Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has initiated the second phase of its digital transformation, aiming to enhance its ability to record, report, and act on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data across its business operations.
SAP has announced the commencement of this next phase, which focuses on integrating its enterprise resource planning (ERP) software into Zespri’s entire commercial framework. This development follows a successful six-year initial phase that reportedly led to over NZD$1 million in infrastructure savings, 15,000 hours of increased productivity, and NZD$2.2 million in profit and loss savings.
The first stage also included the implementation of core technology that digitizes Zespri’s finance and supply chain processes. “Zespri’s transformation is designed to create sustainable, long-term value for our kiwifruit growers by ensuring robust digital platforms support the delivery of our premier branded kiwifruit throughout the year,” stated David Scullin, chief digital officer at Zespri.
“Our collaboration with SAP has enabled us to distribute more than 193 million trays of kiwifruit across 51 countries through our digital platforms, meeting the growing global demand,” he added. Scullin further emphasized that the next phase will prioritize data utilization to enhance decision-making, streamline operations, embrace innovation, and increase returns for the grower community.
SAP has also highlighted Zespri’s investment in AI-powered quality control software from its partner Clarifruit, which includes a specialized mobile app featuring modernized quality control processes and an AI engine tailored for the fruit and vegetable industry. This new app has reportedly improved the quality and efficiency of Zespri’s supply chain by 5 percent and boosted inspection productivity by 25 percent.
Get top supply chain report news on The Supply Chain Report. For international trade insights and tools, visit ADAMftd.com.
#SupplyChainNews #DigitalTransformation #AgTech #Kiwifruit #BusinessInnovation
