Technology that Shoulders the F & B Industry to Higher Productivity

Danny Williams, Head of Information Technology, Nutrifood

Danny Williams is a Leading Business Analyst, Business Intelligence, ERP, and Infrastructure Team in Information System Division to deliver company’s short, medium, and long term objective. He manages an IT team focused on improving existing tracking and automation through the latest technology.

Can You Give A Brief Background About Your Role At Nutri Food. How Does Your Experience Help You Handle The Day-To[1]Day Responsibilities As The Head Of It At Nutri Food?

I am an IT graduate, who joined at the staff level and worked my way up to become the Head of Information Technologies at Nutri Food. My 15 years of experience at Nutrifood has helped me to understand the different technologies available in the market and it’s vast applications in the Food Industry. Nutri Food is neither a Multinational company nor a Start-up company. We are an industry that manufacture and market international-quality health foods & beverages under leading brands, so we understand where we stand in the Industry. I believe, we should handle ourselves as a small team and prioritize our existing operations and focus on making it more functional and effective, instead of introducing new projects or new improvements.

In Your Opinion, How are Food and Beverage Businesses Taking Advantage Of The Rise In Technology Applications In The F And B Space?

There is a sudden rush to be part of the ongoing “start-up race”. New start-up’s that promises to support other industries are multiplying all around us on a daily basis. The food industry is often over shadowed because of these start-ups. Technology is changing at a very fast pace, and the F and B businesses need to catch up with them at the same speed. As we are not a multinational company, we must study and understand which technology we should follow and adopt. For example, in Indonesia specifically, marketplace is growing very fast. As the head of the IT, I need to check which start-up can be aligned with another start-up for the benefit of our company.

What, According To You, Are The Challenges That Are Hindering F And B Businesses From Benefiting From Their Technology Implementations?

Like every other industry, F and B industry is also influenced by the technology hype. People want to follow the technology, not their organizational goals. Hence sometimes, they get carried away by the technology and miss their goals. There is a need to identify the problem and to attempt to bring appropriate solutions to the table for improving profitability in every process. So, one of the major implementation problem is “goals”.

" Food industry should be quick to catch up with the technology because technology hype is very fast "

The second challenge is ‘the process’ or the path that need to be taken towards reaching that goal. When our goals are clear, the process towards that goals are crucial. During the process of technology tapping, adjustments and improvements are needed. Technology cycle need to be kept in mind to reach the end results. When we plan with this realization, the end result will be closer to the goal. Every technology that is adopted should bring some improvement, some support, some benefit to the overall process or functioning of the system.

What Are The Major Technology Leaps That You Think Are Driving The F And B Space To Transform Its Operations?

Food industry today has become highly diversified with point to point tracking, automation in every manufacturing and operational process, and mechanization in distribution system. Technology has become an integral part of F and B space where demand and supply are easily monitored and sales data is tracked in ‘real- time’.

Could You Give Some Specifics As To The Technologies That Have Improved In The Manufacturing And Distribution Sector?

Manufacturing process includes machines, and every process on each machine can be recorded and converted into data. These data help us in identifying any delay in the process, any downtime, any material loss and can initiate rectification process immediately. We know exactly what is the current condition of the machines , when machine parts need to be replaced and why are materials priced high.

Digitalization in the manufacturing process helps in the quality check (QC) process. QC process is one of the most important function in every manufacturing process in F and B industry. Advancement in technology brings newer methods of measurements and QC, which ultimately results into improved productivity.

Similarly, technology provides distribution and delivery data regarding the assortment of material, the location of dispatch, the quantity of delivery, staff attending the dispatch, number of people in the field and delivery, etc. With large number of store to cater too, technology at every stage facilitates efficient flow of activities. The schedules per day and routes of delivery, every small detail is fixed in advance. Planned trips makes the whole distribution process very reliable and effective for the clients and for us.

What You Think Are Some Of The Food Technology Trends That You Are Planning To Incorporate Into Nutri Food?

Our online digital presence makes cloud based technology very convenient for us. So I think moving to cloud is good choice. It facilitates wider reach and easy accessibility, which is perfect for Nutri Food.

What’s Your Advice For Other Senior Leaders And Cxos In The Food Business?

Always, keep an eye on the goals. Work towards the goal, and find the most suitable technology available to achieve that goal. Record, analyze and quantify the results, for finding not just monetary benefits but for functional benefits too. Minimize the risk of errors in day to day manufacturing processes and distribution system by implementing the right technology in the right process.