In the heart of a modern food factory, employees work with touchscreens and digital platforms that enhance every aspect of operations. Digitalisation has reached every stage of the value chain. The old production notebooks, stained with flour and oil, have been replaced by integrated systems that connect everything from raw material reception to final distribution. The benefits of this transformation are enormous: greater sustainability, efficiency, and personalisation to meet the needs of a constantly growing global population. The era of smart food has begun, and companies leading this shift are proving that innovation can be the key ingredient for a more sustainable and connected future.
A true digital arsenal
Artificial intelligence has become the invisible brain of this new paradigm. Deep learning models analyse thousands of images per second to detect anomalies in food, while cognitive systems predict changes in consumption patterns and adjust product formulas to meet new preferences. AI also enables the analysis of large volumes of data to predict yields, identify pests or diseases, and plan more efficient harvests. Many companies are already using machine learning algorithms to analyse trends in social media and market data, allowing them to anticipate future demand with unprecedented precision. These systems can detect microscopic defects in products at speeds impossible for the human eye, ensuring exceptional quality standards.
Blockchain, in turn, ensures traceability throughout the supply chain, providing transparency about the origin and quality of food products. Integrated business platforms have broken down barriers between departments. A single centralised system manages everything from financial and accounting operations to production planning. This integration has transformed previously fragmented companies into digital organisms that respond in real-time to changes in demand or the supply chain. Modern ERPs specifically designed for the food industry include specialised modules for ingredient traceability, allergen control, and cold chain management, meeting the sector's stringent regulations.
Digital twins replicating production lines, IoT sensors monitoring temperature, humidity, and the chemical composition of food, and autonomous robots strengthening assembly lines are among the other technologies being utilised in the sector.
Stories driving change
Digital transformation is already a reality making a significant impact in the food products industry. Companies from diverse origins have adopted innovative technologies to optimise processes, improve product quality, and respond swiftly to market demands.
One such case is Avebe, a cooperative of starch potato growers in the Netherlands, which implemented SAP ECC to integrate and automate all critical business processes into a single platform, from finance to administration. This enabled greater operational efficiency and real-time data analysis for more precise and informed decision-making.
To carry out this project, Avebe partnered with CTAC, a long-established technology company and member of United VARs, the global alliance of SAP partners.
The German company AZO has also embraced modernisation. Specialising in the automatic handling of raw materials for the food industry, the company created the myAZOplus portal, a platform based on SAP Commerce Cloud that allows clients easy access to information and services related to their production plants.
With technological support from All for One, AZO achieved significant improvements in efficiency and customer satisfaction through this portal.
Meanwhile, Lunch Garden, Belgium’s largest restaurant chain, has committed to digitalisation as part of its strategic growth plan for 2025. With SAP as a software partner, Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the cloud platform, and CTAC as a consulting partner, Lunch Garden set out to enhance its business processes and elevate the customer experience.
To achieve its goals, the company implemented SAP S/4HANA on the AWS platform, maintaining a centralised IT landscape and becoming a digital, agile organisation ready to face future challenges.
A new food era
The digital transformation of the food sector faces unique challenges: the natural resistance of an industry traditionally conservative, the complexity of adapting artisanal processes to automation, and the need to maintain food quality and safety while implementing new technologies. Initial modernisation costs, cybersecurity concerns, and the need to train personnel in new digital skills also raise concerns, especially among small and medium-sized producers.
However, the sector's modernisation goes beyond the mere adoption of technology. It represents a revolution in how we nourish a growing, increasingly conscious and demanding global population.
Companies embracing this transformation not only optimise their operations but are also building a new food paradigm where efficiency meets sustainability and tradition is empowered by innovation.
Digitalisation thus emerges as the necessary bridge to a future where the food industry can respond swiftly to global crises, ensure food security, and meet evolving consumer demands while reducing its environmental impact.
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