A new report from TraceGains shows that many food and beverage brands are falling behind in modernizing their supply chains, even as they face rising economic pressure, compliance demands, and material shortages. Based on a survey of 165 supply chain, R&D, quality, and innovation leaders, the report reveals that 69% still rely on outdated manual processes like spreadsheets and email. In contrast, just 6% have fully digital systems in place.
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“The clock is ticking for food and beverage brands plagued by outdated ERP software and slow-moving consulting models that no longer serve the needs of today’s market,” said Paul Bradley, Senior Director of Product Marketing at TraceGains. “Our latest research confirms a shifting mindset from outdated playbooks to modern solutions capable of delivering impact right away and deployed in weeks, not months.”
Supply chain teams are feeling the strain. About 60% of respondents said they are stuck in the implementation phase of tech upgrades, with 40% blaming complexity and delays. Nearly a third (29%) admit their current operating methods are inefficient and have created internal bottlenecks.
Ingredient availability is also a growing concern. 23% of food leaders said supply shortages are holding back product development and innovation. In addition, 24% said they would fast-track the purchase of new technology within 90 days if required for regulatory compliance, showing how urgent the need for more flexible, connected systems has become.
Despite these challenges, most companies say they want to modernize — they just need tools that are easy to use and quick to deploy. Over half said they’d most likely invest in technology that immediately improves daily operations, ranking that above ROI and cost.
