5 ways to optimize your fulfillment in the Food and Beverage industry

In the food and beverage industry, small improvements in fulfillment can have a major impact on costs, waste, and customer satisfaction. By designing smarter processes and making better use of data, manufacturers can improve their supply chain step by step. Below, we share five practical ways to optimize fulfillment on a structural basis.

1. Work with real-time inventory management

Real-time inventory information forms the basis of efficient fulfillment. Without up-to-date insight, it is virtually impossible to make the right decisions about production, order prioritization, and distribution. When inventory data is only available after the fact, manufacturers run the risk of:

• • Overproduction
  • Out-of-stock situations
  • Unnecessary loss of products with a short shelf life.

By working with real-time inventory management, teams can respond more quickly, plan better, and prioritize products with a short best-before date. This results in less waste and greater delivery reliability for customers.

2. Automate order processing

Manual order processing is not only time-consuming, but also prone to errors. Especially during high volumes or peak periods, small mistakes can have major consequences, such as incorrect deliveries or delayed shipments. Automating order processing ensures:

• • Faster order processing
  • Fewer human errors
  • Better scalability during growth

By processing orders digitally and linking them directly to inventory and delivery data, you create a streamlined process that is more resilient to fluctuations in demand.

3. Optimize delivery planning

Efficient delivery planning is crucial for maintaining product freshness. Long or inefficient routes not only increase transport costs, but also shorten the remaining shelf life of products. With the help of data, producers can:

• • Optimize delivery routes
  • Better align delivery times with production and stock levels
  • Identify bottlenecks in distribution at an early stage.

This leads to faster turnaround times and more reliable delivery to retailers and distribution partners.

4. Ensure traceability and compliance

In the food and beverage industry, traceability is not an option, but a requirement. Batch numbers, delivery dates, and product information must always be available, both for internal checks and external audits. When this information is tracked manually, it takes a lot of time and increases the risk of errors. By making traceability part of the fulfillment process, manufacturers can:

• • Respond more quickly to quality issues or recalls
  • Conduct audits more efficiently
  • Strengthen the confidence of retailers and regulators

5. Measure and improve continuously

Fulfillment optimization is not a one-time project, but a continuous process. By measuring performance on a structural basis, organizations gain insight into where improvements can be made. Important KPIs to monitor include:

• • Delivery time
  • OTIF (On Time In Full)
  • Inventory turnover
  • Waste and depreciation

By regularly analyzing these KPIs, teams can make targeted adjustments and improve their fulfillment process step by step.

Conclusion

Optimizing fulfillment does not have to be a large-scale or risky undertaking. By working in phases to improve visibility, automation, and data-driven decision-making, food and beverage manufacturers can make their supply chains more efficient, reliable, and future-proof.

Discover how SPS Commerce can help you optimize fulfillment in the Food & Beverage industry.

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Majke Zoethout

Marketing Specialist at SPS Commerce

Majke is a Marketing Specialist at SPS Commerce, responsible for marketing strategies for the Benelux region.

Latest posts by Majke Zoethout (see all)

• 5 ways to optimize your fulfillment in the Food and Beverage industry - February 9, 2026
• 3 big fulfillment challenges for the Food & Beverage industry - January 26, 2026
• Efficient fulfillment reduces food waste in F&B - January 12, 2026