Subscribe

Day: 1 December 2022

Predicting 2023 supply chain innovations

Posted on by David Priestman

Mike Bhaskaran, Group COO of Digital Technology at DP World, shares his predictions on technology innovations that will impact the supply chain logistics industry in 2023.

Fixing global supply chains requires trust and transparency; digital technologies and platforms deliver this through the ability and opportunity to share real-time data. Whether that’s blockchain solutions that boost information security or digital portals that enhance freight visibility, we see a proliferation in technology that can make supply chains more transparent and better understood.

Innovation will enable us to adapt and evolve. We cannot go as we did before – the environment is different; the climate is different. In 2023, businesses must embrace the opportunities offered by technology to streamline processes and boost visibility throughout the supply chain.

Boosting supply chain visibility

Whether it is a purchase from an online retailer or a local food order, new technologies have raised consumer expectations for businesses to provide full visibility of purchased goods right through to the point of delivery. We are seeing business customers develop the same expectations; however, the level of visibility available to them when tracking cargo through the supply chain by far lacks the sophistication available to consumers. The journey from A to B features numerous blind spots, with businesses often unable to account for their cargo at any given moment while it moves across the sea or land.

We need to make it easier for cargo owners to be able to locate and find their cargo at any one point – there should be no ‘blackouts’. Real-time visibility is key. The big question is, how can companies obtain better visibility into the movement and condition of their shipments? The answer is straightforward: by using modern technology. The latest developments in the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data have an immense potential to enhance every supply chain process, from inventory forecasting to demand and sustainable supply chain management.

Secure track-and-trace technology has a crucial role to play in strengthening and unifying regulatory control, fiscal sustainability and ensuring secure supply chains. Many of the components for an integrated solution are already available today. If governments worldwide are to fully leverage the potential benefits to be had from a secure track-and-trace framework, they need to act now. If we are up to the challenge this really can be a win-win.

Using trade initiatives to evolve trade routes

Boosting trade is one of the most powerful tools to lift people out of poverty. Countries that are open to international trade tend to grow faster, innovate, improve productivity, and provide higher incomes and more opportunities to their people. The international community recognises the importance of trade for development through initiatives, such as Aid for Trade, Financing for Development and, most importantly, the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

2023 presents opportunities for new trading routes to open up as many markets are shifting from their traditional ones. Supply chains are also reshaping, as new deals are struck along political lines, and companies prioritise contracting with known, trusted suppliers. This new version of globalisation places greater value on political certainty.

Initiatives like the World Logistics Passport can help governments collaborate more closely on trade and kickstart their economies by making it easier for exporters and importers to reap the benefits of international trade. By working together across borders towards a common goal, governments and businesses can build a more robust global trading community that is both agile and resilient.

Supply chain finance for SMEs

Access to trade finance is critical to the survival and growth of exporters, importers and logistics companies which are the drivers of the global economy. The gap in international trade credit amounts to $3tn and is widening, according to the World Bank.

We need to work closely with financial institutions so that they can start releasing liquid credit – especially for SMEs. But the provision of finance to smaller businesses is lagging – a problem exacerbated by the global financial crisis in 2008, which made large banks pull back from lending more broadly.

Providing financing to these companies has a multiplier effect on trade, income and employment generation. A report by consultants Accenture, commissioned by Stenn, estimates the demand for trade finance will hit $6.1tn in the next four years. In 2023, we expect to see a rise in banking solutions for exporters that smooth and speed up the process when businesses apply for trade finance. Although banks offer trade finance, their approval processes tend to take a long time which can be off-putting.

A new era of global trade

We will witness a new era of global trade next year. Now is the time to invest in defending logistics networks against risk, expand digitalisation and provide the incentives that make global trade work for everyone. The tools we develop are important to leverage digital technology and the solutions are of course what we are aiming to find.

