Fells
The Wine Trade Solution ... And More ! 
Over more than a century and a half, Fells has developed an extraordinary depth and breadth to its business of shipping and importing wines and spirits. Sometimes success brings difficulties in its wake, and keeping track of stock, and managing distribution of its extensive portfolio was becoming an increasing challenge for them.
To find out how de Facto S5 can benefit your business, Contact Us now on 01473 417 200 or Email Us.
Needed - An Integrated system geared up for the complexities of the Wine Market
In late 2001, Fells recognised the need to integrate their then separate accounting system (Exchequer) and stock control systems (Merchant). Struggling with both their menu driven interfaces, and to bridge the increasing gap between them, they embarked on the process of choosing a new fully Windows-based integrated system. Fells investigated a number of potential systems, including those traditionally recognised as being purely 'wine trade solutions' with their inherent legacy weaknesses. Recognising that De Facto's feature rich solution handled everything they needed and more, implementation began early in 2002.
Excise Duty - A Key Feature with Power and Flexibility
In its handling of Excise Duty, de Facto S5 shows both its power and its flexibility. Whilst not merely a 'wine trade system', S5 is flexible enough to be easily configured during implementation to handle this key feature of any business in the wine distribution trade. Once set up, this feature becomes extremely powerful indeed. A standard structure for excise duty handling can be quickly configured, but where the need exists, the system is flexible enough to allow for alternative methods for handling this data.
Gift Packs - Precision Management of Stock Assembly
As well as their mainstream business of distributing wines and spirits, Fells also has a growing business activity in Gift Packs. These packs consist of a single bottle of spirit, together with associated gift items, such as cheese boards etc. Manufactured by multiple companies in multiple locations and stored in multiple warehouses, de Facto S5 is fully geared to such scenarios.
A clear benefit of utilising a powerful, yet flexible solution like de Facto S5 is its ability to cope with diversification of business, which vertical market systems would struggle to do. Where those systems typically have the core functionality for that sector and no more, De Facto's broad-based solution gives you a vast range of functionality which can be rapidly deployed, wherever your business goes.
"With huge lead times, and an ultra-seasonal business, de Facto has enabled Fells to register year on year 50% growth with this side of the business."
Price List Features - Simplicity and Efficiency
de Facto S5's powerful price list features have dramatically simplified the task of maintaining Fells' price lists. Previously utilising custom price lists for specific customers, Fells now utilises price banding to dramatic effect. Furthermore, with a number of bonded customers, Fells are able to automatically recalculate prices for them, using formulae to manage the conversion.
De Facto consultants bring Business Benefits
Implementing de Facto S5, we were able to spot inefficiencies in the way price lists were handled, and bring about the re-engineering of business processes, which resulted in dramatic gains in efficiency. The more structured form of pricing has also led to greater ease of maintenance. Complementing the strategic benefits of the software, the deployment of De Facto's service expertise yields further value to businesses.
Fells and De Facto Salute Success!
As a major force in the UK wine distribution market, Fells have found de Facto S5 to be the ideal system to manage their financials, production and logistics. The single integrated system handles their disparate business activities with ease, and is fully geared up to the specifics of the wine market and its associated processes and requirements. However, de Facto S5 is designed to cope with the entire distribution marketplace, and its necessary functions. You can be assured therefore, that as your business grows, any new required functionality will already be at hand, and ready to implement.
No wonder Fells' Financial Director Colin McKenzie is happy to raise a glass to the continuing success of the partnerships of Fells and De Facto Software!
To find out how de Facto S5 can benefit your business, Contact Us now on 01473 417 200 or Email Us.
Enabled Fells to record year-on-year 50% growth in their Gift Pack business.
