Technology & E-Commerce
SOFTWARE TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY The latest operations software can save you a lot of time and money, especially when it comes to those dreaded reports. BY ANDREW KAPLAN
It’s probably a safe bet that if you ask any craft distiller why they got into this business, they’re unlikely to respond: “to fill out government compliance reports.” But keeping track of all the data necessary to file those reports is one of the essential things that allow us to otherwise enjoy life as a craft distiller. The good news is that craft distilleries today can avoid spending hours compiling these reports and devote more of their time to making delicious spirits by deploying one of the latest operations software solutions. Additionally, such software systems provide a plethora of other functions, such as inventory management, the ability to remotely monitor operations, and even, in some of the applications, help optimizing the taste of your spirits. “It helps steer us,” says the Nashville-based Corsair’s consulting distiller Colton Weinstein, about the operations software Corsair has been using, Whiskey Systems from FIVE x 5 Solutions. “Everything fits together to make
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your operations and record keeping smooth.” Weinstein, who also works as an industry consultant, says the time savings for reporting alone can save as much as a week of extra work. “I’ve seen clients trying to suss through a month of all their production and then they get software like Whiskey Systems and they’re like, ‘Oh, you can do this in 30 minutes, great!’” Clay Smith, operations manager for Moonshine University, calls these solutions “organizational tools. The small distiller has a lot of things to worry about and to keep organized,” he says. “You may be running the still, taking in the raw materials, talking with distributors, out on sales calls, or managing tours and gift shops. So, it does help to have one place where this information is kept and backed up and you’re able to access it at any time.” CHOOSING THE RIGHT SOLUTION So where do you start when it comes to choosing the right solution for your distillery? It depends on the size of your operation and your future goals. Crafted ERP, from Doozy Solutions, for example, is geared toward larger distilleries 20,000 cases and above. It is an enterprisewide solution that combines management of the diverse parts of a medium- to larger-sized distillery from one platform. For example, it can help you track procurement, production and planning, along with sales and marketing, accounting and finance and e-commerce, providing a 360-degree view of the organization with real-time data. “In the alcohol beverage space, not only are the accounting complexities tremendous and very difficult, but then you layer on all
of the other federal and state and [other] regulations that you have to abide by,” says Jeremy King, co-founder and principal, Doozy Solutions. “You’ve got to do long-term and short-term planning, all these different things together, and it was a nightmare for any of these guys just to run their business. And that’s where the proverbial light came on and we said, ‘Hey, there’s got to be a better way to be able to encapsulate all this in one system.’” Other operations software, such as DISTILL x 5, from FIVE x 5 Solutions, is geared toward smaller craft distilleries, including those just starting out. DISTILL x 5 was built from the ground up to be an easy to use, graphical user interface for everyone from operators to leadership within the distillery. “DISTILL x 5 has more guardrails in place to prevent users or operators from inputting data incorrectly or out of order, to make sure they stay compliant [with TTB rules],” explains Caroline Calhoun, FIVE x 5’s CEO. “It is typically an easier starting point for new operators, that is new DSPs who aren’t fully up on the industry.” “I’ve always found that DISTILL x 5 has been very good at being a visually-oriented representation of the distilling operation side of things,” adds Smith. Another popular solution for smaller craft distillers is Whiskey Systems, also offered by FIVE x 5 Solutions, which was adapted from a robust set of spreadsheets used in distillery consulting and expanded from there. It excels at ease of data entry and access. “One of the things that’s great about Whiskey Systems is that it’s slightly more flexible in how you put information into the system,” says Calhoun. Prices for these solutions can vary based on
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