Employee Q&A: Lorna Parkinson – Customer Care Manager

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1. Could you introduce yourself and share a little about your background before joining DRAMS?

I’ve spent over 15 years working in customer experience, with the last 9+ years focused on leadership roles where I’ve built and led teams to deliver excellent service and support. Before joining DRAMS, I was Support Services Manager at Totara Learning, where I shaped customer support strategies and ensured customers had a smooth and positive experience. 

2. What drew you to the role of Customer Care Manager at DRAMS?

I was drawn to DRAMS because it’s a chance to shape customer care in a growing company with proud Scottish heritage, which really resonates with me as a Scot. I’m passionate about building lasting customer relationships, and this role lets me use my experience to make a real impact for both clients and the business. 

3. What excites you most about working in customer care?

What excites me most about customer care is making a real difference, turning challenges into positive experiences and building lasting relationships. I’m also really passionate about people and team leadership, so I love creating an environment where my team can thrive while delivering the best possible service to our customers. 

4. How do you define great customer care, and how do you see this benefiting DRAMS customers?

For me, great customer care is about being proactive, responsive, and genuinely invested in the customer’s journey. It’s not just solving problems quickly but also building trust and making sure customers feel supported every step of the way. For DRAMS customers, that means a partnership approach, they’ll know we understand their needs and are committed to helping them get the most value from our solutions. 

5. The DRAMS value of “Customer Focus” is central to how we work — how does that align with your own approach to customer care?

Customer focus has always been at the heart of my approach. For me, iIt’s about listening, understanding what really matters to customers, and then acting upon it to create the best possible experience. That aligns perfectly with DRAMS’ values,  putting customers first and building relationships based on trust and partnerships 

6. Can you share a first impression of DRAMS — whether that’s the team, culture, or company atmosphere?

My first impression of DRAMS has been really positive. The team is welcoming, collaborative, and clearly passionate about what they do. I’ve also been really inspired by the product software itself, it’s innovative and clearly designed with customers in mind. There’s a strong culture of pride in both the company’s heritage and its future, and it’s exciting to be part of that atmosphere. 

7. What’s a goal you’re keen to achieve in your first year here?

In my first year at DRAMS, I’m focused on strengthening our customer care function, building processes that deliver consistent, high-quality experiences and supporting the team so they can thrive. A key part of this will be introducing a CSAT function, which will become a core KPI for the team. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure our customers feel valued, supported, and confident in the solutions we provide. 

8. In your view, what makes DRAMS stand out as a partner for distilleries?

DRAMS stands out as a partner for distilleries because of its deep industry knowledge, innovative solutions, and genuine focus on helping customers succeed. They combine technical expertise with a personal, collaborative approach, making it easy for distilleries to rely on them not just for products, but for trusted guidance and support 

9. And finally, when you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time? 

You will usually find me in the gym, when I grab the car keys it’s the first place my 3 year old daughter thinks to ask where I’m going ‘Are you going to the gym mummy’ – When I’m not there, I’m busy being a mum to three children, navigating kid’s clubs, activities, and generally playing taxi driver for my teenagers!  

DRAMS is 100% focused on bulk stocks and distillery management. We understand that the movement and maturation of spirit is a unique process that demands a truly dedicated software solution. That’s why we first created DRAMS over 50 years ago – and we’ve been improving and expanding it ever since.

 

For more information about DRAMS and all our products and services, complete the form to speak to a consultant or arrange a demo.

 
 
Testimonials

What our
clients say…

Whether your distillery is large or small, near or far, one thing remains the same: our clients love our software and support. But don’t take our word for it; here’s what  they have to say…

Branding Dots
Terry Bleeks
“The good thing about joining DRAMS was that we were able to link in with other DRAMS customers. So syncing the information, coming from their system into ours, has been fairly seamless.”
Founder and Commercial Manager, Drambond
Justin Thompson
Knowing exactly where each barrel is going, and mapping out the history of any movements, makes managing the inventory of thousands of bourbon barrels stress-free.
General Manager, Barrel Farm
Rab Sorman
I know where every spirit is, how it’s maturing, and how it fits into the bigger picture… this plays a crucial role in future blends
Whisky Stocks and Blending Manager, Glenmorangie
Alistair Paton
It does make such a difference talking to knowledgeable people who have years of experience dealing with our specialised industry and who are always prepared to go the extra mile.
Project Manager, The Tomatin Distillery Co.
Ron Welsh
DRAMS is a great inventory management system. It allows me to quickly analyse the stocks we have and what we can use it for; and allows us to easily allocate to future blends.
Master Blender and Strategic Inventory Manager, Beam Suntory
Christine Leggat
Every piece of spirit that moves within the business is captured within DRAMS.
Stock Controller, Inver House Distillers
John Kerr
The knowledge of DRAMS’ consultants – both of their product and of bulk stock processing as a whole – gave us a solid platform to work from.
Bulk Planner, John Dewar & Sons
Ron Welsh
You need to know exactly what you have and when it becomes of age to put into bottle. For this you require granularity of month by month data.
Master Blender and Strategic Inventory Manager, Beam Suntory
David Jordan
For any warehouse, any floor, rick and level, I can see what stock is there and how much space I have at the push of a button.
Maturing Inventory Manager, Wild Turkey