Naturipe Farms knows berries. The producer group produces sustainably grown berries, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and cranberries, which are sold worldwide every day.
Naturipe has been an SAP customer since 2008. Initially, the berry producer was not very proactive when it came to software upgrades. But over time the company philosophy has changed. Today, Carol McMillan, Naturipe's Senior IT Director, emphasizes the importance of making upgrades and regularly upskilling the team.
“It's actually riskier to not update the product and not train the team than to follow a tighter schedule,” she says. Since migrating to SAP S/4HANA in 2018, the company has undergone three upgrades including RISE with SAP.
“We have migrated to RISE with SAP, and we are evaluating how we use these tools to optimize our supply chain and create a better user experience for our workforce. Our workforce is constantly changing, and technology must evolve with the workforce,” says McMillan.
Migrating to RISE with SAP for an optimized supply chain and better user experience
She says it's also important to stay on the cutting edge of technology to solve business problems efficiently, noting that technological advances have been crucial in managing the company's tremendous growth: “You can't have linear growth in technology when you're having exponential industry growth.”
According to McMillan, the Naturipe team uses SAP's technology to prioritize its employees and customers, improve workplace satisfaction and provide a better experience for users. “We use software to ensure that we are working as optimally as possible,” she explains. “We look at process improvements and try to stay current with technology. Regular updates ensure we are ready when business challenges arise. This way, we already have the technology at hand and are able to solve the problems.”
Investment in modern logistics
Delivering the freshest, highest quality products to customers, 365 days a year requires constant agility – especially in an industry impacted by volatile weather and the complexities of a highly time-sensitive supply chain. “Berries have a very short shelf life, so it is necessary to deliver the best quality to our customers as quickly as possible,” she emphasizes.
To reinforce this commitment, Naturipe Farms has invested in state-of-the-art logistics and supply chain technologies that improve speed, transparency and decision-making. These investments not only serve to ensure timely delivery of fresh products, but also make a significant contribution to employee satisfaction and to promoting work-life balance – for example through targeted wellness programs and flexible working time models.
Unlock the potential of AI
In the future, Naturipe aims to optimize the user experience with even more powerful tools. At the same time, the company wants to learn to better exploit the potential of all the tools available with RISE with SAP. McMillan also highlights the potential of AI and the targeted use of tools such as Joule to further optimize Naturipe's processes. “We really want to make the most of AI and give our users the best possible experience,” adds McMillan.
Her advice to other companies in the agricultural sector is to always put people first, use technology as a driver for strategic growth and not be paralyzed by risks. “Not updating your technology is just as risky as following a tight schedule, especially when you already have the tools you need to grow exponentially,” she explains.
