SaaS Solutions for Food Safety During Food Delivery

Food delivery is entering a new era. Improvements in online platforms, triggered in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic, have made it easier than ever for consumers to order groceries and prepare food. This new accessibility means that delivery needs have increased at a rapid pace.

For companies that provide food delivery services, food safety is a top concern. Improving the efficiency and affordability of deliveries while also ensuring food safety is a complex challenge, especially as companies seek to scale their operations. To meet the challenge, a growing number of companies are relying on the tools provided by software as a service (SaaS), which is a software licensing and delivery model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted.

Embracing a New Food Safety Blueprint

As the field of food delivery was scaling up during the pandemic, FDA issued an initiative aimed at guiding the food industry in what the agency dubbed a “new era of smarter food safety.” This “blueprint” introduced four foundational principles that FDA hopes will “create a safer and more digital, traceable food system,” in part by encouraging food delivery companies to leverage technology solutions.

The four pillars proposed include:

• Tech-enabled traceability: Key to this pillar is the standardization and digitalization of the data and processes used to track the movement of food.
• Smarter tools and strategies for preventing and responding to outbreaks: FDA highlights the value of AI-driven tools for driving this component of food safety.
• Modernization of business models: Encouraging and exploring the use of innovative digital tools is highlighted as critical for bringing business models into the modern era of food delivery.
• Food safety culture: Developing strategies that help consumer to understand and use tech tools that drive greater food safety is seen by the FDA as an important step in establishing a food safety culture among businesses and consumers.

Leverage SaaS to Build New Systems

Companies seeking to implement these food safety pillars will find SaaS platforms to be invaluable tools. Essentially, these platforms give businesses access to powerful digital tools without the burden of maintaining, upgrading, or making a long-term commitment. They are developed by third-party companies that provide support and ongoing development.

Food delivery service providers can access SaaS platforms via the cloud or by integrating them into their existing systems, giving employees seamless access from essentially any location. These platforms can lead to cost savings, scalability, security, and support.

In the food delivery space, optimizing delivery processes is one of the practical applications of SaaS platforms. SaaS can integrate with delivery management tools to power delivery route efficiency. By drawing on traffic, weather, and order data, SaaS platforms can dynamically map out the most efficient routes, and by cutting down on delivery times, businesses can lower the risk that food will spoil during transport.

SaaS can also contribute to delivery optimization by facilitating enhanced customer communication. Miscommunication can lead to delivery delays that result in food spoilage. SaaS can reduce miscommunication by providing customers with easy access to communications channels and by automating the process of getting delivery updates to drivers.

Leveraging these systems for data analytics is another way to optimize delivery services, as the data gathered can be mined for insights into busy delivery zones, peak order times, driver performance, and other key metrics. By revealing inefficiencies in the delivery process and recommending changes, SaaS platforms can help companies develop more effective delivery strategies.

These platforms can also empower contactless delivery options, which minimize the risks of food contamination. By enhancing communication between customers and delivery services, SaaS can facilitate curbside pickups and lobby drop-offs. SaaS can also empower contactless payment systems.