Bevica shares its expertise for crucial Christmas season

As a leading software solution for the drinks industry, Bevica has some advice to help businesses maximise revenue in the upcoming busy festive period.

As a business that has worked with the drinks industry for many years, Bevica understands the importance of the year’s end. The famously seasonal industry welcomes a double-whammy in December. Families and friends gather for Christmas feasts, while fizz is usually on the agenda for New Year’s Eve. It is little surprise, then, that many drinks businesses are deep into their festive planning, with the UK’s largest drinks retailer, Majestic, laying foundations for a potentially record-breaking year.

After 20 years in the industry, the Bevica team has plenty of experience in the opportunities and pitfalls the season can bring. As TVision Technology’s alcoholic drinks software solution, the team can draw on experience, both from within the drinks industry and beyond it.

This particular enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, acts as a comprehensive tool for drinks companies. Integrated into the solution are areas such as managing finances and KPIs, inventory, CRM and customer services. However, there is also industry-specific functionality. The ERP software is designed, for instance, to manage duty charges and their impact on the often-complicated drinks supply chain.

In readiness for the 2023 festive season, Bevica’s product director Claudio Martell has shared his expertise. These five tips, applicable across the industry, highlight the key processes and systems for a successful Christmas as a drinks company.

Firstly, he recommended ensuring effective stock levels. With increased opportunities for big sales, Martell highlighted the importance of a well-managed inventory, using stock control systems, forecasting tools and cashflow analysis. The three in tandem can maximise sales potential.

Secondly, he discussed credit control. With the potential to sell to many customers in significant quantities, it is vital to give credit only to the right customers. Proper credit control processes, according to Martell, can ensure the correct orders are sent for dispatch. This leads to prompt payment and a reduction in bad debts, building a company’s overall financial health.

Next on the agenda was targeted pricing. Martell recommended maximising turnover with effectively targeted sales prices. He advised using a flexible system, allowing businesses to find the discounts that both incentivise spending and maintain a healthy profit.

There was also discussion of ordering. The Christmas rush means bottlenecks in the process are more threatening than ever, as the focus should be on sales. Whether ordering electronically or manually, he stressed the importance of efficient sales order entry to ensure a quick dispatch.

His final suggestion again tied to data. With fast-moving, potentially unpredictable sales, Martell recommended using a solution that can offer up-to-the-minute reporting. Such immediate performance information enables quick action as new data comes through.

Martell ended his tips with one overarching bit of advice: “The festive season does not need to be daunting for the drinks industry. The right level of planning and preparation, as well as a solid and reliable set of systems and processes, will go a long way to ensuring that your Christmas season is a hit!”

To find out more about Bevica, book your place on one of the ‘Introduction to Bevica’ webinars.

Dates in early 2024 include Wednesday, 10 January 2024 and Wednesday, 31 January 2024.

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