Graham: Hi William. Can you provide an overview of what your business does?
William: Speyside Labs develops digital solutions for the spirits industry, and our key platform is Vapour, a cloud-native SaaS system built specifically for distillers, bonded warehousekeepers and bottlers. Running since 2018, Vapour is now used across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia and beyond. It manages the full lifecycle of spirit production: from raw materials and distillation, through maturation in casks, and on to bottling. It delivers real-time traceability, streamlined workflows and automated compliance reporting for HMRC. Because Vapour is cloud native, using the most modern architectures and technologies, it gives our clients scalability and resilience alongside operational efficiency.
Being based in Speyside, we are surrounded by distillers and warehouse operations, so our heritage is deeply entrenched in the industry. This proximity has given us first-hand insight into the day-to-day challenges of spirit production and bonded warehousing, which has been invaluable in shaping Vapour into a practical and industry-focused platform.
Graham: When did you first become engaged with the BWA and what were the key reasons for joining the association?
William: We were recommended to join the BWA by one of our clients a couple of years back. The primary reason we joined was because the organisation represents the interests of bonded warehousekeepers, the very community our platform is designed to serve. Being part of the association gives us direct insight into the challenges warehousekeepers face and allows us to contribute digital expertise to industry-wide discussions. Collaboration with the BWA ensures Vapour continues to evolve in line with sector needs while supporting members with the tools they require.
Graham: What are currently the biggest challenges that the industry is facing?
William: The industry is under pressure from several directions. Regulatory obligations from HMRC are becoming more complex, requiring detailed reporting and full transparency of stock movements. Operationally, warehousekeepers are contending with rising costs, labour shortages and outdated systems. On top of this, wider global economic headwinds such as conflicts, international trade tariffs and a downturn in certain markets are creating uncertainty and squeezing margins. This combination makes it increasingly difficult to balance compliance, efficiency and competitiveness.
Graham: How can these challenges be resolved?
William: Adopting modern, cloud-based platforms like Vapour is a practical way forward. By digitising operations, warehousekeepers can reduce manual effort, cut errors and generate HMRC-ready reports instantly. Too often in the industry, we see hype around certain technologies which are often solutions looking for a problem to solve. We have taken a different approach: Vapour was created by working directly with industry experts, focusing on usability and process. Rather than trying to shoehorn technology onto users, our aim has always been to augment and enrich what they already do, in a digitised way. Strong collaboration across the sector, between members, the BWA and regulators, can help ensure that changes remain practical and achievable. At the same time, investing in staff training and skills development ensures that teams can fully harness the benefits of digital tools and adapt to evolving market conditions.
Graham: What innovations can you see coming to the industry in the future?
William: I believe we will see greater use of automation and AI across bonded warehousing, whether that is for stock reconciliation, predictive demand planning or compliance reporting. A big focus will be on increasing transparency around cask record keeping, and we are developing our market-leading transparency capabilities further within Vapour, with more to share on this soon. Safety will continue to be a priority, with robotics and IoT devices helping to reduce risk in warehouse environments and improve efficiency. Sustainability will also drive innovation, with technology helping to optimise energy use and reduce environmental impact across the supply chain. The key is ensuring these innovations are deployed in ways that create real operational value rather than being adopted for novelty alone.
Graham: What are your priorities over the next 12 months?
William: Our main priority is continuing to grow Vapour as the leading digital platform for the spirits sector. That means expanding its capabilities, developing deeper integrations with warehouse and distillery systems, and scaling adoption with both independent operators and large groups. We also want to play an active role within broader industry communities, ensuring Vapour evolves to meet the practical, day-to-day needs of bonded warehousekeepers. Our focus is always on helping the industry run more efficiently, stay compliant, and be prepared for the future; balancing the potential of modern technology with practical, meaningful outcomes.
To learn more about how Vapour supports bonded warehousekeepers with compliance, transparency and operational efficiency, visit vapour.scot.
