Nonprofit food distribution organizations are faced with several challenges in their daily operations. They need to record all food donations and ensure the products don’t pass their expiration dates while ensuring you have inventory for upcoming events. Luckily, modern ERPs have all the necessary tools and features to maximize your distribution.
Implementing an ERP like GoldFinch helps with traceability, inventory, and warehouse management. For medically tailored meal distribution, your team effortlessly records all food donations, organizes recipes and helps plan routes. Here is more on MTMs and the role of ERP in nonprofit food distribution.
Medically Tailored Meals Explained
Nothing better explains the “food is medicine” theory than medically tailored meals. This healthcare approach is common in most institutions as it significantly improves overall health. Instead of viewing food as an alternative to medicine, modern doctors take it as a supplement to boost the patient’s condition.
Note that MTMs must be curated and approved by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in food and nutrition. The Food as Medicine Coalition highlights that food exceeds general nutrition. By using the appropriate medical nutrition therapy, you can fight off specific chronic diseases and conditions more effectively.
Are There Benefits to Medically Tailored Meals?
The Food as Medicine campaign kicked off in the early 80s during the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the US. According to several studies, introducing healthy food choices in a patient’s diet helps prevent and treat diseases.
The following are health benefits related to medically tailored meals and why you may need to consider the approach:
Fewer Visits to the Hospital
Individuals with chronic illnesses often make countless trips to the doctor, sometimes even being admitted for weeks. However, MTMs promote healthier living and can reduce hospital admissions by up to 50%.
Helps Manage Specific Chronic Conditions
Introducing medically tailored meals to your treatment also helps treat and manage specific chronic conditions. They complement prescription medications and play a crucial role in improving your overall health condition.
For example, living with diabetes requires managing your blood sugar levels as an RDN prescribes. Medically tailored meals make tracking your carb intake easier as they provide a consistent amount, reducing the possibility of excessively low or high blood sugar levels.
Emphasizes Nutrient-Filled Foods
Most foods in medical nutrition therapy are rich in vitamins, mineral-rich, and low in fat and sodium, boosting energy levels. You’ll often eat balanced and nutritious meals featuring fruits and vegetables, mainly.
Industry regulations also require all MTM distributors to follow the respective clinical recommendations for quality services. Nutrient-filled foods like purple sweet potatoes also maximize nutrient density, significantly contributing to a longer life.
Reduced Stress when Planning Meals
Most patients find it hectic to plan their meals because of the several specifications they must observe. You need to plan what to eat, buy and prepare the meal. This process is pretty stressful, especially for individuals living with chronic diseases. Medically tailored meal distribution provides a more convenient approach to having a nutritious and well-balanced diet.
Reduces Healthcare Costs
MTMs also help lower healthcare costs for individuals with chronic diseases. Most of these individuals spend millions on hospital visits and buying medication, which makes managing your condition expensive. According to one study, switching to MTMs can lower your healthcare costs by over $10,000 monthly.
How Does ERP Help?
Nonprofits in the food production and distribution industry should realize the significance of having systems that streamline operations. Systems like ERP help web together your entire organization, allowing you to manage your inventory while establishing solid relationships with stakeholders effectively.
Here is how ERPs like GoldFinch help maximize medically tailored meal distribution among nonprofits:
Centralized Database
One of the main reasons to implement a nonprofit ERP in your food distribution organization is the data aggregation achieved. ERPs store all company data in a centralized storage system to create a safer and more accessible location.
For MTMs, your team finds it easier to track meal orders and ensure successful delivery. Organizing recipes since the entire organization operates under one system.
Billing and Payment Automation
Another way ERPs help maximize MTM distribution is the billing and payment automation feature. Although nonprofit organizations aren’t profit-oriented, it’s still crucial for them to maintain their finances. ERPs help automate most finance functions, promoting seamless operations.
ERPs like GoldFinch are effective in managing supplier relationships. Automating the billing and payment function guarantees your vendors timely payments. It also frees up your staff, allowing them to focus on other essential distribution tasks.
GoldFinch ERP includes a comprehensive accounting module to ease adoption while streamlining your finances.
Inventory Tracking
Nonprofit food distributors also need to keep track of their inventory to ensure they have enough to satisfy current demand. Implementing an ERP helps control stock levels; it prevents operational breakdowns because of a lack of inventory.
It also provides your team with the resources necessary to track the effectiveness of your meal distribution programs. Since all the data is in a standard system, generating accurate and valuable reports becomes more effortless.
Planning and Scheduling Routes
To maximize distribution, MTM distributors must identify the most convenient routes to make deliveries. However, manually planning distribution for a multi-entity company can become overwhelming. You’ll need a practical ERP system to help plan convenient routes to make timely deliveries. Note that timely deliveries significantly improve customer service, building a positive brand image.
Why GoldFinch?
Apart from being unique, there are dozens of reasons why you should choose GoldFinch ERP for your nonprofit MTM distribution firm. It helps nonprofits manage various internal tasks, from food distribution to vendor management. By webbing together your entire organization, operations become seamless and more effective.
The following are reasons why GoldFinch is best for nonprofit food distributors:
- Helps meet the strict reporting demands of stakeholders
- Ensures your team operates with minimum overheads while maximizing efficiency
- Automates and secures most funding transactions
- Provides analyzed data by emphasizing configurable reporting and role-based dashboards
Most nonprofits use GoldFinch to track meal orders, automate billing, generate accurate reports, and provide compliance support. Its scalability and customizability also make it an exceptional option for nonprofits.
Interested in getting started? Contact us today!
