Keeping Up with Food Demand in the Covid-19 Era

Evette Awa – Vecna Robotics – In the Food and Beverage industry, there’s been a shift in a number of areas for companies globally. At this point in time, companies have had to re-examine their operational strategies and sources of supply. I personally had to take a step back to learn how organizations are responding to limited supply, proliferation of SKUs, and extended shipping times.

I’ve seen some bakeries, for example, move to modularization methods to increase flexibility while producing lesser quantities, but maintaining diverse types of baked goods. This has helped keep costs low with no need to invest heavily in infrastructure changes.

One global company tripled its output by switching to local suppliers. On the other end of the spectrum, another has increased their outsourcing partners to keep up with demand. Small businesses have definitely had a challenge with getting their food products out to customers because of limitations and allowed quantities with suppliers that also supply for larger organizations.

With all that being said, we can’t deny the need for automation in Food and Beverage Supply Chain and organizations need to be open to learning more about options to strengthen their response to customer demand. According to a Mordor Intelligence Industry Report, 94% of food packaging operations are already using robotics in comparison to about a third in food processing. Here are my three recommendations when looking for an AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) solution:

Scalability – Find a solution that is scalable and with a company whose vision you believe in. Projects come and go, but building a product from its core will help you align your strategies as expansions happen. The core technology will remain consistent, continuously innovating as you grow.

Safety – Look for safety systems that meet PLd (Performance Level D) safety requirements and consider technologies that have a layered safety architecture.

Productivity – Production speed and efficiency are goals of any organization. It is important that you build flexibility and safety at the same time.

According to a Food Logistics article, the top trends seen in grocery supply chain were focused in: Compliance, safety, and productivity. Covid-19 has presented its own challenges for getting packaged and fresh foods out the door and onto shelves. Adding automation, such as WMS, ASRS, and autonomous vehicles, offers a variety of added benefits to the recommendations above.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Marketplace Inclusion
How TEKsystems Uses Marketplace Inclusion to Drive Equitable AI Adoption
July 16, 2025

As organizations race to integrate AI into every corner of business, an equally urgent conversation is emerging: How do we ensure this adoption doesn’t widen existing equity gaps? AI is both a disruptive force and an opportunity engine, as recent data shows that AI adoption among HR professionals jumped to 72 percent in 2025, up…

Read More
storytelling
The Secret to Brand Loyalty: Why Storytelling Is the Best Way to Be Heard in a Crowded Market
July 16, 2025

In today’s fast-evolving digital marketplace, attention is scarce, and trust even more so. In an era of remote work, AI-driven marketing, and constant digital noise, storytelling has emerged as one of the most powerful tools to cut through the clutter. In fact, research shows that people who used storytelling techniques to remember information recalled seven…

Read More
hospitality career development
Leaders Driving Hospitality Career Development Must Embrace Tech, Inclusion, and Risk
July 16, 2025

The hospitality industry is under mounting pressure to modernize to meet guest expectations for seamless, tech-driven experiences and also develop leaders who can drive that transformation. According to Rackspace Technology, only 28% of travel and hospitality companies qualify as “AI leaders”— those aligning strategy, compliance, and training with real-world deployment. Another 28% remain in…

Read More
HR compliance
Seeing What Others Miss: The Art of Problem Solving in HR Compliance
July 16, 2025

In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Andrea Kilburn, the HR EEO and Affirmative Action Compliance Manager at EssilorLuxottica. Andrea has built her career on problem-solving, advocacy, and the power of precise thinking. Andrea shares her unique path from mortgage underwriting to HR compliance, and…

Read More