Decofrut launches inventory management system

In order to make the management of fresh fruit cargo more efficient, the international firm Decofrut, based in Chile, has launched their first technological platform, “Inventory Management Software” (IMS), exclusively for importers and distributors of fruit in the United States.

This system will allow the importer and distributor of fresh fruit to view the quality aspects of each lot and inventory live and on a screen, in order to more effectively select the appropriate fruit for each order. The services strengths include wide geographic coverage, certified inspection teams in the field, and the Inventory Management Software- a tool capable of supplying integrated and immediate information.

According to Mark Smith, Vice President of Global Quality and Food Safety of Chiquita Brands International, “Decofrut is very flexible in terms of dealing with their customers and their needs. They are also extremely efficient and have well-trained personnel. They manage data very well, and certainly make our lives easier. With their services, in particular the Inventory Management Software, we are sure of the quality of fruit we receive and that the fruit we ship out has the correct quality as requested by our customers.”

“One of the recurring problems importers and distributors of fresh fruits should confront is the correct administration of their inventory,” says Manuel Alcaino, President of Decofrut. “This way the correct product is always delivered to the correct client so as to reduce rejections from retailers and the creation of distrust affecting the continuity of accounts. It is necessary to have at one’s disposal an informative tool capable of controlling the movements of each load in real time.”

Decofrut’s Inventory Management Service avoids the random selection of pallets for an order, optimizing the quality of service to retailers, supermarkets and distribution centers. This guarantees the best condition of the fruit upon reaching its destination and reduces the majority of rejections.

“Decofrut’s system provides an additional level of response for traceability and for solving problems, making available the data to respond quickly and to avoid delays in fruit delivery,” reports Dirk Windelmann, Vice President of Global Business Development of Sun World International. “The Inventory Management System is a good system companies should look into.”

IMS has two main modules- operations and inventory. In the operations module, the Arrival Vessel by Exporter item provides online reports of the arrival quality by shipment, vessel or container. Importers can also provide access to original exporters for checking reports, digital photographs and databases for their own analysis.

The inventory module contains an Allocation process item, which processes the cargo orders and integrates the age and condition of the fruit, automatically selecting the best alternative for pallets in order to supply a specific order. The system generates an Allocation Sheet, or a cargo load document, which is provided to the cold storage personnel (expeditors) to proceed with the loading of fruit.

Inventory QC, also a part of the inventory module, integrates the inspection information with the available inventory. This function assists in managing sales once it clarifies the condition and quality of the inventory in real time.

This innovative tool is user-friendly and available over the Internet or with the importer’s Intranet. It guarantees confidentiality of all information without the risk of hacking, and installation takes between a week and one month, depending upon the size of the company.

For further information, please visit www.fruitonline.com

Publication date: 6/28/2007

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