Track and trace technology and electronic bills of lading will remain extremely important in 2023 as we focus our efforts on digitising the supply chain and becoming closer to economies. At DP World, we see technology as the enabler. We need to reduce the siloes and paperwork and create digital solutions to streamline and make efficiencies. Taken together, these initiatives will ensure that we do not simply react to shocks but are well-prepared to navigate them effectively.

Predicting 2023 supply chain innovations

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Mike Bhaskaran, Group COO of Digital Technology at DP World, shares his predictions on technology innovations that will impact the supply chain logistics industry in 2023.

Fixing global supply chains requires trust and transparency; digital technologies and platforms deliver this through the ability and opportunity to share real-time data. Whether that’s blockchain solutions that boost information security or digital portals that enhance freight visibility, we see a proliferation in technology that can make supply chains more transparent and better understood.

Innovation will enable us to adapt and evolve. We cannot go as we did before – the environment is different; the climate is different. In 2023, businesses must embrace the opportunities offered by technology to streamline processes and boost visibility throughout the supply chain.

Boosting supply chain visibility

Whether it is a purchase from an online retailer or a local food order, new technologies have raised consumer expectations for businesses to provide full visibility of purchased goods right through to the point of delivery. We are seeing business customers develop the same expectations; however, the level of visibility available to them when tracking cargo through the supply chain by far lacks the sophistication available to consumers. The journey from A to B features numerous blind spots, with businesses often unable to account for their cargo at any given moment while it moves across the sea or land.

We need to make it easier for cargo owners to be able to locate and find their cargo at any one point – there should be no ‘blackouts’. Real-time visibility is key. The big question is, how can companies obtain better visibility into the movement and condition of their shipments? The answer is straightforward: by using modern technology. The latest developments in the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data have an immense potential to enhance every supply chain process, from inventory forecasting to demand and sustainable supply chain management.

Secure track-and-trace technology has a crucial role to play in strengthening and unifying regulatory control, fiscal sustainability and ensuring secure supply chains. Many of the components for an integrated solution are already available today. If governments worldwide are to fully leverage the potential benefits to be had from a secure track-and-trace framework, they need to act now. If we are up to the challenge this really can be a win-win.

Using trade initiatives to evolve trade routes

Boosting trade is one of the most powerful tools to lift people out of poverty. Countries that are open to international trade tend to grow faster, innovate, improve productivity, and provide higher incomes and more opportunities to their people. The international community recognises the importance of trade for development through initiatives, such as Aid for Trade, Financing for Development and, most importantly, the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

2023 presents opportunities for new trading routes to open up as many markets are shifting from their traditional ones. Supply chains are also reshaping, as new deals are struck along political lines, and companies prioritise contracting with known, trusted suppliers. This new version of globalisation places greater value on political certainty.

Initiatives like the World Logistics Passport can help governments collaborate more closely on trade and kickstart their economies by making it easier for exporters and importers to reap the benefits of international trade. By working together across borders towards a common goal, governments and businesses can build a more robust global trading community that is both agile and resilient.

Supply chain finance for SMEs

Access to trade finance is critical to the survival and growth of exporters, importers and logistics companies which are the drivers of the global economy. The gap in international trade credit amounts to $3tn and is widening, according to the World Bank.

We need to work closely with financial institutions so that they can start releasing liquid credit – especially for SMEs. But the provision of finance to smaller businesses is lagging – a problem exacerbated by the global financial crisis in 2008, which made large banks pull back from lending more broadly.

Providing financing to these companies has a multiplier effect on trade, income and employment generation. A report by consultants Accenture, commissioned by Stenn, estimates the demand for trade finance will hit $6.1tn in the next four years. In 2023, we expect to see a rise in banking solutions for exporters that smooth and speed up the process when businesses apply for trade finance. Although banks offer trade finance, their approval processes tend to take a long time which can be off-putting.

A new era of global trade

We will witness a new era of global trade next year. Now is the time to invest in defending logistics networks against risk, expand digitalisation and provide the incentives that make global trade work for everyone. The tools we develop are important to leverage digital technology and the solutions are of course what we are aiming to find.

