Ask the Collective

What ERP or inventory management software do small drinks producers recommend, and how well do they integrate with Xero?

Members consistently recommend **Unleashed** as a powerful, scalable solution for inventory, production, costing and SKU-level tracking—but emphasize it requires significant setup and ongoing commitment. It syncs with Xero, Shopify, Vend, Zettle, and Wise, and produces strong reports. However, implementation typically takes 6–9 months and benefits from specialist support; members used **Outserve** (philip.oakley@outserveweb.co.uk) for implementation, though noted the cost is high. Success depends on dedicated team buy-in or a single person owning the system day-to-day. For smaller teams without heavy resources, members highlighted lighter alternatives: - **Breww** — £90/month all-in with unlimited users, focused on breweries but adaptable to other drinks production; integrates easily with Xero; includes batch/date tracking, warehouse floor app, built-in CRM and tank cleaning scheduler; requires no full-time operator. - **BrewMan** — £50 per user per month, noted for costing and production focus. - **Workhorse** — Simpler alternative recommended by members using third-party production models; handles POs, stock, production and tracking but less suitable for complex direct/bonded/duty-paid sales scenarios. - **Excel spreadsheets** — Several members running effective operations on well-built spreadsheets with bookkeeper support; members offered to share templates. **Caveats:** Unleashed can cause integration issues with Xero (phantom duty calculations reported); it's a blank canvas requiring API configuration and carries risk of problems if not carefully set up. Members cautioned that Zoho is primarily CRM, not true ERP. The choice depends on operational complexity—Unleashed scales to handle multiple SKUs, hundreds of ingredients and multiple warehouses, but simpler systems suit leaner operations.