Developing eNVD Capability for Coles Beef Supply Chain

Summary

The purpose of this project is to develop a Coles mobile native eNVD software application and to integrate eNVD data within the Coles’ booking system.

The development of these capabilities will enable Coles to implement an electronic declaration/waybill paperless solution within their supply chain that will satisfy Coles’ quality assurance needs and meet industry, market access, and regulatory requirements.

At the initial phase of this eNVD adoption program, Coles will roll out the solution to their feedlot beef suppliers, who will use the Coles mobile application. As a second stage to this project, the application will then be gradually rolled out to other remaining Coles’ beef suppliers based on the lessons learned from the initial implementation.

Coles and ISC will collaborate on the development and piloting of an eNVD adoption and communications strategy. Coles and ISC will engage with value chain members to ensure the paperless solution satisfies industry, market access, and regulatory requirements. Value chain members will include state and federal departments, enforcement agencies, transport associations, beef suppliers, processors, stock agents, auditors, industry policy makers, and software solution providers.

Existing industry declarations will be made available through the Coles application, namely the National Vendor Declaration and Waybill (NVD), the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) declaration, the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS) declarations, and the Animal Health declarations.

Objectives

• Develop a Coles mobile native software application with eNVD/waybill capabilities.
• Develop capabilities that integrate eNVD industry and Coles program declaration data within the existing Coles computer booking system.
• Obtain ISC eNVD licences for the Coles mobile native software application and the Coles computer booking system.
• Obtain access to the NLIS database (in collaboration with ISC and processor partners) to ensure robust and timely information gathering in collaboration with processing partners and ISC.
• Coles in collaboration with ISC, will develop and implement an initial communications strategy to communicate the upcoming changes to Coles’ feedlot supply chain stakeholders.
• In collaboration with ISC, Coles will develop and implement a pilot change management strategy to educate Coles’ feedlot supply chain stakeholders on the upcoming changes, to equip them with the necessary skills, tools and knowledge to handle the changes, and to support them throughout the change period.
• Provide Coles feedlot suppliers with access to the Coles eNVD application.
• Capture lessons learned from the MDC project.

Key findings

1. The livestock industry is very adaptable and accepting of new technology where there is a simple, timely process and the advantages are tangible. The Coles eNVD app has worked because it’s an improvement on the current process for completing NVDs, it improves accuracy and has simplified the process for completing consignment declarations.
2. Communication and collaboration amongst supply chains and wider industry stakeholders at all levels is essential to ensure innovation is understood and meets the needs of all implicated in the change.
3. Delivering an eNVD option that is not built in as part of an on-farm management software package and is of no cost to the producer is advantageous in its acceptance and ease of usability.
4. Access to the NLIS database for pre slaughter checks of individual devices would enable further enhancement of the Coles eNVD. Industry bodies responsible for access to the database should continue to collaborate with Coles in actioning this project objective.
5. The major benefits from use of the Coles eNVD app have been the improvement in accuracy of the declarations and the ability to receive the consignment information prior to the cattle arriving at the abattoirs. These two benefits have resulted in a more efficient process for delivery at plant level and have reduced significantly the number of NVD errors required to be resolved by Coles livestock team.
6. The Coles eNVD app is an example to other livestock supply chains that could implement a simple similar system into their own supply network at a low cost.
7. Some of the perceived barriers to adoption of new technology amongst the livestock industry need to be reconsidered, as the uptake of the Coles eNVD has demonstrated connectivity, use of mobile smart devices, and technological agility are not impediments to success.

Benefits to industry

The delivery of an electronic National Vendor Declaration (eNVD) solution as a part of the Coles booking system will provide producers supplying Coles with an electronic solution that will help to improve the digitisation of the red meat industry. By integrating the suite of forms that are now a part of the eNVD platform into a commercial application, industry participants are able to meet both their compliance and supply chain requirements through this integrated solution.