How smart auditing is driving food and beverage efficiency

In today’s digital landscape, smart auditing solutions are typically cloud-based software systems that enable food and beverage processing teams to collect and manage compliance data with accuracy and consistency. This ensures operatives have real-time access to comparable performance data, giving them a robust picture of their operations.

There are numerous ways smart auditing tech is helping the food and beverage processing industry:

Compliance and traceability – in the food and beverage industry, strict regulatory compliance is essential. Smart auditing technology digitally records data related to food safety, sanitation practices, and production processes. This simplifies audits and traceability, making it easier for producers to demonstrate compliance with health and safety regulations.

Data-driven insights and process improvement – collecting large volumes of data allows for in-depth analysis, which can highlight patterns, inefficiencies, or areas for improvement. By leveraging these insights, facilities can continuously refine production processes, enhance product quality, and streamline operations.

A real-world example is Danone, which used smart auditing tech to digitise traditional systems and processes, and eliminate paper-based systems and reporting. Digitising the safety observation cards enabled a more streamlined and efficient capture of critical observations regarding unsafe acts or good behaviours, eliminating the need for manual data entry and enhancing accountability through recorded conversations. This resulted in substantial time savings and improved data accessibility.

Enhanced employee engagement – technology-enabled audits ensure operatives can consistently record and compare data. This fosters a high performance culture, boosting employee engagement, cooperation, and trust, ultimately reducing turnover and supporting business continuity. When Danone introduced smart auditing tech into its food processing operations, it achieved high levels of employee engagement with an observation completion rate of c.98%. Leadership tours, designed to identify and promote best practices and identify and address any safety concerns, were also carried out.

Strengthening consumer trust – consumers increasingly value transparency in food safety, sustainability, and quality. By implementing smart auditing solutions, food and beverage companies can provide greater visibility into their production processes, building trust and brand loyalty.

Sustainability – with climate change a growing global concern, compliance technology offers substantial sustainability advantages. Paperless, cloud-based systems eliminate the need for paper reporting, reducing waste and improving carbon footprints. Danone’s performance specialist Richard Browne said that, as well as saving on storage space, removal of paper helps the company to meet its net carbon emission targets.

In summary, smart auditing tech helps food and beverage companies streamline operations, enhance product quality, ensure compliance, and optimise resource use, all leading to increased productivity and profitability. Moreover, its sustainability benefits make it a crucial differentiator in a highly competitive market.

Francis Lyons is CEO at ECAT