Track and trace technology and electronic bills of lading will remain extremely important in 2023 as we focus our efforts on digitising the supply chain and becoming closer to economies. At DP World, we see technology as the enabler. We need to reduce the siloes and paperwork and create digital solutions to streamline and make efficiencies. Taken together, these initiatives will ensure that we do not simply react to shocks but are well-prepared to navigate them effectively.

Hörmann runs loading bay seminars

Posted on by David Priestman

Hörmann UK is opening its doors for a series of events throughout 2023 to showcase its “concept to completion and beyond” solutions for the industrial market. With its recent acquisition of Fen-Bay and Transdek, Hörmann now offers a total solution for industrial customers with an ever-expanding portfolio of best-in-class products supported by nationwide, 24/7 service support.

Covering industrial doors, loading technology together with its service and maintenance support offering, the events will be held at the company’s Coalville headquarters. Featuring tailor-made presentations and live demonstrations, attendees will have the chance to meet with Hörmann’s product experts and discuss forthcoming projects.

Managing Director of Hörmann UK, Wolfgang Gorner, comments: “Hörmann are well known within the industrial market and are ideally placed to bring real value to any project. Not only are we a large, multi-national manufacturing business synonymous with quality products and engineering, but we also have the flexibility to work with customers to provide innovative, customised solutions. The launch of our seminar programme for 2023 enables us to create a unique opportunity for clients, specifiers, and customers to come to see for themselves the difference Hörmann can bring to a project.

“Our aim is to make each seminar as bespoke and interactive as possible, with key product demonstrations being available onsite. I would like to extend my personal invitation to come and join us to find out how Hörmann can support you from concept to completion and beyond.”

Hörmann has created a micro-site which provides more information regarding the seminar programme and available dates. This is available to view by clicking THIS LINK. Bookings for the seminars can also be made online via the microsite.

read more

UK Roadshow to Help Firms Get Set for New Customs System

 

Hörmann runs loading bay seminars

Posted on by David Priestman

Hörmann UK is opening its doors for a series of events throughout 2023 to showcase its “concept to completion and beyond” solutions for the industrial market. With its recent acquisition of Fen-Bay and Transdek, Hörmann now offers a total solution for industrial customers with an ever-expanding portfolio of best-in-class products supported by nationwide, 24/7 service support.

Covering industrial doors, loading technology together with its service and maintenance support offering, the events will be held at the company’s Coalville headquarters. Featuring tailor-made presentations and live demonstrations, attendees will have the chance to meet with Hörmann’s product experts and discuss forthcoming projects.

Managing Director of Hörmann UK, Wolfgang Gorner, comments: “Hörmann are well known within the industrial market and are ideally placed to bring real value to any project. Not only are we a large, multi-national manufacturing business synonymous with quality products and engineering, but we also have the flexibility to work with customers to provide innovative, customised solutions. The launch of our seminar programme for 2023 enables us to create a unique opportunity for clients, specifiers, and customers to come to see for themselves the difference Hörmann can bring to a project.

“Our aim is to make each seminar as bespoke and interactive as possible, with key product demonstrations being available onsite. I would like to extend my personal invitation to come and join us to find out how Hörmann can support you from concept to completion and beyond.”

Hörmann has created a micro-site which provides more information regarding the seminar programme and available dates. This is available to view by clicking THIS LINK. Bookings for the seminars can also be made online via the microsite.

read more

UK Roadshow to Help Firms Get Set for New Customs System

 

Rollers for Energy Efficiency

Posted on by David Priestman

A warehouse optimised for maximum efficiency isn’t always optimised for minimal energy use, but a veteran rollers manufacturer has a solution.

