Introducing Maletis Beverage
Founded in 1935, Maletis Beverage is a family-owned distributor of beer, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic beverages. Operating out of Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, Maletis services the Pacific Northwest with a commitment to quality products, teamwork, and customer satisfaction.
The Challenge
As Maletis Beverage has grown into one of the largest beverage distributors in the Pacific Northwest, they’ve faced increasing challenges in managing their diverse fleet and equipment.
They’re dealing with a lot of moving parts:
- 50+ delivery routes daily across two facilities
- Various vehicles including trucks, trailers, and side loaders
- Multiple types of warehouse equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, articulated forklifts, etc.)
In the past, paper-based inspection processes led to inefficiencies — and they also had a tough time maintaining DOT compliance and equipment safety.
With such a complex operation, Maletis Beverage needed a robust solution to streamline their processes and ensure optimal fleet performance.
The Solution
Maletis Beverage turned to Whip Around to digitize their inspection process and enhance compliance outcomes. Mick Peckham, who manages safety and training, highlighted the comprehensive implementation:
“We now use Whip Around not only for all of our warehouse equipment but as well as for our DOT inspection compliance and for all of our trucks and trailers.”
The following features have changed the game for Maletis:
- Digital inspections: They replaced paper-based systems with mobile inspections for all assets.
- Custom forms: They can now create tailored inspection forms for virtually any equipment type.
- Barcode integration: Barcodes have been added to all equipment for easy identification and inspections.
- Photo documentation: Photo evidence is now required for critical inspection points.
- Real-time defect reporting: The team enabled immediate notification of issues for alerting mechanics.
Despite the enormous strides, the folks at Maletis saw room for further improvement.
“We wanted to come up with a way that we could reach a reasonable price point and make things easier for everyone,” Peckham said.
The Game-Changer: FixedUnlimited Pricing Plan
Maletis Beverage recently transitioned to Whip Around’s innovative FixedUnlimited pricing plan, a first-of-its-kind offering in the industry. This plan provides:
- Unlimited assets for a fixed annual rate
- Predictable annual costs for easier budgeting
- Simplified billing (no need to manage costs for each change in asset count)
When the Maletis team heard about this plan, it quickly became clear that it was an ideal fit — they wanted to streamline accounting processes and reduce administrative overhead.
By moving away from per-asset monthly billing, managing billing processes immediately became significantly easier. Team members no longer need to file a report for the accounting team and wait for approvals.
While it’s still early days, the transition has been smooth. “I think it’s been about three or four weeks, and I’ve heard only good things,” Peckham reported.
The Results
Since implementing Whip Around and adopting the FixedUnlimited plan, Maletis Beverage has seen significant improvements across their operations. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas where Maletis Beverage has seen notable results:
Enhanced Safety and Compliance
- Real-time visibility into equipment status
- Quicker resolution of defects, typically within 1-2 days
- Improved DOT compliance with easily accessible inspection history
According to Peckham, “People being held accountable for doing their inspections every day has really helped. We are never putting equipment with defects or safety hazards out on the floor.”
Increased Efficiency
- Streamlined inspection processes with barcode scanning
- Reduced equipment downtime
- Eliminated paper waste and file storage issues
Looking Ahead
As Maletis Beverage continues to grow, they’re well-positioned to manage their fleet efficiently with Whip Around. The company is already working with the Whip Around team to explore additional features.
With Whip Around’s commitment to innovation and customer feedback, Maletis Beverage can expect continued improvements to support their operations.
For companies looking to optimize their fleet management and simplify their operations, Maletis Beverage’s success with Whip Around’s FixedUnlimited plan offers a compelling case for making the switch.
