Software company Linkfresh has teamed up with topfruit suppliers Newmafruit Farms to help eliminate spreadsheets and go paperless, according to the Kent-based producer.

Linkfresh’s ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software will streamline the apple and pear grower’s operations to generate real-time data across Newmafruit’s operations.

Linkfresh says its programme can replace manual and paper based processes, improving data accuracy, eliminate spreadsheets and manual data input, as well as improving stock management and pack-house performance.

One of the key benefits of ERP software today is also their ability to trace produce and keep track of provenance, providing real-time business reporting and end-to-end traceability data.

Linkfresh CEO, Andy Makeham, said that ERP software can help the fresh produce industry meet the “many challenges” it faces, including rising costs, price pressures, shortages of labour and increasing regulation.

Makeham added: “Fresh produce companies must continue to look for ways to increase efficiency, reduce waste and improve margins, and an integrated fresh ERP system is the answer.”

Established in 1973, Newmafruit Farms is one of the largest fruit operations in the UK, with over 1300 acres of orchards and soft fruit, extensive warehousing and storage facilities.

Newmafruit managing director, Paul Nicholls, said: “Newmafruit is a successful growing business, and we recognised that our old manual processes were hindering our potential and having a negative impact on the overall performance of our operations and on the working environment.

“Linkfresh will provide us with a modern, paperless, fully integrated solution across our entire business, providing efficiency improvements in many areas, accurate real-time data for clarity in our decision making and visibility into our performance.”