Founded in 1946 as a specialist maker of motors for fans and washing machines, Itoh Denki became a pioneer in the industry when its founder invented the Motorised Drive Roller (MDR). By putting the motor and gearbox inside the body of the roller, the company was launched into the intralogistics industry. US Post chose to adopt this new roller technology, and then Itoh Denki’s future as a major player was sealed when it introduced brushless 24V technology to conveyor systems. This meant considerably higher safety levels, as the rollers neither snarled body parts nor did they impart potentially life-threatening electric shocks to unwary operatives – unlike the brutal 400V AC motor-driven rollers they replaced.

“The rollers have just enough torque that, if you want, you can stop one roller with your hand,” says Tatsuya Akashi, president of Itoh Denki’s European operations. “But its biggest advantage is that you can make each one-metre-long conveyor independent. In the past, an entire 200m conveyor would be powered to move just one small part, which was a waste of energy. Now we can move only the section of the conveyor which the part is on, saving up to 60% in electric energy.”

Describing MDR deployment as “new technology”, Mr Akashi says half of the existing conveyors in the world are old technology. “Right now, they are being replaced, so our growth potential is huge.” Ecommerce is the sector most suited to benefit, as ambitious short lead times can only be met thanks to the widespread use of MDRs in large DCs.

Wider rollers

But whilst the majority of sales are to businesses handling small parts (up to 50kg) in plastic totes or carton boxes, Itoh Denki also produces a roller with a wider diameter, making it attractive to the automotive sector as it can convey parts weighing up to 500kg as well as pallets weighing up to a tonne.

Mr Akashi believes the company’s claimed 60% energy saving is the highest in the sector, fuelling its growth. “Only in Europe, we were slightly behind our largest competitor in market share,” he says. “In the past five years, we’re doing four times more sales than before, so I think we are now in equal number one position.”

Offering modules featuring 90° right-angle transfer and free angle diverters, Itoh Denki evangelises a diverter-centric approach to sorting. “I have nothing against the crossbelt sorter,” says Mr Akashi, “but we’re talking about a new way of sorting. Today, there are still a lot of old theory believers from the crossbelt era who are stuck to just one way of layout thinking, which can be extremely costly. Take ASRS technology. You replace pickers walking and climbing stairs with a stacker crane weighing sometimes a few tonnes. It can run several hundred metres and acceleration is extremely fast, but the energy used just to take one box or one pallet from the end of the warehouse is very high. I would say that, if you do a circle and use our technology to have a conveyor with lifter storage, you don’t need to run such a big train. So if everybody thinks about energy, we can change. We can think from scratch and make something much more fitting to the need.

Micro Fulfilment

“We don’t just sell the MDR, but have a mindset of helping customers understand and adopt more efficient solutions to improve logistic processes and energy consumption. While the market adapts globally, it can sometimes be hard for well implanted companies that have inventory and engineers experienced on one technology, to adopt a new model.” With the trend moving towards smaller and more local micro fulfilment centres, Itoh Denki seems well-placed to capitalise of the growth of facilities where smaller, more nimble material handling is required.

Rollers for Energy Efficiency

Posted on by David Priestman

A warehouse optimised for maximum efficiency isn’t always optimised for minimal energy use, but a veteran rollers manufacturer has a solution.

Founded in 1946 as a specialist maker of motors for fans and washing machines, Itoh Denki became a pioneer in the industry when its founder invented the Motorised Drive Roller (MDR). By putting the motor and gearbox inside the body of the roller, the company was launched into the intralogistics industry. US Post chose to adopt this new roller technology, and then Itoh Denki’s future as a major player was sealed when it introduced brushless 24V technology to conveyor systems. This meant considerably higher safety levels, as the rollers neither snarled body parts nor did they impart potentially life-threatening electric shocks to unwary operatives – unlike the brutal 400V AC motor-driven rollers they replaced.

“The rollers have just enough torque that, if you want, you can stop one roller with your hand,” says Tatsuya Akashi, president of Itoh Denki’s European operations. “But its biggest advantage is that you can make each one-metre-long conveyor independent. In the past, an entire 200m conveyor would be powered to move just one small part, which was a waste of energy. Now we can move only the section of the conveyor which the part is on, saving up to 60% in electric energy.”

