Brewing Success with Smart Software
Running a brewery is an art and a business. While crafting exceptional beer is your passion, keeping up with inventory, compliance, scheduling, and customer engagement can become overwhelming—especially heading into a busy summer. That’s where brewery software comes in.
The right brewery management software can automate tedious tasks, optimize operations, and even enhance customer experiences, saving you time and money. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best software solutions for breweries, with a special spotlight on Hivey, an essential tool for scheduling food trucks and musicians—two key ingredients for a thriving summer taproom.
Why Breweries Need Software for Efficiency
As demand surges, breweries face several operational challenges, including:
✅ Inventory Management – Keeping track of raw materials, kegs, and finished products.
✅ Production Planning – Scheduling brew days efficiently to meet demand.
✅ Compliance & Reporting – Staying on top of taxes and alcohol regulations.
✅ Event & Customer Management – Organizing live music, food trucks, and special promotions.
✅ Sales & Distribution – Managing wholesale orders and direct-to-consumer sales.
Implementing brewery software can automate these processes, freeing up time and reducing costly errors. Now, let’s dive into the best software solutions breweries should consider.
Top Brewery Software Solutions to Save Time & Money
1. Ekos: All-in-One Brewery Management Software
👉 Best for: Inventory, production, and distribution management.
Ekos is one of the leading brewery management software solutions, offering a cloud-based platform that helps breweries track inventory, manage production, and streamline sales. Features include:
✔️ Automated Inventory Tracking – Never run out of hops or malts unexpectedly.
✔️ Batch Tracking & Quality Control – Monitor every batch from start to finish.
✔️ Compliance Reports – Simplifies tax reporting and TTB submissions.
Why It’s Valuable:
Ekos integrates with accounting software like QuickBooks, making financial tracking seamless. Also, If your brewery is scaling, Ekos provides essential visibility into every aspect of production.
2. TapHunter: Beverage Menu Management & Customer Engagement
👉 Best for: Digital menu management and real-time tap list updates.
TapHunter is designed for breweries that want to improve customer experience and sales. It allows you to update your beer menu in real-time, ensuring customers always know what’s available.
✔️ Automated Menu Updates – Syncs with your POS system.
✔️ Marketing & Promotions – Sends updates to social media and brewery websites.
✔️ Customer Engagement – Mobile app for beer enthusiasts to track their favorite brews.
Why It’s Valuable:
If you’re tired of manually updating chalkboard menus and handling customer inquiries about availability, TapHunter makes your job easier.
3. Hivey: The Must-Have Tool for Scheduling Food Trucks & Musicians
👉 Best for: Event scheduling, food truck coordination, and live entertainment planning.
As summer approaches, breweries thrive with live music, food trucks, and special events. However, managing schedules for vendors and performers can quickly become chaotic. Hivey solves this problem with easy-to-use scheduling software that streamlines event planning.
✔️ Food Truck Scheduling – Keep a rotating lineup of food trucks organized.
✔️ Live Music & Event Planning – Easily coordinate musicians, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere.
✔️ Automated Reminders & Confirmations – Reduces no-shows and scheduling conflicts.
Why It’s Valuable:
If your brewery relies on events to drive foot traffic, Hivey eliminates the back-and-forth communication headaches with vendors and musicians. It keeps your brewery buzzing with activity, ensuring guests always have a great experience.
4. Ollie: Simplified Order & Distribution Management
👉 Best for: Managing wholesale accounts and order fulfillment.
Ollie is a user-friendly brewery software that helps breweries manage their sales channels efficiently. Additionally, If you’re distributing to bars, restaurants, or grocery stores, Ollie makes it easy to track orders, invoices, and inventory.
✔️ Easy Order Processing – Simplifies B2B transactions.
✔️ Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – Keeps track of key accounts.
✔️ Automated Keg Tracking – Helps recover lost kegs and reduce costs.
Why It’s Valuable:
If your brewery is expanding its distribution, Ollie keeps wholesale orders organized, ensuring smooth operations and happy customers.
5. BrewLogix: Data-Driven Insights for Better Decision Making
👉 Best for: Real-time analytics and operational efficiency.
BrewLogix provides deep insights into brewery operations, helping owners make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency and profitability.
✔️ Production Forecasting – Helps predict demand and optimize brewing schedules.
✔️ Profitability Metrics – Tracks cost per pint, revenue per batch, and waste reduction.
✔️ Custom Dashboards – Visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) in one place.
Why It’s Valuable:
BrewLogix is perfect for breweries that want greater control over costs and production efficiency while gaining insights into customer preferences.
Choosing the Right Brewery Software for Your Needs
Not all breweries have the same needs, so choosing the best software depends on your priorities:
| Feature | Best Software |
|---|---|
| Inventory & Production | Ekos, Ollie |
| Event & Food Truck Scheduling | Hivey |
| Customer Engagement | TapHunter |
| Sales & Distribution | Ollie, Ekos |
| Business Analytics | BrewLogix |
For breweries looking to boost taproom engagement this summer, Hivey is a must-have to streamline event scheduling and keep food trucks and musicians on track.
Final Thoughts: Save Time & Brew More with the Right Software
Obviously, the craft beer industry is more competitive than ever, and staying ahead means working smarter, not harder. Whether you need better inventory tracking, smoother distribution management, or an effortless way to schedule events with Hivey, brewery software is the key to saving time and increasing profitability.
This summer, give yourself the freedom to focus on what you love—brewing great beer—while your software takes care of the rest.
Ready to take your brewery operations to the next level? Start exploring brewery software solutions today and let Hivey take the stress out of event planning! 🍻
