In the fast-moving fresh produce industry, one thing remains certain - unpredictability is the only constant. We only have to look at our very recent history to know the impacts sudden weather events, market fluctuations, and technological disruptions can have on our industry.
Across the MG Group, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of being prepared for when things go wrong. While we pride ourselves on being agile and reacting quickly, we also spend time proactively planning for different scenarios. A business continuity plan (BCP) helps us stay resilient and navigate unexpected challenges more effectively.
A good place to start is discussing potential issues with members of your teams and putting down on paper the things you’ll need to do to stay operational during a disruption. At MG, we include everything from data recovery and communication strategies to supply chain management and employee safety. The goal is to minimise any downtime and ensure that the most important parts of the business can continue safely.
The global IT issue, caused by CrowdStrike cybersecurity software, is a recent reminder of how important it is to be prepared. It highlighted the vulnerabilities in the world's increasingly digital-dependent operations. It showed us that a single point of failure in technology infrastructure can lead to widespread disruptions. For us in the fresh produce industry, where timely information flow and fast-moving logistics are crucial, it had far-reaching consequences.
At MG, our internal systems were unaffected, however, an external company we use to manage our operational system was impacted, which caused disruption to our market business. For us, it meant getting ahead of the challenges, switching to some old systems, and reverting back to more manual recording. Our operational IT system was down for less than 24 hours, but it took several days to re-enter all the information and get back on track. Our teams across the country did a great job, and we learned a great deal during the incident. This includes assessing what we could have done differently, highlighting our vulnerabilities, and looking at the specific risks we hadn’t considered in the past.
During any disruption, clear and timely communication is critical. Our plan includes a communication framework to ensure that employees, customers, suppliers, and business partners are kept informed.
The CrowdStrike issue also reminded us that a business continuity plan is not a static document and needs to evolve with changing circumstances. It's important to review and update a plan to reflect new risks and lessons learned from past incidents. This flexibility ensures that we are well-prepared to respond to the unexpected.
As everyone in the produce industry is aware, the unexpected will always be a part of our industry. However, spending time thinking about how to be prepared can turn potential crises into manageable challenges. Remember, it's not about avoiding crises altogether but being ready to face them more effectively.
® Together.Stronger.
Peter Hendry
CEO