Belfast Distillery Company
Financial Export Application
About the Company
Operating out of the iconic Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Belfast Distillery Company has been on a dynamic growth path over the last two years. The historic company, dating back to the 1700's has been on a mission to restore the brand, McConnells Irish Whisky and are currently reshaping the rebirth of distilling in Belfast. In addition, they are creating a unique visitor attraction where the public can visit and enjoy an up close and personal experience, led by an expert guide who will share the secrets of Mconnells history. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe the process of making triple-distilled, single malt Irish whiskey, and of course, sample some of the brand’s award-winning whiskies along the way.
Requirements Overview
As a growing company and part of the improvement program, Belfast Distillery Company needed to produce reports that captured complex and sensitive information from numerous sources. Many hours and many spreadsheets were time consuming and open to human error, they needed to reduce the man hours and produce more professional, accurate all-in-one reports.
As per their normal procedures they reached out to three potential software providers. After extensive review they decided to choose Solweb for three reasons. Firstly, we came highly recommended. Secondly, we have abundant experience with their MRP software, 123Insight, that they currently use. Finally, following initial consultation they were very confident that we could produce the detailed reports that they wanted, due to our clear understanding of what was required.
Custom Software Development
Integrated Systems Allow Your Business To Run More Efficiently
Solution
After a detailed and in depth discovery phase, we prepared and then developed a Windows desktop application that produced clean, very well presented, easy to read, tailored reports that contained all the required information that Belfast Distillery Company were looking for. The application contained a settings area, which allowed for the entry and modification of values to be used with the exports. These settings were stored within the 123insight database.
All exports were written as Excel Workbooks (.xlsx), with the first sheet of the Workbook containing the exported data. File names are now automatically generated, which can be overtyped by the user, as well as setting the location for the export. In particular, live Financial Stock Reports improved dramatically, as there was now a single repository of information. The application was also written in a way that allows for it to be amended or upgraded, should the internal processes change at the Belfast Distillery Company.
Outcome
The application was developed and deployed within the estimated lead time and is now successfully being used by the team, saving considerable time and effort and improving the company operation. This was a key requirement considering the journey Belfast DIstillery Company are currently on.
Joanne Paffey, Supply Chain Controller said, "We were nervous going into the project as the reports we wanted were very complex. However, our nerves were put at ease as soon as we started into the project. We were very confident that Solweb had a clear understanding of what we needed and they were able to go further than just delivering our requirements, by offering suggestions to help improve the reports further and offer solutions to some areas we thought we may not be able to add to the application. We started the project with a "wish list" thinking if we get close to 80% of this, we would be very happy. Solweb not only fulfilled, but surpassed our wish list with the final product.
Solweb are a great team to work with, very professional, very responsive and they delivered the finished application ahead of our expectations. Support and ongoing development has also been excellent".
