Unlocking success: How analytics can transform beverage distribution

A beverage distribution business can be challenging to understand and manage without a strong reporting platform, given the significant volume of transactions, customers and products to manage. Having clear insight into industry analytics can improve processes, decision making and overall profitability.

Analytics and how to deploy

There are several ERP systems a beverage distributor or wholesaler might use as a source system to track transactional data such as sales activity or inventory movements. Some of the more common systems include VIP, Encompass and Oracle Netsuite.

Once this data is collected, we recommend pushing the data to a data warehouse or database where you can stage that information to cut down on performance issues and unintended consequences that may come with pulling data directly from a source system.

After the data is staged in a data warehouse, you can then utilize visualization tools like Tableau and Power BI to provide the end user with an interface with interactive dashboards, data exports and pre-prepared reporting on demand.

Our role as advisor

Baker Tilly’s goal when working with a beverage distributor or wholesaler in the analytics deployment process is to give the client everything they need to be successful. The first step to making this happen is collaboration – having a good relationship with a trusted advisor is important.

We also strive as advisors to share industry perspectives from working with similar clients as a part of our projects to help clients get up to speed faster than if they were pursuing this on their own. In addition to providing that insight, we can provide process and project management to manage uncertainty and help ensure a client’s deployment is well thought out, can be delivered on time and is within budget.

Rather than pushing standard templates or products without considering a unique business’s needs, the Baker Tilly approach is to sit down with the leadership team and understand the company at the outset to determine where the most value can be created for the client’s individual situation utilizing our expert’s technical expertise across all disciplines from finance to accounting to operations to sales.