SB Podcast: the benefits of digitising the spirits industry
If tech is your bag – from NFTs to distillery compliance improvements and consumer connections – then this podcast episode with Proof 8 CEO Rob Hollands needs to be on your download list.
Episode 14 focuses on all things digital with Hollands. London-based digitalisation platform Proof 8 (recently rebranded from Proofworks) currently offers services in the UK and Ireland, but is aiming to expand to the US and Asia this year.
When the global pandemic hit in 2020, it held a mirror to how behind the spirits industry was in its digital advancements – notably in regards to e-commerce.
However, as Hollands reveals in this podcast episode, there are still many digital improvements the trade can embrace to improve efficiency, offer greater transparency, and protect transactions and ownership.
One question presented to Hollands is whether the spirits sector is slower to digitise than other industries?
“Probably, truthfully, yes. The industry is slower on that – which isn’t a negative thing. I think it’s a complex industry because we’ve got the full spectrum of people from very offline, not digitally connected in their day to day, hands working in a beautiful distillery environment versus, maybe, marketing teams at the other end that are living and breathing digital and that’s how they’re reaching and selling brands is every touch point’s almost digital. So it’s complex from that side of things in that you have to appeal to everyone,” Hollands explains.
He continues: “A lot of what we’ve switched to doing is showing the benefits and starting to connect up the pieces of the puzzle. If we can’t connect a facility or a distillery from day one but we can connect the warehouse, we’re taking that step and then moving into how can we with grain and ingredients right the way through to that warehouse, how can we connect everything? But we’re doing it far more in steps and doing lots to educate.”
Other topics covered in the episode include the purpose and appeal of NFTs, how AI is influencing the industry, and the financial rewards associated with investing in digital operations.
The 14th episode of The Spirits Business Podcast with Hollands is now available to listen to on all major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon.
Alternatively, click the link below to listen to the latest episode
Past episodes include interviews with Uncle Nearest founder and CEO Fawn Weaver – the first video episode of The Spirits Business Podcast – Sam Simmons, head of whisky at Atom Brands, Becky Paskin, founder of OurWhisky Foundation, Zak Oganian, CEO of Origen X, and most recently ProWein/ProSpirits.
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