BFG accelerates digitalisation in the food chain with the help of FCast
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used in BFG’s warehouse: daily sales and stock requirements for up to 91 days in the future are predicted by the FCast™ forecasting tool developed by Erasmus Q-intelligence. This makes our production process more efficient and, at the same time, prevents unnecessary food wastage.
Better stock management thanks to FCast
To ensure optimum efficiency in the production and distribution of chilled, frozen or ultra fresh products, a timely knowledge regarding the demand for the product is very important. Without that knowledge there is a high risk of no sales or increasing inventory costs and food wastage.
FCast™ uses historical BFG data and uses a self-learning model to make accurate forecasts. This self-learning model also ensures that new products are very quickly and accurately included in the forecasts. Our planners also have the option of manually deviating from the model forecasts, which means so-called ‘expert views’ can be added.
More data, less wastage
The forecasts are made at both the product and the product-customer level. This means warehouses and distribution centres can also be set up more efficiently and policy decisions can be data-driven.
Estimating how much stock is needed in a supermarket is more difficult for a newly introduced product than it is for a product that has been on the shelves for years: you have no idea whether and in what volumes consumers will buy the new product. FCast helps us forecast the required stock of both new and existing products and together we can ensure better planning, more efficient distribution and less wastage in the chain.
ICT (Innovation) Award for the Foodvalley Region
The ICT Award Regio Foodvalley turns the spotlight on (food) companies that stand out through expansion, innovation, sustainability or social impact. In October 2023 BFG Warehousing was awarded this prize for its forecasting tool.
Roza van Sas-Andriesen and Stefan van Dijk van BFG Warehousing: “With this prize we can show what is possible. It’s happening very quickly. We can already reduce wastage by 40 percent. Within three years the reduction could rise to 90 percent or higher. The sky’s the limit!”