A small artisanal business facing the volatility of the cocoa market

Manufacture Paysac is a family-owned company specializing in cocoa roasting and chocolate making. Based in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, it distributes its chocolate bars to the general public through a network of regional supermarkets. Like many businesses in the sector, Manufacture Paysac faces a crucial challenge: the major cocoa price crisis currently hitting the markets.

To protect its business model against these unpredictable fluctuations, the company has adopted a forward-buying strategy: ordering large tonnages of cocoa beans once or twice a year rather than on a regular basis. A strategic decision, but one that generates considerable cash outflows at specific times of the year.

Cash flow challenges amplified by working capital under pressure

Before Okimia, Bertrand Paysac juggled several major financial constraints that made cash flow management particularly tricky:

Massive, concentrated disbursements. Two to three times a year, the company has to mobilize significant sums to secure its cocoa supplies. These spending peaks, hard to predict with conventional tools, created constant tension around financial visibility.

A structural gap between supplier and customer payments. On one side, many suppliers require payment on order. On the other, customer payment terms stretch over 30 to 45 days. This gap mechanically creates a high working capital requirement and a stock-management burden that is heavy to finance.

"There's a fairly significant gap between supplier and customer terms. It was hard to steer with peace of mind using the tools I had."

Without a clear, up-to-date view of these flows, anticipating cash needs and avoiding pressure points became a time-consuming exercise and a constant source of stress.

Okimia: real-time visibility and scenario-based planning

Bertrand Paysac discovered Okimia while looking for a simple solution, suited to SMEs, and capable of handling the complexity of his cash flow without requiring a dedicated finance team. The tool immediately won him over with its ability to incorporate complex forecast data while remaining easy to get to grips with.

Anticipating the large disbursements tied to cocoa purchases. Thanks to the scenario and advanced forecasting features, Bertrand can now plan his supply contracts throughout the year and clearly materialize these massive cash outflows. He knows when and how much to mobilize, with no surprises.

Managing working capital day-to-day with precision. Bank synchronization and automatic transaction categorization give Manufacture Paysac a real-time view of the gap between cash in and cash out. Bertrand can thus adjust his commercial strategy and investment priorities according to the reality of his cash position.

Setting clear minimum targets. By integrating the entire cost structure into Okimia— energy, raw materials, hiring under different scenarios — Bertrand was able to define a minimum monthly revenue threshold to achieve in order to guarantee the company's financial balance. This simple but powerful line gives him a clear heading.

"Okimia allows us to anticipate these challenges by planning contracts throughout the year and materializing these significant forecast disbursements that are essential to our business."

The benefits were immediate: time savings, renewed peace of mind, and the ability to make informed decisions rather than managing reactively.

"The day it becomes a game, you've won it all"

Today, cash flow management at Manufacture Paysac has radically changed in nature. What was once an anxiety-inducing and time-consuming task has become a true strategic steering tool.

"My father always told me that one day work has to become a game. The day it becomes a game, you've won it all. Okimia helps make this work become a game."

Bertrand now uses Okimia daily as a playful yet rigorous dashboard: his goal is simple — keep the number in green (actual) above the number in red (minimum required). A clear set of rules, reliable data, and the ability to anticipate rather than endure.

Beyond the tool, it's the entire mindset of the business leader that has evolved. Okimia enables a small organization to manage its cash flow like a large group, with rigor and agility, without requiring extensive financial resources. Confidence replaces worry, and proactivity replaces reaction.

For Bertrand Paysac, Okimia is not just software: it's an ally that turns a constraint into a performance lever. And in a sector as volatile as cocoa, this visibility and control make all the difference.