Describing MDR deployment as “new technology”, Mr Akashi says half of the existing conveyors in the world are old technology. “Right now, they are being replaced, so our growth potential is huge.” Ecommerce is the sector most suited to benefit, as ambitious short lead times can only be met thanks to the widespread use of MDRs in large DCs.

Wider rollers

But whilst the majority of sales are to businesses handling small parts (up to 50kg) in plastic totes or carton boxes, Itoh Denki also produces a roller with a wider diameter, making it attractive to the automotive sector as it can convey parts weighing up to 500kg as well as pallets weighing up to a tonne.

Mr Akashi believes the company’s claimed 60% energy saving is the highest in the sector, fuelling its growth. “Only in Europe, we were slightly behind our largest competitor in market share,” he says. “In the past five years, we’re doing four times more sales than before, so I think we are now in equal number one position.”

Offering modules featuring 90° right-angle transfer and free angle diverters, Itoh Denki evangelises a diverter-centric approach to sorting. “I have nothing against the crossbelt sorter,” says Mr Akashi, “but we’re talking about a new way of sorting. Today, there are still a lot of old theory believers from the crossbelt era who are stuck to just one way of layout thinking, which can be extremely costly. Take ASRS technology. You replace pickers walking and climbing stairs with a stacker crane weighing sometimes a few tonnes. It can run several hundred metres and acceleration is extremely fast, but the energy used just to take one box or one pallet from the end of the warehouse is very high. I would say that, if you do a circle and use our technology to have a conveyor with lifter storage, you don’t need to run such a big train. So if everybody thinks about energy, we can change. We can think from scratch and make something much more fitting to the need.

Micro Fulfilment

“We don’t just sell the MDR, but have a mindset of helping customers understand and adopt more efficient solutions to improve logistic processes and energy consumption. While the market adapts globally, it can sometimes be hard for well implanted companies that have inventory and engineers experienced on one technology, to adopt a new model.” With the trend moving towards smaller and more local micro fulfilment centres, Itoh Denki seems well-placed to capitalise of the growth of facilities where smaller, more nimble material handling is required.

Optimising warehouse inventories with AI

Posted on by David Priestman

A smooth-running supply chain starts in an efficient warehouse. From inventory distribution to sorting, warehouses play a strategic role. That is why it is essential to avoid bottlenecks and ensure the warehouse is running efficiently.

Jean-Baptiste Clouard, CEO at Flowlity, an innovative AI-based supply chain planning and optimisation solution, shares how to effectively use AI to optimise warehouse processes, as well as highlighting the benefits of implementing these processes for businesses.

Forecasting

Every year, billions of pounds are lost as a result of shortages or overstocks at the manufacturing and distribution stage. Maintaining an optimal stock level is essential to avoiding shortages and costly overstocks, but finding this balance is a challenge.

AI-based self-learning solutions can set minimum and maximum boundaries that help to avoid overstocking and shortages. Instead of aiming for a ‘correct’ amount of stock at all times, the algorithms continuously recalculate these minimum and maximum levels based on consumption history and sales patterns to ensure recommended stock levels stay up to date. Real-time alerts can be set to flag potential overstocks or shortages in advance so that action can be taken to resolve this, before it becomes a larger issue.

Using a self-learning system also reduces the potential for human error in calculating these min/max levels and takes the manual work out of the process – removing the need for someone to crunch the numbers. This leads to efficient inventory planning that ensures a more accurate flow of items in and out of a warehouse.

Information visibility

AI can be used to process large amounts of information in a short time, leading to data being more easily condensed and accessible. This data can then be entered into a system that connects all parties in the supply chain, allowing the same information to be shared from end to end. The current supply chain is based on each party acting independently, but using software to centralise information means that all users have visibility on orders. This encourages a unified approach to inventory management.

