Whisky Industry Spotlight | Microsoft Power Platform
Smarter operations, from grain to glass
Distilleries, Distributors, and Operations teams are using Microsoft Power Platform to replace manual spreadsheets and disconnected systems with connected data, automated compliance, and real-time visibility — all without ripping out what you already run on.
What is Microsoft Power Platform?
Power BI, Power Apps, and Power Automate – the tools behind Microsoft Power Platform – turn the systems whisky businesses already run on into something smarter: live dashboards, custom apps, and automated workflows built around casks, compliance and customers.
Solutions for the Whisky Industry
Cask inventory dashboard
Track every cask by warehouse, fill date, ABV, age, and projected yield – updated in real time.
Warehouse inspection app
Mobile cask inspection forms with photo capture, condition logging, and compliance sign-off.
Regulatory filing automation
Export & sales analytics
End-to-end audit trail
Who it's for
Distilleries
Distributors
Operations teams
Why use Power Platform?
%
less time on compliance admin
cask and inventory visibility
faster distributor onboarding
Custom Microsoft 365 & Power Platform Solutions Built Around Your Business
Whisky businesses rarely fit neatly into off-the-shelf software. That’s where custom Power Platform development comes in: using tools you already have (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI), Flyte builds solutions tailored to how you actually operate.
Think a simple app for logging cask movements, an automated compliance workflow, or a dashboard bringing production and sales data together – no spreadsheets, no steep learning curve, nothing extra to manage.
Ongoing Microsoft 365 and Power Platform Support You Can Rely On
A new solution’s value comes from keeping it running well as your business evolves. Flyte’s support service gives you that peace of mind – so your team can focus on the whisky, not the technology.
We don’t just fix things when they break. We proactively monitor performance, resolve issues quickly, and make ongoing improvements; whether that’s a Power Automate flow, a Power BI report, or a SharePoint site that’s grown unwieldy.
Whether you rely on a few critical flows or a full suite of Power Platform solutions, our support scales to fit your business.
Case Study
Whyte & Mackay's Distributor Portal
When an existing Power BI implementation stopped delivering — legacy data sources had disconnected, leaving dashboards full of dead views — Scotch whisky producer Whyte & Mackay turned to Flyte to rebuild their Distributor Portal reporting from the ground up. Working closely with stakeholders across the business, Flyte scoped and rebuilt three dashboards, restoring full functionality and adding new metrics aligned to how the business actually operates. Flyte has continued to provide ongoing support for the dashboards, and has since delivered further projects extending Power BI’s use across other parts of the business: a good example of how the right Power Platform partner can turn a single fix into a long-term reporting foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does our distillery need an IT team to use Power Platform?
No IT department is required. Power Platform is built around low-code and no-code tools, meaning distillery managers, operations leads, and compliance teams can build and maintain dashboards, workflows, and apps themselves.
How does Flyte help us get the most from the licenses we already have?
Before recommending anything new, Flyte reviews what your existing Microsoft 365 or Power Platform licensing already includes — many whisky businesses are sitting on unused Power Apps and Power Automate entitlements. A distillery on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, for example, can typically build and run several apps and automated flows at no extra cost, covering things like cask movement logging or PO approvals. We only recommend stepping up to premium per-app or per-user licensing when a solution genuinely needs it — such as premium connectors, Dataverse storage, or higher usage volumes for a distributor-facing portal or warehouse-wide inspection app. That way, your Power Platform investment grows in step with what your business actually needs, not ahead of it.
Is our whisky and distributor data secure on Power Platform?
Yes – Power Platform is built on Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security model, with role-based access controls in Dataverse meaning staff only see the cask, financial, or distributor data relevant to their role. Flyte builds every solution with this in mind from the start, and as an ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials accredited partner, we follow strict data handling practices throughout every project: whether that’s HMRC duty records, distributor contracts, or production data.
We currently run everything on spreadsheets — how disruptive is moving to Power Platform?
Less than most teams expect. Flyte starts by mapping your existing spreadsheets and processes, then migrates historical data across so nothing is lost in the switch. Because Power Apps and Power BI sit within the familiar Microsoft 365 environment, most staff need only light, task-specific training rather than learning a new system from scratch – and we typically run the new and old process side by side for a short handover period, so day-to-day operations are never interrupted
Is Power Platform suitable for smaller craft distilleries?
Yes. Craft distilleries can start with a single dashboard or a simple onboarding app and expand over time. Licensing is flexible, and because the tools are low-code, smaller teams can manage and grow their setup without dedicated IT resource.
Can Power Platform handle multiple distilleries or bonded warehouses under one dashboard?
Yes. Power BI dashboards can pull data from multiple sites, warehouses, and even third-party bonded storage into a single view, so groups running more than one distillery aren’t stuck comparing separate spreadsheets or systems. Flyte typically builds in site- or warehouse-level filtering, so operations teams get a consolidated group view while individual site managers can still drill down to their own location’s data.
Can Power Platform connect to our existing ERP or cask management system?
Yes. Power Platform connects to hundreds of data sources through pre-built connectors, including common ERP systems, Excel spreadsheets, SQL databases, and industry-specific platforms without replacing your existing systems.
How can Power Automate help with HMRC excise duty compliance?
Power Automate can automatically generate excise duty summaries at set intervals, trigger duty suspension notifications, and route compliance documents through approval chains – ensuring submissions are consistent and audit-ready.
How quickly can we get a Power BI cask dashboard up and running?
A basic cask inventory dashboard can typically be live within days. More complex dashboards covering multiple warehouses and sales performance may take two to four weeks depending on data readiness.
See Power Platform in action for your distillery
Book a free 30-minute walkthrough.