How Food Manufacturers Can Turn Process Improvements Into Digital Solutions in Days

Food manufacturers have long faced a difficult choice: adapt their processes to fit rigid software, invest months in costly custom development, or continue relying on paper-based processes because available solutions can't accommodate the complexity of their operations.

Yet modern food production is constantly evolving, with new products, retailer requirements, compliance demands, equipment changes, workforce challenges, and customer expectations requiring manufacturers to adapt faster than ever.

Most manufacturing systems still rely on fixed workflows and workarounds that make even small process changes slow, complex, and dependent on external development resources.

Here at FoodOps, we wanted to change this approach.

‍

Introducing FactoryApps

FactoryApps, the latest capability within the FoodOps platform, enables manufacturers to create, adapt and evolve digital factory applications around their own operations, without expensive software customisation.

Using configurable workflows, built-in validation, device connectivity and integration with both the wider FoodOps platform and third-party systems, manufacturers can build digital processes that reflect how their factory actually works, in days.

And because applications can be built and modified without writing code, operational teams can adapt them as processes change, keeping digital workflows aligned with the way the factory operates.

‍

How Abbey View Produce built enterprise-grade applications around its processes

Abbey View Produce has seen great results from using the FactoryApp platform.

The business had previously built its own tools and systems to manage processes that didn't fit off-the-shelf solutions,, but these had limitations. The team needed the flexibility to digitise their processes in a way that matched how the factory actually worked.

Using FactoryApps, Abbey View Produce built a fully customised, multi-step intake process in just five days.

The workflow captures complex intake requirements and booked each pallet directly into stock, delivering a more accurate, efficient, and traceable intake operation.

Within a few months, the team had fully digitised its intake and bulk stock processes, creating a more streamlined and efficient way of working.

“Over the years we’ve built our own tools and systems to manage our processes, because we’ve never found a solution that truly fits the way we work. FoodOps stood out because it lets us build and adapt our own workflows without compromise. It gives us the freedom to digitise the factory in a way that actually works for us.” Scott Wilkinson, Operations Director, Abbey View Produce

This is a great example of what can be achieved when manufacturers have the flexibility to build technology around their processes, rather than the other way around.

‍

Why flexibility matters in food manufacturing

Processes change, new requirements emerge and teams continually find opportunities to improve the way they work. Their technology needs to be able to change with them.

Matthew Stephens, Founder & CEO of FoodOps, explains:

“Food factories are not static environments, so their technology shouldn't be static either. Every manufacturer has different products, processes, equipment, and customer requirements, yet traditional software often assumes a standardised way of working. The FactoryApp Platform puts manufacturers back in control by allowing them to create and adapt digital workflows as their operations evolve. By making continuous improvement faster and more accessible, manufacturers can unlock significant gains in efficiency, quality, and profitability.”

The FactoryApp platform gives manufacturers the flexibility to build digital applications around the way their factory actually works, and adapt them as their processes evolve.

And as Abbey View Produce demonstrates, manufacturers can turn a process improvement idea into a working digital solution in days, not months.

Join our webinar to learn more!

Join us on Tuesday 15th September at 2pm to see how to build, change and deploy custom processes using the FactoryApp platform.

Register your place >

Learn more about FactoryApps >

‍