By Claudio Martell, Bevica Product Director
In today’s competitive wine industry, operational efficiency is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity. Wineries face increasing pressure to streamline processes, ensure compliance and respond quickly to market demands. But what does operational excellence actually look like? Here Claudio Martell, Bevica Product Director, takes a close look at the six essential characteristics that define excellence in winery processes and systems.
1. Clear business objectives
Effective winery operations begin with well-defined goals. Whether it’s increasing direct-to-consumer sales, expanding export markets, or improving sustainability, clarity of purpose shapes every operational decision. Without defined objectives, even the best systems can become misaligned or underutilised. A winery that knows where it’s going can better evaluate whether its current processes are helping – or hindering – its progress.
2. Well-coordinated and integrated technologies
Many modern wineries rely on a patchwork of tools – from vineyard monitoring apps to ERP for wineries such as Bevica ERP. However, true efficiency comes when these technologies are integrated and working in harmony. Seamless data flow between production, inventory, sales, and compliance systems reduces duplication, minimises errors, and enables real-time decision-making. Integration between your various systems and customer data platforms will give you a single source of truth within your business.
3. Proactive regulatory compliance
In the drinks industry, compliance isn’t optional; it’s foundational. From HMRC excise duty and bonded warehouse regulations to labelling requirements and international trade rules, wineries must navigate a complex and evolving regulatory landscape. A good winery management software system doesn’t just help you stay compliant – it makes compliance proactive, auditable, and efficient. One of the most powerful enablers of this is traceability. Systems that track the full provenance of each wine – from vineyard to bottle – ensure that every case is uniquely identifiable, with a documented history of ownership, storage, and movement. This level of traceability not only supports regulatory audits but also builds consumer trust and protects brand integrity.
4. Integrated omnichannel selling strategy
Today’s wine consumers expect to engage with brands across multiple channels: tasting rooms, online shops, subscription clubs, and more. A good winery system supports omnichannel selling by unifying customer data and inventory across platforms. This not only improves the customer experience but also enables targeted marketing and better demand forecasting. Robust systems can support wine club management and mobile accessibility, helping wineries stay connected with their customers wherever they are.
5. Clear understanding of where profitability lies
Profitability in winemaking isn’t always obvious. It requires visibility into cost structures, margins by product line and vintages, and the true ROI of marketing and distribution efforts. Good systems provide the analytics and reporting needed to uncover these insights. Wineries should look for software that offers detailed performance metrics and flexible reporting options.
6. Scalability
Finally, a good winery system is one that grows with the business. Whether you’re expanding production, opening new locations, or diversifying your product range, your processes and systems should scale without disruption. Scalability isn’t just about technology – it’s about having the right workflows, training, and support in place to adapt to change. Wineries that invest in scalable winery management software are better positioned to seize new opportunities and respond to market shifts.
Your Winery, Only Better: A Free Expert Workshop
Bevica is currently offering a free, no-strings-attached Business Process Workshop tailored specifically for wineries (valued at £1,500). You’ll meet one-on-one with a drinks industry expert who’s worked in the trade and understands your challenges.
Together, you’ll review your current systems, spot inefficiencies, and uncover opportunities to improve. After the session, you’ll receive a personalised blueprint with practical recommendations — yours to keep.
About Claudio
Claudio Martell is the Product Director at Bevica, a specialist ERP solution for the drinks industry. With a career spanning over three decades, Claudio began in the sector as Purchasing and Bonded Warehouse Manager at Enotria & Coe, where he also led the implementation of Microsoft Navision (the forerunner to Business Central). Since then, he has been the strategic force behind Bevica’s evolution – from its early days on Dynamics NAV to its current cloud-based version powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Claudio’s deep industry insight and commitment to solving real-world challenges have shaped Bevica into a trusted platform for wineries, wine merchants, and drinks distributors across the UK.
