Software problem causes alcohol distribution delays in Washington state

The Seattle Times reports some stores and bars running low on alcoholic beverages due to distribution delays.

State workers are scrambling to fix a distribution problem that has crimped the flow of alcohol to customers across the state, as liquor stores and restaurants are gearing up for one of the busiest weekends of the year.
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State officials blame the difficulties on a glitch in a new software system that controls the movement of 18,000 cases of liquor a day through the state’s distribution center on East Marginal Way South in Seattle.

This is poor timing not just because of the upcoming 4th of July weekend and state staff are working hard on fixing the issue:

The computer program, from Atlanta-based CDC Software, is the key to successful operation of a highly automated system in which cases of liquor are moved from shelves and sent along conveyors in time to be placed in trucks serving all 161 state-run and 154 contract liquor stores in the state.

Smith said the software problem has been corrected, but the system is still dealing with a backlog of orders, while trying to meet the increased demand that comes with the Fourth of July holiday.

State workers have put in more than 2,200 hours of overtime, and six temporary “hub” distribution sites have been set up to ensure that customers, including restaurants, have access to at least the highest-demand beverages.

Expensive.

It is worth paying attention to how often new or recently upgraded systems are involved with visible cases like this.