So You Need a Software System for Your Seafood Business...
Let's talk about finding the right system to run your seafood operation. I know it can feel overwhelming - you want something that'll make your life easier, help you grow, and keep you in control. The good news? You've got options. Let me break them down for you.
The Old Guard: Traditional Seafood Software
Think NetYield, Seasoft, SeaTouch, and Food Connexs. These guys have been around forever (20+ years) and pretty much everyone in the industry has bumped into them at some point.
They're solid on the accounting side, which is great. But here's the thing - they're pretty expensive and you'll need consultants to get them up and running. The operations side can be clunky, and you'll need computers on your shop floor (which, let's be real, isn't always practical). Plus, getting your team trained up takes forever, and printing labels? Often feels like it was an afterthought. Most of them are moving to the cloud--which means they are often struggling to get the new system working the way the old one did.
If you're running a big, established operation, they might work for you. Your team probably won't love it, but they'll get the job done.
The Heavy Hitters: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems
NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Canopy - these are the big guns. Super powerful? Absolutely. But here's the catch - they weren't built for seafood. All those unique things you deal with daily - catch weights, different units of measure, HACCP logs, shellfish tags - you'll need consultants to program all of that in.
Unless you've got a tech wizard (CTO) on staff, this can get messy fast. We've heard plenty of horror stories from folks who got sold on these systems and weren't ready for what it took to make them work.
The New Kids: Next Generation Seafood Systems
This is where you'll find BlueTrace, ThisFish, and some others still in development. These folks actually understand seafood - crazy concept, right? They know you need your system to work on your phone, not just your computer. They get that you need to track compliance and trace your product.
Sure, they're newer and still building some features, but they typically play nice with accounting systems you already know (QuickBooks, Sage). The best part? You don't need a PhD to figure them out.
One thing to watch out for in this world are the folks promising that the latest tech buzzword will solve all your problems. AI, BlockChain, machine learning and a host of other technologies are great if used a appropriately, but many times the technology is driving the solution. You want your problems/opportunities driving the solution.
Keeping It Old School: Spreadsheets and Paper
Let's be honest - most of us start here. Pencil and paper, maybe some spreadsheets, and QuickBooks or Sage for accounting. It's cheap, it's simple, and everyone knows how to use a pencil.
But here's the deal - as you grow, this gets messy fast. These systems usually live in one person's head, which makes it tough when that person goes on vacation or moves on. Still, if it's working for you right now, no shame in sticking with it.
My Advice?
Don't just take my word for it - get some demos. Pick a few systems and throw some real scenarios at them. See how they handle your actual day-to-day challenges. That'll tell you way more than any feature list ever could.
Remember, there's no perfect answer here - it's about finding what works for your specific situation. Whether you're just starting out or running a massive operation, there's a solution out there that'll fit your needs.
Want to chat about any of these options in more detail? Just let me know - I'm happy to dig deeper into whatever interests you most.
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