Traceability of food products. The concepts of information management

The concept of traceability for agri-food products has evolved considerably since it first entered common parlance, both in terms of the fields of application, the types of information involved, and the breadth of the field covered.

Yesterday a differentiating process, today an indispensable, unavoidable and indisputable element.

So much so, in fact, that "traceability" as such is no longer "highlighted", it is virtually implicit. Consumers now demand that every product be "traceable", particularly in the food industry.

At the same time, information and communication technologies have also greatly evolved; we've moved into the era of "broadband", of connected, even "hyper-connected" everywhere, all the time... of real-time information, true or false, but permanently available and accessible at any time, anywhere.

These two trends are converging: traceability is, more than ever, the cornerstone of a company's information system; new technologies make it possible to provide stakeholders with a wealth of information on the product, its composition, its process, its origin, its use... via numerous channels.

Henceforth, we no longer speak only of "traceability software", but rather of an "ecosystem" integrating the various tools for data acquisition, consultation, exchange and availability. This information system can only be open, interconnected and responsive.

The major challenge for the company is therefore to acquire the know-how needed to build, administer and secure this system, as well as to manage the distribution of information, in the event of a crisis of course, but above all "cold", as the various recipients and users of this data are increasingly numerous and demanding: from the company's various internal departments to its customers and consumers, via numerous stakeholders (suppliers, logisticians, retailers, auditors, official control services...).

This mastery of information therefore goes far beyond simple communication, and today represents real added value for a company, including and above all in its relations with customers (professional or private) or partners.