Getting Started

Is Trace Swift suitable for small manufacturers?

Yes. Trace Swift is designed for small to medium manufacturers (5-150 employees). Our pricing and functionality are tailored for businesses that need professional traceability without enterprise complexity or cost. Most customers are up and running within a week.

Can I try Trace Swift before committing?

Yes. Our 14-day free trial includes full access to all features with sample data to explore. You won't be charged during the trial period, and you can cancel anytime before it ends.

How quickly can I get started?

Most manufacturers are operational within a week. Day 1-2: Set up your inputs, suppliers, and formulas. Day 3-5: Start recording production batches. No consultants, no lengthy implementations. If you can use a spreadsheet, you can use Trace Swift.

How do I migrate my historical data?

Most customers keep historical records in their previous system and start fresh with new production in Trace Swift. You can set up your master data (inputs, suppliers, formulas) within the first few days and begin tracking new batches immediately.

What if I'm already locked into an ERP contract?

Many customers run Trace Swift alongside their ERP, using Trace Swift specifically for manufacturing traceability while keeping ERP for accounting. There's no requirement to replace your entire system.

Is Trace Swift customised for each industry?

Trace Swift provides a consistent platform across all industries, with flexibility built in. You configure your own inputs, formulas, suppliers, and workflows. The underlying traceability engine works the same way whether you're tracking flour in a bakery or pigments in a paint factory—because the fundamental requirements are the same.

Features & Functionality

How long does a traceability trace take?

Most traces complete in under 5 minutes. You can identify all products containing a specific ingredient lot, or all ingredients in a specific product batch, essentially instantly. This easily meets FDA's 4-hour requirement, BRC's traceability test standards, and IFS's 2-hour requirement for short shelf-life products.

Can I use both digital and paper production capture?

Absolutely. Many customers use printable production sheets on the factory floor and enter the data digitally later. Others capture everything in real-time with tablets and barcode scanners. Use whichever approach suits your production environment.

Can I control what different team members can access?

Yes. Trace Swift includes role-based access control. Assign team members to roles that determine which modules they can access and what actions they can perform. For example, production staff can record batches but only administrators can modify formulas. This supports compliance requirements for separation of duties and protects your critical data.

How does barcode scanning work?

Trace Swift works with standard USB and Bluetooth barcode scanners. Scan mode can be enabled for batch code entry during goods receipt and production capture. The system detects scanned input automatically—no special configuration required.

What happens when input prices change?

Update the price on any input and Trace Swift automatically recalculates costs across all formulas using that input. You'll see exactly how many formulas are affected, making it easy to review pricing impact and adjust accordingly.

Can I track inputs from multiple suppliers?

Yes. During production capture, you can allocate quantities from multiple inventory lots to meet your required amount. Each source maintains its own traceability link, so you know exactly which lots went into each batch—even when spanning multiple suppliers or deliveries.

Can I manage multiple product lines in different industries?

Yes. If your business spans multiple product categories—say, food products and cosmetics—you can manage both within a single Trace Swift account. Categories, formulas, and inputs can be organised however suits your operation.

Can I manage contract manufacturing for multiple clients?

Yes. Trace Swift supports multiple product lines and can maintain separate formulas for different clients. Each batch is tracked independently with its own lot codes and traceability, while you maintain oversight of all production in one system. Client confidentiality is maintained through data isolation.

What about stability and expiry date management?

Trace Swift tracks expiry and retest dates for both raw materials and finished products. FEFO (First Expired, First Out) inventory views help you use materials appropriately. Finished product batch records include expiry date assignment for complete traceability.

How does Trace Swift handle potency and strength tracking?

You can record potency information in the notes field for your inputs and upload Certificate of Analysis documents as attachments. During production capture, you record actual quantities used from specific lots, maintaining documentary traceability between your COA records and batch composition.

What about batch certificates and COAs?

Trace Swift maintains complete batch records including all inputs used, quantities, lot codes, and production details. You can quickly retrieve batch information to support Certificate of Analysis preparation for customer requests.

Pricing & Billing

What does Trace Swift cost?

Pricing starts at £60/month for the Starter plan. See our pricing page for full details on all plans and what's included.

Is there a long-term contract?

No. All plans are month-to-month with no long-term contracts. Cancel anytime and your access continues until the end of your billing period.

Can I change plans later?

Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. Changes take effect on your next billing cycle.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Payments are processed securely through Stripe.

Do you offer annual billing?

Not currently, but we're considering it. Contact us if annual billing would be important for your business.

What happens after my free trial?

At the end of your 14-day trial, you can choose a paid plan to continue.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Trace Swift operates on monthly subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel at any time and your cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period.

Compliance & Audits

Is Trace Swift certified for specific standards?

Trace Swift is a tool that helps you meet compliance requirements—the certification applies to your facility, not the software. We design our features around the documentation and traceability requirements of major standards, so you have the records auditors expect to see.

Can Trace Swift replace our current documentation?

For batch traceability, production records, and quality documentation, yes. Trace Swift consolidates these records in one searchable system. You may still need separate systems for areas we don't cover, such as equipment calibration, personnel training records, or HACCP plan development.

How do auditors respond to Trace Swift?

