2021 has begun, but it is important to take note of what 2020 left us with so that we can proceed intelligently and accurately; so that we can make decisions that benefit our business and the environment in equal measure.

During 2020 ecommerce had an unprecedented rise. According to the Food and Beverage E-commerce Global Market Report, the industry will grow from $14.9 billion in 2019 to about $22.4 billion in 2022, stabilizing in 2023 with $34.6 billion, which means a compound annual growthrate of 23.4%. Incredible, isn't it? But that's not the only factor to consider.

The Catelem Observatory has revealed in its annual study that in Europe there is a wave of activism that is concerned with the environment; this shows us that there is a substantial growth in consumer behavior when it comes to choosing what to buy: their purchases are, without a doubt, guided by the framework of proximity and social responsibility. 9 out of 10 consumers take sustainability into account when consuming, 51% check that the products are national, while 22% prefer the product to be regional.

9 out of 19 consumers refer that the food sector is the most committed when it comes to adopting responsible behaviour.

How does this translate into freshproduce companies?

1. A technological opportunity

The need to digitize a business is presented as an opportunity not only to join a movement that is giving results, but also to describe to the consumer what he or she is getting. A user is more likely to buy when the individual has all the details of what he or she is about to consume or trade, which gives a margin to a business to be as specific and as technical as required.

2. The maximum benefit of the product

Regardless of whether it's melons or tomatoes, having the opportunity to share information in real time with dozens of contacts at once instead of making one call at a time gives a margin of advantage against the clock: the possibilities of trading are growing, proximity trade is facilitated and we get a product to change its destination.

3. Less and less food waste

As a result of point 2, a greater control over time and marketing will allow to strengthen and sell faster what time has against it. This translates into products that will not be wasted, but will reach a table and make a consumer happy.

4. Saving resources

Traveling to meet face to face, taking control of the business from different platforms, manually capturing data, confusion when sending or receiving orders... all these things can be avoided with the use of applications that allow you to centralize all your commercial activity. One way to make your business sustainable is to try to save as much as possible on the errors that can be avoided!

5. Acting with data

Whether you need to know how much to grow or how much to buy, data is a great friend. Comparing stats with the past, and being able to make future projections can make a significant difference in a commitment to reduce waste and to save on unnecessary transportation.

Opportunities are generated from various angles and technology has opened windows in the time where our doors have been keptclosed. This is a good time for businesses to analyze and make the decisions that will make a difference.

If you are looking for a reliable platform, which allows you to save time and resources, check out what Consentio has for you and your business.

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