Roy Meenderink: The key for innovation

"Are you that old already?" a customer asked me when I recently told them that I have been in the food industry for 38 years. But no, I simply started early. In all that time, I have seen a lot of product innovations pass by in the field of ERP and IT. From using loose spreadsheets and paper, we went to ERP software and 'Bring your own device'. 

Digitisation produces large amounts of interesting data. Data that can be input for product innovation. More and more food companies are embracing Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, IoT and the transition to the cloud. This is leading to innovative practical solutions. Like that of a bread supplier that uses an algorithm to take into account factors such as weather, time of day and demographic factors. The combination of this data determines how much bread of each variety should be delivered to supermarkets. The result? A remarkable 25% reduction in wastage!

The great thing is that these days, you don't just have access to your own data. With the unlimited availability of data, you benefit from a treasure trove of information to optimise processes and make better decisions. IT is the enabler to develop better products and production methods. Yet I still often notice that food companies are hesitant to share their data, such as performance data of machines with the supplier. 

What I have learned in all these years: together you achieve more than you would be able to do alone. A friend once said "sharing is multiplying" and I firmly believe in that. Don't be afraid to help someone else: you can only improve and... that's how real innovation is created! And believe me: you can't start early enough.

Roy Meenderink

Food business development expert, delaware