Erlösverlust durch fehlerhafte Abzüge und nicht nachvollziehbare Abrechnungen gegenüber Erzeugern

Definition

Industry submissions to the ACCC on grocery pricing describe that fresh produce suppliers typically face settlement discounts (e.g. 2.5%) and other commercial adjustments when selling into major chains and intermediaries.[8] Translating this into the grower–wholesaler layer, the wholesaler must apply similar multi‑component pricing arrangements (commission, handling, marketing fees, quality downgrades, discounts) at settlement. Without a dedicated settlement engine, these deductions are frequently calculated in spreadsheets or manually keyed into accounting systems, increasing the risk of arithmetic errors, applying the wrong rate or forgetting to apply specific fees. Revenue leakage occurs when the wholesaler systematically under‑deducts commissions or charges due to cautious staff, missing documentation or disputes they concede to avoid delays. Conversely, over‑deductions create exposure to back‑payments, legal disputes and reputational damage, which can require lump‑sum compensation to producers. LOGIC: Given documented settlement discounts of 2.5% at the retail interface for fresh produce,[8] it is realistic that 0.5–1.5% of producer‑level throughput is at risk through cumulative mis‑application or waiver of such adjustments in manual processes.

Why This Matters

The Pitch: Wholesale raw farm product businesses in Australia 🇦🇺 lose schätzungsweise 0.5–1.5% des durchlaufenden Warenwerts durch falsche Abzüge und nachträgliche Korrekturen in Erzeugerabrechnungen. Automated settlement engines with rule‑based deduction logic can recapture most of this leakage.

Affected Stakeholders

Finance manager, Grower accounts / settlement officer, Sales and procurement managers, External and internal auditors

Related Business Risks