Survey: Traceability a Priority for Food Service Execs, but Cost-Cutting Still Tops Corporate Agendas
November 30 2010 - 10:24AM
Business Wire
While establishing traceability strategies has become a priority
for food service executives, cost cutting initiatives remain at the
top of the priority list for 2011, according to a survey released
today by Voxware, a leading supplier of software for voice-driven
warehousing operations. More than three quarters of those polled
(76%) said that traceability is a priority for their companies, yet
only ten percent said it was their top priority, according to the
survey conducted at the International Food Distributors
Association’s annual conference. More than half (57%) of the
respondents said that cutting costs is their top priority over the
next 12 months.
The survey points to the growing emphasis on adopting
traceability standards across the food service industry. It also
indicates a potential conflict in priorities as organizations
grapple with the expense of implementing traceability while
simultaneously focusing on cost cutting in the broader
operation.
Traceability has become more important to food service
companies’ customers, as nearly a third (31%) of those polled said
their customers ask either frequently or urgently about plans on
compliance. An additional 52 percent of respondents said their
customers are asking about traceability occasionally. Another
indication of the growing support for traceability is that, despite
the clear focus on cost cutting, the overwhelming majority of
respondents (72%) said they are either somewhat likely or very
likely to adopt some traceability standards in the near future.
“Traceability is becoming an increasingly important issue for
food service companies and their customers and this survey confirms
decisions we made in regard to traceability support in our
software,” said Scott Yetter, Voxware CEO. “We see a real
opportunity for organizations to proactively implement standards,
gain good will from their customers and in some cases gain
competitive advantage. Our goal is to provide them with the
technology and the expertise to implement solutions as seamlessly
and cost-effectively as possible.”
Most respondents (93%) agree that outbound traceability data
should be captured at the point of the pick, although there is no
consensus on the best technique for capturing the data. Over half
(55%) said that utilizing voice, in some cases combined with
scanning, is the best technique for outbound data capture. The
survey polled food service managers and executives. Voxware
designed the survey to provide its food service customers and
prospects with insights around the highly discussed traceability
issue.
About Voxware
Voxware, Inc. Voxware (OTC: VOXW.PK) provides voice picking
software products that optimize the full spectrum of warehouse
operations for greater accuracy, productivity and flexibility in
supply chain execution. Voxware’s corporate headquarters are in
Hamilton, New Jersey, with operating offices in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, and the United Kingdom. Additional information can
be obtained at www.voxware.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such
statements are subject to certain factors that may cause Voxware’s
plans to differ or results to vary from those expected including
the risks associated with Voxware’s need to introduce new and
enhanced products and services in order to increase market
penetration and the risk of obsolescence of its products and
services due to technological change; Voxware’s need to attract and
retain key management and other personnel with experience in
providing integrated voice-based solutions for e-logistics,
specializing in the supply chain sector; the potential for
substantial fluctuations in Voxware’s results of operations;
competition from others; Voxware’s evolving distribution strategy
and dependence on its distribution channels; the potential that
speech products will not be widely accepted; Voxware’s need for
additional capital; and a variety of risks set forth from time to
time in Voxware’s filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Voxware undertakes no obligation to publicly release
results of any of these forward-looking statements that may be made
to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unexpected results.