Accounts
Support day-to-day accounting and sales invoicing.
Customer story
21 years of connected accounting and trusted support.
For 21 years, M.Kettlewell (Melmerby) Ltd and Kettlewell Commercials Ltd have used DataFlow for sales invoicing and general accounts, with Multihaul feeding haulage information into the ledgers. They are now preparing to complete their move to Clarity.
“DataFlow is very easy to operate, and we’ve had excellent support. Without good support, you don’t have a good system.”
Industry
Road haulage and commercial vehicle services
With DataFlow
21 years
Primary use
Sales invoicing & general accounts
Next step
Preparing for Clarity
About Kettlewell
Two family-run businesses built around commercial vehicles.
M.Kettlewell (Melmerby) Ltd, a haulage contractor established in 1960, and Kettlewell Commercials Ltd, a DAF truck servicing and parts business established in 2002, are family-run commercial vehicle businesses based in Melmerby, Ripon, North Yorkshire. In the 1980s, the businesses expanded into fuel oil distribution, but that business was sold in 2020.
Today, both businesses operate from a five-acre site. Kettlewell Commercials provides HGV servicing, maintenance, diagnostics, repairs and roadside recovery from a five-bay workshop. M.Kettlewell (Melmerby) Ltd operates a fleet of 44-tonne articulated vehicles covering all areas of the UK.
“No job too big or too small.”
The pain
Their existing accounting provider was winding down.
The Kettlewell businesses needed a new accounting system when the local provider behind their existing software moved abroad and began winding down. They needed a replacement that could support their accounts without disrupting the way the rest of the operation worked.
The new setup also needed to work with the systems used for haulage, commercial repairs and payroll. Integration was therefore an important part of the original decision.
Haulage
Work with the system used to manage the haulage operation.
Commercial repairs
Accommodate the software requirements of the commercial repair business.
Payroll
Include payroll within the original system setup.
Why DataFlow
One connected setup across both businesses.
DataFlow stood out because the accounts for both companies could be managed alongside the systems supporting haulage, commercial repairs and payroll within one connected setup. The finance system did not need to operate in isolation from the rest of the operation.
The original package brought DataFlow Accounts, Multihaul, the commercial repair system and payroll together, allowing information to move between them. Although the commercial repair and payroll systems have since changed, DataFlow Accounts and Multihaul remain in use today.
“What worked well for us was that the package covered our accounts, haulage operation, commercial repair business and payroll. Everything worked together.”
Connected accounting
Core finance processes without duplicate entry.
DataFlow supports core accounting activity across both companies, while relevant haulage information from Multihaul feeds into the ledgers. This keeps finance connected to the haulage operation and reduces the need to enter the same information twice.
Sales invoicing
Sales invoices are raised directly in DataFlow as part of the core accounts workflow.
General accounting
Routine finance activity is managed in DataFlow, keeping day-to-day accounting in one system.
Multi-company visibility
The finance team can access the accounts for both companies within DataFlow.
Integrated haulage postings
Relevant Multihaul information feeds into the ledgers, reducing duplicate data entry.
“The biggest benefit is how simple it is to use and how it integrates with the other systems. Otherwise, you would be entering the same information twice.”
Why they stayed with DataFlow
Easy to use, with excellent support.
Over the years, some of the original software has been replaced as requirements changed. DataFlow Accounts, however, has remained in place, continuing to support the core accounting work the finance team needs.
Straightforward to use
Core accounting tasks remain simple to complete without unnecessary complexity.
Information is easy to find
Financial information is straightforward to locate when the team needs it.
Excellent support
The DataFlow team has provided consistently strong support throughout the relationship.
Long-term fit
DataFlow Accounts has continued to meet the accounting requirements of both businesses as their needs have evolved.
“Everything is easy enough to find. There’s nothing complicated about using DataFlow.”
Preparing for Clarity
Moving to a more modern accounting workflow.
Clarity was ordered in 2024 after the newer platform was demonstrated. The project was paused while other priorities took precedence.
Training has now resumed, and the team is preparing to complete the move. The main expected improvement is a more efficient purchase-invoice workflow, with documents scanned into the system for easier retrieval and less paper handling.
Purchase invoice scanning
Purchase invoices can be scanned into Clarity, reducing the manual handling involved in storing supporting documents.
Faster document retrieval
Scanned invoices will be available in the system when the team needs to refer back to them.
Less paper storage
Digital copies should reduce the volume of purchase-invoice paperwork that needs to be filed and stored.
A familiar transition
Clarity retains a familiar feel while adding newer capabilities designed to make routine work quicker.
“I think scanning purchase invoices will save a lot of time. You scan the invoice, and it is there when you need it.”
The verdict
The outcome of 21 years with DataFlow.
10/10 customer recommendation
“It is easy to operate, and the support is excellent. I wouldn’t still be here after 21 years otherwise.”
Trusted by UK trading and accounting businesses
Bannerman Company Ltd
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Looking for accounting software that fits the way your business works?
See how DataFlow can support day-to-day accounts and work with the systems your business already uses.
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