Supply Chain Technology Management in the Avocado

Introduction

Industries should take a keen interest in improving their operation to expand their wings in their market share by investing in supply chain technology. Additionally, the essence of such investments in supply chain technology assists in enhancing the organisation’s operations’ efficiency and reducing expenditure. By adopting this operation strategy, an organisation will likely lower shipping and receiving risks. Globally, Mexico is ranked as the world’s largest producer of avocados, and various nations, including the United Kingdom, are the primary benefactors of the supplies from the major producers. This analysis will give an overview of trends in the avocado industry by identifying problems and possible solutions based on the application of supply chain technology.

Literature Review

Schools of thought have been published to explain the supply chain in the avocado industry. In this case, the analysis will focus on supply chain technology management in the avocado industry. Ar-Rozi (2021) explains that adopting supply chain management as a strategy for production system performance assists in realising competitiveness in the avocado industry. Due to the need to adopt a technological system in the supply process, Ben-Daya et al. (2019) note how implementing technological systems would positively influence the supply system, thus supporting the need to ensure competition in the supply chains in the avocado industry by Ar-Rozi (2021). Based on the stated facts by Ar-Rozi (2021) and Ben-Daya et al. (2019), there is a need to improve the supply chain that would influence the suitability of operations through the implementation of technology to limit existing and intended barriers to the effective supply of avocado. Generally, the UK’s fresh fruits and vegetable supply system is vulnerable to water-related issues hence UK imports avocados from bulk producers such as Mexico. Khan et al. (2021) give an account of the UK’s 2015 expenditure on avocado at £150, which explains the need to ensure effective supply systems in the avocado industry.

Industry Supply Chain

To implement the desired change and solution to the industry’s supply chain, it is essential to understand the underpinning factors that influence the supply process’s suitability by defining the industry’s map. To begin with, the stakeholders in the supply chain sector play a pivotal role in facilitating the industry’s operations. First, the government influences the supply chain’s implementation by stipulating the laws that dictate the industry’s operations. This is done by introducing regulatory and compliance measures to counter the supply chain in the best way possible. Secondly, the suppliers of avocados are essential stakeholders in facilitating the supply chain. In this case, the primary exports of avocado (Mexico), again the main suppliers, need to ensure that the product meets the expectations of their customers and consumers. This brings us to the consequent stakeholders, who are customers and consumers. This group can be used as the appropriate indicator to show the effectiveness of the supply process. Hence, applying supply chain technology should enhance customer and consumer experience. Finally, competitors are considered stakeholders in the supply system since the supply chain adopted by different industry players results in a competitive nature. Thus, the stakeholders must improve their supply chain to attain their desired level of competitiveness.

Problem Statement

The avocado industry is immensely influenced by factors that limit its suitability for operations in the industry. Like any other vegetable and crop, the avocado is exposed to natural factors that limit its suitability for usage, thus affecting the possible application of the intended supply techniques. Dagne et al. (2020) postulate that avocados are highly perishable, which can be noted after a few days when it ripens. Therefore, Dagne et al. (2020) explain how the supply chain is affected due to the high perishability of avocados. On the other hand, the suitability of product transportation depends on the ease of tracking the product during the supply process. However, due to the natural state of avocados, it might be hard to implement remote monitoring of the product. For instance, more advanced technology must be implemented to detect and maintain avocados in non-perishable conditions. However, this might be hard, which has an eventual influence of resulting in wastages and lack of customer and consumer satisfaction by the suppliers. Therefore, effective solutions need to be implemented to ensure that these problems are resolved. Hence, effective supply chain technology management must be incorporated into the system to ensure the feasibility of finding a resolution to the identified influences.

Possible Solution

The introduction of technology in the supply system influences the intended product reception by consumers and consumers. By introducing technology to the supply system, a business organisation will likely gain essential information on product consumption trends based on customer satisfaction. Hence, the introduction of technology influences the need to implement effective techniques necessary to ensure appropriate supply chain technology management. As earlier noted, monitoring the supply in the avocado industry is essential. Therefore, implementing the right monitoring technology, such as RFID, will ensure the feasible application by reducing unnecessary links and excess expenditure. Further, Radio Frequency Identification based Intelligence can be used as a temperature sensor to ensure that the avocado is transported in the desired condition and limit the chances of spoilage during transportation.

Technological resolutions

The application of technology in the supply system is a key factor that will improve supply chain management in various industrial sectors. In this case application of RFID influence the required development to facilitate improvement in the supply management system in the avocado industry. First, the system will ensure effective management by helping the avocado industry to attain the desired logistics management. Such logistics include timely deliveries, order status and tracking of a shipment. Secondly, the feasibility of the operation of this system is facilitated by other external hardware and software used in controlling the supply chain by communicating with the RFID tag. An example of software the management team can adapt for use in RFID is the GlobeRanger software. Finally, the extensive use and economic returns realised from avocados influence the need for an effective, more digitalised technique for handling its supplies. The computerisation influenced by the application of RFID influences the industry’s competitiveness. In this case, an organisation will come up with world-class logistics practices that influence appropriate supply management in the avocado industry.

Conclusion

In summary, this research provides an analysis and overview of trends in the avocado industry by identifying problems and possible solutions based on suitable supply chain technology applications. The map of the industry influence how supply chain management should be perceived and whom they will influence directly and indirectly. Like any other vegetable and crop, the avocado is exposed to natural factors that limit its suitability for usage, thus affecting the possible application of the intended supply techniques. Therefore, implementing appropriate monitoring technology such as RFID will ensure the feasible application by reducing unnecessary links and excess expenditure. Finally, the application of RFID technology in the supply system is a key factor that will improve supply chain management in various industrial sectors.

References

Ar-Rozi, A.M., 2021, November. Avocado fruit supply chain management in West Java. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 892, No. 1, p. 012087). IOP Publishing.

Ben-Daya, M., Hassini, E. and Bahroun, Z., 2019. Internet of things and supply chain management: a literature review. International Journal of Production Research, 57(15-16), pp.4719-4742.

Dagne, T.B., Jayaprkash, J. and Geremew Gebeyehu, S., 2020. Design of supply chain network model for perishable products with stochastic demand: an optimised model. Journal of Optimization in Industrial Engineering, 13(1), pp.29-37.