Make Technology Work For Your Food Business: An Introduction to ERP Systems 

Technology is a critical component for food businesses trying to compete in an industry where large suppliers, distributors, and retailers have very strict requirements for how products are bought and sold. Many food businesses struggle to adopt the right technology solutions as they expand to bigger markets, and often miss out on huge opportunities for growth. In this interactive workshop, we will focus on documenting the business processes and technological tools of your food business to understand what gaps exist, and explore different Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems that might be a good fit for your size and budget. This will be a very collaborative session to share and learn from your peers in the industry.

About the Speaker:
Shelby Phillips founded Autolyze in 2014 after leaving the global consulting firm Accenture to serve as Director of The Plant's educational nonprofit, Plant Chicago, and work in the local food system throughout Chicagoland. Autolyze (pronounced auto-leez) derives from the Greek "self splitting", and is a traditional baking technique that creates a healthy, sustainable environment for incubating beneficial cultures. Our organization is founded on this principle: to help food businesses expand and thrive, even in harsh environments. We want to help build a more equitable food system through a focus on technology, cooperation, and social justice because everyone involved in the value chain deserves to have a voice and an opportunity to share in the harvest.