Auditors appreciate digital systems that provide instant access to batch records and traceability information. The ability to run a trace in minutes rather than hours makes a positive impression—and reduces stress during inspections.

What if my industry has specific compliance requirements?

Trace Swift is designed around universal traceability principles that underpin most regulatory frameworks. The batch genealogy, documentation, and audit trails meet the core requirements of FDA, EU, and ISO standards. For industry-specific certifications, Trace Swift provides the foundation records that auditors need to see.

Will this help me pass my BRC audit?

Yes. Trace Swift is designed to meet BRC Global Standard Section 3.9 (Traceability) requirements. We provide complete traceability systems, mass balance verification, test records, and all documentation auditors expect to see.

Does Trace Swift support IFS Food certification?

Yes. Trace Swift is designed to meet IFS Food Version 8 requirements, particularly Section 4.18 (Traceability). We provide complete traceability systems, mass balance verification, temperature monitoring, and production records expected during IFS audits.

What about FSSC 22000 certification?

Trace Swift supports FSSC 22000 Clause 8.9 (Traceability) and related ISO 22000 requirements. Our system provides the documented traceability procedures and records required for certification and ongoing compliance.

Is the system compliant with EU regulations?

Yes. Trace Swift meets EU General Food Law (Regulation 178/2002) Article 18 traceability requirements, EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (1169/2011) for allergen traceability, and provides records suitable for Official Controls under Regulation 2017/625.

Can Trace Swift support ISO 22716 certification?

Yes. Trace Swift provides the documentation and traceability system required for ISO 22716 (cosmetics GMP) compliance. Our batch records, ingredient tracking, and production documentation support the standard's requirements for Sections 9 (Production), 13 (Deviations), and 17 (Documentation).

Can Trace Swift support ISO 9001 certification?

Yes. Trace Swift provides the traceability system and batch documentation required for ISO 9001 compliance, particularly Clause 8.5.2 (Identification and Traceability). Our digital records, version control, and audit trails support the standard's documentation requirements.

Will this help me meet REACH requirements?

Trace Swift supports the traceability and documentation requirements for downstream users and formulators under REACH. We help you track substances through your operations, maintain batch records, and document your use of registered substances. For registration and dossier preparation, you'll need specialised REACH consultancy.

Will this help me meet VOC compliance requirements?

Trace Swift provides the batch traceability and production documentation that supports VOC compliance. You can attach supplier data sheets and record material information. VOC content calculations and testing require separate tools, but Trace Swift provides the traceability foundation.

Pharmaceutical & Supplement Compliance

Is Trace Swift validated for pharmaceutical use?

Trace Swift provides a platform that can be part of your validated environment. You should assess the system against your computerised system validation requirements (per 21 CFR Part 11 or EU GMP Annex 11) and conduct appropriate qualification activities based on your risk assessment. We can provide system information to support your validation efforts upon request.

Will this help me pass an FDA inspection?

Trace Swift is designed to support FDA 21 CFR Parts 210/211 compliance for pharmaceuticals and 21 CFR Part 111 for dietary supplements, particularly the batch production record requirements. We provide the traceability system, batch documentation, and component records that FDA inspectors expect to see. Digital records make inspections significantly less stressful than paper-based systems.

Does Trace Swift support 21 CFR Part 11 compliance?

Trace Swift provides features that support Part 11 compliance including user authentication, audit trails, and electronic records. Full Part 11 compliance depends on how the system is implemented, validated, and controlled within your organisation. We recommend assessing the system against your Part 11 compliance requirements.

Can Trace Swift support NSF certification?

Yes. Trace Swift provides the traceability documentation and batch records required for NSF certification programmes. Our system tracks raw material lots through production to finished products, maintains supplier qualification records, and provides the audit trail NSF auditors need to see.

Security & Data Privacy

Is Trace Swift secure?

Yes. Data is hosted on AWS infrastructure in the EU (Ireland) with encryption in transit and at rest. Multi-tenant architecture ensures complete data isolation between customers. We follow GDPR principles for data protection and privacy. See our security page for full details.

Where is my data stored?

Your data is stored on AWS servers in the EU West (Ireland) region. All data—including backups—remains within the European Union, ensuring GDPR compliance and data sovereignty.

Can Trace Swift staff access my formulas?

No. Our staff do not access customer data as part of normal operations. In rare cases where support requires data access (e.g., troubleshooting a specific issue you've reported), this is done only with your knowledge and is logged.

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Contact us before cancellation if you need an export of your records and we'll provide your data in a standard format. After cancellation, your data is retained for 30 days in case you change your mind, then permanently deleted. You can request immediate deletion if preferred.

Is Trace Swift SOC 2 certified?

Trace Swift itself is not currently SOC 2 certified. However, we run entirely on AWS infrastructure which maintains SOC 2 certification, and we follow security best practices aligned with SOC 2 principles.

How do I report a security concern?

If you discover a potential security vulnerability, please contact us immediately at support@traceswift.com. We take all reports seriously and will respond promptly.

Support

What support is available?

We provide email support during UK business hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00-17:00 GMT). Most support queries receive responses within 24 hours.

What if I have questions during implementation?

Email support is available throughout your setup and implementation. Our support team understands manufacturing processes across multiple industries and can help you configure the system for your specific production requirements.