What Is Interoperability-as-a-Service?
Data should move as freely as food does.
Most supply chain systems were built in isolation—customized for individual businesses, using proprietary formats, and rarely designed to talk to each other. Even when two partners want to collaborate, their tools often don’t speak the same language. Data ends up trapped in silos, requiring time-consuming manual entry, custom integrations, or spreadsheets to bridge the gap. The result is slower decision-making, increased risk of errors, and missed opportunities for efficiency. Without a common foundation for sharing information, even the best technology can’t deliver its full value.
Across the supply chain, companies are focusing more on traceability, transparency, and smarter systems. Yet despite growing investment in these tools, one challenge continues to delay progress: interoperability.
At its core, interoperability means that different systems—often built by different vendors and using different data formats—can connect and share information with one another. Think of it like speaking different languages: interoperability is the translator that ensures everyone understands each other without having to learn a new language. In the food industry, that means a grower using one platform can still exchange data with a retailer or distributor using another.
What the industry needs isn’t another platform—it’s a common foundation. A way for existing systems to connect without costly rework. That’s why Interoperability-as-a-Service has emerged: a model designed to remove the friction between tools, partners, and data formats, so companies can finally work together as one connected supply chain.In simple terms, it’s the invisible infrastructure that makes it possible for supply chains to function collaboratively, regardless of what software your company is using.
In the food system, there is no time for slow workarounds. Unorganized data can lead to delayed recalls, compliance gaps, and monetary losses. When systems don’t connect to each other, every step in the supply chain becomes more disconnected. But when data flows transparently, consistently, and in real time, supply chains become smarter, faster, and safer. Interoperability isn’t just a tech convenience—it’s a food safety and sustainability necessity.
If you’re building an ERP, a traceability platform, a food safety solution, or anything in between, you’ve probably heard a familiar question from customers: “Will this work with what we already use?” As the industry wakes up to the urgent need for connection—not just compliance—Interoperability-as-a-Service is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s the backbone of a more agile, transparent, and resilient supply chain. But turning that idea into reality takes more than just vision—it takes infrastructure.
That’s where Starfish comes in. Instead of requiring custom integrations for each new partner, Starfish offers a universal data-sharing system that connects the tools your customers already rely on. There’s no need to build and maintain unique connections for every client. What used to take months now takes days. What used to require bespoke code now runs on a common standard.
Starfish standardizes those connections, so your tech team can focus on your core product—not data organization. Your platform can meet FSMA 204's demands for standardized, shareable data across the supply chain. And because interoperability is no longer a bottleneck, your market reach expands. You can say yes to more customers, more partnerships, and more use cases—without sacrificing quality or efficiency.
In defining the Interoperability-as-a-Service model, Starfish has shifted what’s possible—not just for food companies, but for the entire ecosystem of tech providers that support them. We’ve shown that interoperability doesn’t have to be a barrier. It can be a competitive advantage, a growth strategy, and a foundation for smarter, safer supply chains. And as the network grows, so does the impact—one connection, one collaboration, one system at a time.
Written by Evie Offit
Evie Offit is a rising junior at the University of Southern California majoring in Law, History & Culture with a minor in Environmental Science. This summer, she interned at Starfish Network, where she supported marketing, communications, and research initiatives focused on food supply chain traceability.
