Brewer Fuller, Smith & Turner is automating export documentation to ease the regulatory burden of its worldwide expansion.

The company has boosted export volume by 51 per cent in the past three years and overseas customers have increased 63 per cent in the past two years.

Fuller’s is aiming for similar growth levels in coming years, and automated export document production and management is essential to meet customs requirements, says IT development manager Bronwen White.

‘The documents required to export to different countries are often very different and can be very complicated,’ she said. ‘We need a range of customs documents to meet legal requirements and it is vital we get it right.’

The brewer’s current export system does not integrate into its enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Data has had to be entered three times in different places – the ERP system, the old export document management system and the web site of relevant customs agencies.

‘The information now needs to be keyed in just once and is then electronically passed to other systems,’ said White.

‘It will lead to improved efficiency by avoiding the re-keying of information and a reduction in errors as a result.’

The system from supplier Kewill will go live in September. The brewer’s products include beers such as London Pride, ESB and India Pale Ale.