How an International Beverage Distributor Runs Expenses, HR and Field Ops in One Hub

Chris Uhde, Co-Founder @ a U.S.-Based Importing Company

650+ events
tracked in under 12 months
Expensify
fully replaced in SmartSuite
Centralized reporting
for field and HR workflows
“It gave us a highly customizable central place from which we could gather data to be able to see where we are being effective and where we need to improve.”
Chris Uhde, Co-Founder @ Impexbev

Problem

Disjointed Tools, Disconnected Teams

An international importer and distributor of premium alcoholic beverages, faced growing complexity managing its global portfolio and field operations across disconnected systems. As the company scaled nationally, managing field reps across multiple territories became increasingly complex.

The team relied on Airtable for depletion tracking and Expensify for expense management, while other essential processes—like event reporting and HR requests—were managed through siloed spreadsheets and disconnected platforms. Each regional distributor operated with its own set of tools, leading to inconsistencies in how performance data was recorded and shared. Expense submissions were time-consuming, and data aggregation lacked standardization, making it difficult for leadership to gain real-time insights into field activity or territory coverage.

The lack of a centralized system slowed decision-making and strained coordination across teams. Without a unified, intuitive interface that could support users with varying levels of tech comfort, operations became increasingly fragmented and unsustainable.

Q1

Solution

Simplifying Field Ops with SmartSuite

SmartSuite offered the importer a scalable, no-code solution that brought structure and simplicity to their workflows. The platform was configured to manage everything from expense reporting to HR requests through custom-built forms and automations. Field reps could now log expenses, upload receipts, and submit demo reports without toggling between tools.

Event tracking was also centralized. The team created a dynamic database to log every brand activation, including location, rep hours, and distributor-level details—making it easy to generate performance insights for internal use and supplier reporting.

By digitizing HR workflows and integrating them with field data, the company also created a streamlined process for PTO requests, team updates, and onboarding—all in one workspace. SmartSuite's permissioning ensured that each team member saw only what was relevant to their role, while managers gained comprehensive oversight of activity across the business.

Q2

Result

Unified Insights, Seamless Execution at Scale

SmartSuite transformed how the company operates, replacing disjointed systems with a unified platform that supports both strategic visibility and day-to-day execution. More than 650 events were tracked in the first year, and real-time dashboards now offer instant insight into rep performance, expenses, and field activity.

Expense management is faster and fully integrated. HR tasks are submitted and routed efficiently. Field reps engage with SmartSuite through simple, intuitive forms—driving high adoption even among less tech-savvy team members.

The operational shift has enabled the company to scale without sacrificing oversight, streamline reviews, and deliver better data to partners and suppliers. What was once a tangle of disconnected tools is now a centralized operations hub customized for the team’s exact needs.

Download Customer Story PDF

Customer Name

Beverage Importer – Intl

Industry

Other

Team

Services

Region

North America

Company size

Small Business

Pain point

Tool fragmentation and inconsistent reporting

Products replaced

Airtable, Expensify

About the company

An international distributor of premium wines, spirits, and beers, connecting global brands to new markets.