The world of B2B industries is changing at an unprecedented pace, driven in large part by the rapid advancement of technology. Companies and brands that fail to keep up risk being left behind, while those that embrace new tools and solutions can gain a significant advantage. US Foods is a shining example of the latter, constantly seeking out and implementing the latest innovations to stay ahead of the competition and provide exceptional value to its customers.
Their approach serves as a prime example for small and mid-size B2B foodservice and other businesses seeking to leverage technology to achieve their goals, let’s see how US Foods uses technology on their favor and how other business can adapt them to their own.
What Small and Mid-Size Business Can Learn from US Foods
As a B2B business owner, learning from larger competitors like US Foods can provide several advantages. Firstly, larger companies have typically been in business longer and have more experience and resources at their disposal. By studying their strategies, smaller businesses can gain insights into what works and what doesn’t, allowing them to avoid making costly mistakes and instead focus on effective strategies.
On the other hand, larger companies have likely faced similar challenges that smaller businesses are currently facing. By studying how they overcame those challenges, smaller businesses can learn from their experiences and find ways to tackle those same issues in their own operations.
Small and mid-size B2B businesses can benefit greatly from studying the approach of US Foods. As one of the largest food service distributors in the United States, it has successfully navigated the challenges of a complex and dynamic industry. US Foods provides valuable insights into how to build and maintain a successful enterprise.
Tech-Forward: US Foods’ Commitment to Efficiency and Innovation
US Foods’ technology adoption isn’t limited to their own operations – they also offer tools and resources to help their customers adopt similar technologies. As part of its efforts, they offer Check Business Tools, a program designed to help restaurant owners and operators to manage their businesses more efficiently. The program provides restaurants with access to a suite of online tools and resources that cover a range of areas including menu planning, inventory management, labor scheduling, and marketing.
For example, one of the most recent additions to support this program is 7shifts, a restaurant employee scheduling software that helps managers schedule and communicate with their staff. By integrating with US Foods’ inventory and ordering systems, 7shifts allows managers to create schedules based on forecasted demand and available inventory, ensuring that they have enough staff to handle busy periods while minimizing waste.
The Technology Behind US Foods’ Efficient Supply Chain
US Foods’ efficient supply chain is powered by a range of sophisticated technologies that enable them to manage their inventory, optimize their delivery routes, and provide real-time visibility into their operations. Some of the key technologies they use include an eCommerce channel, and real time tracking platform. By leveraging these technologies, distributor US Foods is able to reduce costs, improve their delivery times, and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.
In the next sections, we’ll explore some of the market specific technologies that US Foods uses and how they can be applied to smaller businesses.
Technology Tools for Thriving B2B Businesses in the Food Industry
eCommerce Channel
US Foods has developed an ecommerce platform that allows their customers to place orders online, view real-time inventory availability, and access account information. By providing an easy-to-use ecommerce channel, US Foods has increased customer convenience and improved order accuracy.
Small and mid-size B2B businesses can also adopt ecommerce channels to expand their customer reach and provide a more streamlined ordering process. By offering online ordering options, businesses can reduce order processing times, improve order accuracy, and increase customer satisfaction. Additionally, an ecommerce platform can provide businesses with valuable data and insights into customer behavior and preferences, enabling them to make more informed business decisions.
Route Optimization Software
US Foods uses route optimization software to optimize its delivery routes and reduce transportation costs. This technology helps the company to ensure that its drivers are taking the most efficient routes and making the most deliveries per day.
Small and mid-size B2B businesses can also benefit from using a dsd route software. By optimizing delivery routes, businesses can reduce transportation costs and improve delivery efficiency. Route optimization software or a route accounting app can help businesses to plan the most efficient routes for their drivers, taking into account factors such as traffic, weather, and delivery windows. This can result in fewer missed deliveries, faster delivery times, and less time spent on the road, which translates to lower fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
Automated Order Processing
US Foods uses automated order processing technology to streamline the order fulfillment process. This technology enables the company to process orders quickly and accurately, while also reducing the need for manual intervention.
Small and mid-size B2B businesses can also benefit from using automated order processing technology. By automating the order fulfillment process, businesses can reduce labor costs, improve order accuracy, and increase overall efficiency.
Real-time Tracking Platform
US Foods uses a real-time tracking platform to improve visibility and efficiency in their supply chain operations. This technology allows the company to track the location and status of their shipments in real-time, enabling them to make more informed decisions and proactively address any issues that arise. By implementing this platform, US Foods has been able to improve their delivery accuracy and reduce delivery times, which has resulted in increased customer satisfaction.
Small and mid-size B2B businesses can also benefit from adopting a real-time tracking platform in their supply chain operations. This technology can provide businesses with visibility into the location and status of their shipments, enabling them to make more informed decisions and address any issues that arise in real-time. By doing so, businesses can improve their delivery accuracy and reduce delivery times, which can result in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, real-time tracking platforms can help businesses to optimize their supply chain operations by providing valuable data and insights that can be used to make improvements and drive efficiency.
Take a look to our post about What is an ERP System and Why is it Important for Your Business?
In Conclusion
Small and mid-size B2B businesses can learn a lot from the success and approach of large suppliers like US Foods. Adopting and adapting the technology behind efficient supply chains, can help businesses of all sizes operate more efficiently and effectively. However, it is important to note that blindly copying the practices and products of larger companies may not always be effective.
Smaller businesses need to take into account their unique needs, budgets, employees, and resources and tailor their approach accordingly. If you want to discover how Orders in Seconds can help you gain a competitive advantage by automating your order-taking and processing workflows with the OIS Pro App and offering your customers an an eCommerce platform with our OIS eCommerce App, don’t hesitate to schedule a free demo today!
