers and distributors have navigated an operating environment marked by higher costs, constrained skills, and fluctuating customer demands by prioritising productivity.

When over 1 in 3 (37%) of food distributors and manufacturers confirm their biggest challenge is ineffective operating systems, many are turning to technology for the fix.

For almost half, they’re investing in new technology and software (46%) alongside new operating systems (49%).

Sajani Cups and Cones choose new inventory technology to meet challenges

When experienced business owner, Sue Boor, General Manager of Sajani Cups and Cones bought this family owned business she knew change was immediately needed.

“We knew this business had great potential but not a lot of structure. So we had utilised Fishbowl at another business that we have and it worked extremely well there, so we decided to utilise Fishbowl here in Sajani, which has proven to be amazing.”

There was an immediate focus on improving stock management, streamlining purchasing, and winning back customer respect lost from previous stockout issues.

“We have thousands of types of stock, and one of the major issues of having a business with a lot of parts, is that it’s extremely difficult to keep on top of all those parts and make sure that we've got enough stock to be able to supply our customers,” said Sue.

“The last year has saved us thousands of dollars because we don't have any issues with not having things in stock anymore. Our customers are confident that we're able to supply them with the goods that they need, when they actually need them.

“Any staff member at any time can see what's on order. Fishbowl gives me the flexibility and the knowledge to be able to answer questions at any time.

“Everything is more efficient. It has probably cut off probably two to three hours a day in staff hours because its streamlined our business incredibly.”

Significant growth and importing precision achieved

“Fishbowl is a very powerful tool. It gives me the information I need when I want it. It gives my staff members the information they need when they want it and that's the most powerful tool that you can have in a business,” continued Sue.

“Fishbowl has allowed us to actually get true costs of the products that we're selling. We import and now there’s no guesswork on exchange rates and pricing anymore.

“Fishbowl has also increased our sales because we have become a reliable supplier. When we purchased the business we probably had about 3,000 line items. We've expanded that to around about 5,500. Without Fishbowl, we wouldn't have been able to do that.”

Staff empowered with confidence to master their work

Head gelato chef at Sajani Cups and Cones, Jean Aveline, or Frenchie as he’s known, recounts the relief that Fishbowl has given him to do his job well.

“I use Fishbowl on a daily basis to update the system so we know how much stock we have,” said Frenchie.

“Fishbowl has just made everything so much more efficient. Your customers can see what stock you have, they can order from there. Your workers know what's in there. It helps with the visibility of stock and communication all across the board.”

“The support for Fishbowl was easy. It was nice and easy to use. Everyone just showed me what I needed to do. And yeah, it's pretty hassle free.”

New technology ever evolving and Fishbowl at the forefront of AI

As is the nature of any technology adoption, the landscape is ever changing and along with it businesses are seeing the opportunities to continually improve. The food and drink industry is no exception, with the CommBank report citing emerging technologies set to make its biggest impact in the next five years.

These include supply chain integration platforms, track and trace technology for supply chain visibility and AI and machine learning.

With the launch of Fishbowl AI Insights, APAC Managing Director, Simon Jupe, acknowledges that food manufacturers and businesses are set to reap even greater benefits.

“It’s clear from Australia’s largest food and drink industry trends research report that inventory management is front and centre,” said Simon.

“The arrival of AI technology has enabled this. It’s a huge opportunity, but with it those who don’t adopt quickly may find themselves left behind.

“Community expectations are quickly changing and more than ever people expect to deal with an efficiently run business. So, businesses must rise to a new challenge.

“We’re excited to be at the forefront of that change and able to offer our customers this new technology.”