A food safety software demo is a performance. The dashboard is green, the checklist ticks itself, the trace runs in seconds. The questions below are the ones that reveal what happens on a Tuesday in month seven, when the standard changes, the signal drops and the auditor asks for something nobody rehearsed. Ask them in writing and keep the answers. ASCloud’s answers are given beside each, as at October 2026, so you can hold us to them.
1. Which scheme versions are loaded, by name and version?
If the answer is “we support FSSC 22000”, ask which version. ASCloud: FSSC 22000 Version 7 (published May 2026), BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9, SANS 10330:2020, R638 of 2018, GLOBALG.A.P. IFA v6, SQF Edition 9 with Edition 10 for audits from January 2027, IFS Food version 8.
2. Who maintains the content when the standard changes, and what does it cost?
ASCloud: the lead auditors of ASC Food Safety Consultants map every scheme change into the requirement sets, and it arrives as proposed revisions in your update log, included in the subscription.
3. What happens when a check is missed?
ASCloud: the check escalates to the nominated person within minutes, then up the chain, and the record shows it was late. Missed-task triggers are included on every plan.
4. What happens when a reading breaches a limit?
ASCloud: a corrective action opens by itself, the affected lots go on hold where the inventory module runs, and the supervisor is alerted. The auditor sees the chain from reading to verified closure on one screen.
5. Does it work without signal, and what exactly works?
ASCloud: checklists already open on a device can be completed without signal and upload when the connection returns, with the time the check was actually done. Devices must stay charged.
6. Can we trace a lot backward and forward, and how long does it take?
ASCloud: with the traceability module, one search returns the supplier lots, their certificates, every delivery note and customer, and the mass balance. The timed mock recall is saved as evidence. BRCGS allows four hours.
7. Is the price published, and what is it per site?
ASCloud: every plan and module is on the pricing page, per site per month, in rand, shown in 31 currencies. From R499, full document FSMS from R3,800, modules from R650.
8. Who does the setup, and how long does it take?
ASCloud: an ASC specialist configures documents, flows and users, migrates existing records within the quoted scope and trains the team in two live sessions. Five working days for a standard single site.
9. Where is the data hosted, and what happens when we leave?
ASCloud: hosted in South Africa, encrypted in transit and at rest, backed up daily. Full export in an open format, free, within 30 days of leaving, including the audit trail.
10. Who answers the phone during the audit?
ASCloud: food safety specialists in Gqeberha, Johannesburg and Cape Town, by phone, WhatsApp and screen-share, in South African office hours.
11. Can our existing forms be used?
ASCloud: your Word, Excel or PDF forms are read field by field and become digital checklists, reviewed by an ASC specialist before go-live.
12. What is the minimum term, and is there a guarantee?
ASCloud: monthly billing, cancel with 60 days written notice, 60-day money-back guarantee on subscription fees for new subscriptions, annual prepay saves 15%.
Ask us the twelve questions on a demo
Twenty minutes online with your standard loaded. Keep our answers in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important question?
Who maintains the standards content when the scheme changes. A system with stale content fails the audit no matter how good the software is.
Should we ask for references?
Yes, and ask to speak to the quality manager, not the owner. ASC has 366+ Google reviews across three offices and will introduce you to consulting clients who know the team.
What about security questionnaires?
Ask for the completed vendor security questionnaire, the sub-processor list and the data processing agreement before you sign. ASC provides all three on request.