Cert Octavian plc is a Premium Product Logistics provider within the UK. Their premium services include Warehousing, Transport, Promotional Packaging and Fine Wine Storage.

Cert Octavian plc has benefited from OBS Logistics’ CALIDUS Warehousing Management System (WMS) since the relationship between the two companies began in 1999. CALIDUS WMS is the core of the CALIDUS supply chain solution and is a multi-warehouse and multi-owner system that controls inventory from the point of receipt through to despatch and includes comprehensive features for the specific needs of Bonded Warehousing and Distribution.

As a premium product logistics provider, Cert Octavian expertise is trusted by leading global brands in the Drinks, Wines & Spirits and Health & Beauty sectors. Their client list includes many internationally famous names such as Coty, Fosters, Concha Y Toro, Freixenet, Justerini & Brooks, Corney & Barrow, John Armit, Louis Latour, Moet & Chandon, Diageo, Pol Roger, Red Bull and Tiger Beer.

Cert Octavian provide a premium fine wine service through its Octavian Vaults operated out of its Corsham Cellars which provide pristine fine wine storage conditions 100 feet below the hills of Wiltshire. The requirements for the site benefited from the tailoring of the warehouse system to meet the specialist needs of the wine cellars of Cert Octavian.

When the wine arrives at Corsham Cellars, much care is taken in confirming its details. The name, vintage, case type and case size are all checked and once confirmed, these details are loaded on to the CALIDUS Warehousing System and given a rotation label. These details, along with case quantities, are sent to customers on the Confirmation of Receipt of Stock document.

A rotation label is applied to each case and carries the owner’s account number and name. It also details the bottle or case to which it is affixed (wine name, grower – if applicable, vintage, case type and case size). Each label also has a unique rotation number, used for HM Revenue & Customs purposes, along with a unique barcode that is checked whenever the wine is moved.

Each case is allocated a space within the cellars when it is laid down. Before the wine is put away, it is double checked, to ensure the wine is being placed in the correct location. This information is then stored on the CALIDUS Warehousing System, so that the wine can be quickly found when it is needed. Comprehensive audit trails also enable records of all movements for each stock rotation to be traced ‘cradle to grave’ as is essential for HM Revenue & Customs requirements.

When the wine is required, the system enables experienced cellar staff to ensure that the correct bottle or case is picked, using the CALIDUS System. Currently Cert Octavian has been implementing CALIDUS in their prestigious new 200,000 square feet warehouse at Hoddesdon, also the new location of their head office. As Greg Taylor, their Financial Director commented,

“These facilities show the commitment that Cert Octavian continues to make to provide the best possible facilities and service to our customers, in which the CALIDUS Warehousing System plays a key part”.

Cert Octavian’s Bonded Warehousing Service also enables their clients to defer payment of duty and VAT on their wine whilst it is in their care. This is supported by a fully integrated bonded module within the CALIDUS system ensuring that stock transactions only need to be processed once.

CALIDUS also incorporates a radio data system (RDS) which controls warehouse activities using radio frequency communications. It enables comprehensive labour/task management with on-line communication between the CALIDUS WMS and Radio Data Terminals, which can be truck mounted or hand held. All RDS tasks are confirmed immediately on the WMS database and stamped with the user ID, date and time. Information can be typed in or scanned from a bar code.

Not only does OBS Logistics continue to provide development services to tailor the systems for new and existing clients, but also provides comprehensive support to the Cert Octavian IT team, ensuring round the clock availability of these business critical systems.

Dave Renshaw, CEO of OBS Logistics emphasised the importance of the Cert Octavian relationship,

“Having been fortunate to be involved with the Cert Octavian relationship since it began, I have seen how our CALIDUS product has benefited from us working with one of the leading premium product logistics companies, particularly in the area of Bonded Wines and Spirits distribution.”

Greg Taylor, Finance Director, at Cert Octavian added,

“The CALIDUS system has served us well over many years enabling us to meet the varied and changing needs of our many clients, supporting the comprehensive and complex logistics services which are demanded in our industry. Particularly noteworthy, is the close working relationship we have enjoyed throughout with the OBS Logistics team.”