By having visibility on processes and orders further down the supply chain, warehouses can become more reactive to disruption and can adjust their inventories based on real time information from how much stock is being used down the line. Storing data and information in a centralised system also eliminates the need to provide regular updates to the rest of the supply chain, leading to greater responsiveness to risk and enhanced contingency planning.

Warehouse planning

Having full visibility on orders coming in and out of a warehouse is crucial to ensuring efficiency and accuracy in fulfilling these orders. AI software can be used to automate these orders, putting them in one portal that makes it easier to manage incoming supplier shipments and outgoing customer shipments, and to verify that operational constraints such as minimum order quantity and full truckload are met.

The order process can be streamlined using automation, leading to greater efficiency in warehouse planning as there is up-to-date order information at hand – which is further continually updated using AI and reduces the need for updating manually.

An efficient warehouse is integral to the supply chain, supporting a smooth product journey from component parts all the way to the customer, so it’s essential to ensure processes are in place to aid efficiency and lessen volatility.

Using an AI system can solve issues in the warehouse quickly and accurately while simplifying processes and strengthening communication. Algorithms can automate and coordinate orders, centralise information and accurately forecast to ensure efficient stock levels – all processes that traditionally would be carried out manually. The use of AI and optimisation leads to increased accuracy and speed in orders, improving cycle times and the customer experience.

Optimising warehouse inventories with AI

Posted on by Keith McKinley

A smooth-running supply chain starts in an efficient warehouse. From inventory distribution to sorting, warehouses play a strategic role. That is why it is essential to avoid bottlenecks and ensure the warehouse is running efficiently.

Jean-Baptiste Clouard, CEO at Flowlity, an innovative AI-based supply chain planning and optimisation solution, shares how to effectively use AI to optimise warehouse processes, as well as highlighting the benefits of implementing these processes for businesses.

Forecasting

Every year, billions of pounds are lost as a result of shortages or overstocks at the manufacturing and distribution stage. Maintaining an optimal stock level is essential to avoiding shortages and costly overstocks, but finding this balance is a challenge.

AI-based self-learning solutions can set minimum and maximum boundaries that help to avoid overstocking and shortages. Instead of aiming for a ‘correct’ amount of stock at all times, the algorithms continuously recalculate these minimum and maximum levels based on consumption history and sales patterns to ensure recommended stock levels stay up to date. Real-time alerts can be set to flag potential overstocks or shortages in advance so that action can be taken to resolve this, before it becomes a larger issue.

Using a self-learning system also reduces the potential for human error in calculating these min/max levels and takes the manual work out of the process – removing the need for someone to crunch the numbers. This leads to efficient inventory planning that ensures a more accurate flow of items in and out of a warehouse.

Information visibility

AI can be used to process large amounts of information in a short time, leading to data being more easily condensed and accessible. This data can then be entered into a system that connects all parties in the supply chain, allowing the same information to be shared from end to end. The current supply chain is based on each party acting independently, but using software to centralise information means that all users have visibility on orders. This encourages a unified approach to inventory management.

By having visibility on processes and orders further down the supply chain, warehouses can become more reactive to disruption and can adjust their inventories based on real time information from how much stock is being used down the line. Storing data and information in a centralised system also eliminates the need to provide regular updates to the rest of the supply chain, leading to greater responsiveness to risk and enhanced contingency planning.

Warehouse planning

Having full visibility on orders coming in and out of a warehouse is crucial to ensuring efficiency and accuracy in fulfilling these orders. AI software can be used to automate these orders, putting them in one portal that makes it easier to manage incoming supplier shipments and outgoing customer shipments, and to verify that operational constraints such as minimum order quantity and full truckload are met.

The order process can be streamlined using automation, leading to greater efficiency in warehouse planning as there is up-to-date order information at hand – which is further continually updated using AI and reduces the need for updating manually.

An efficient warehouse is integral to the supply chain, supporting a smooth product journey from component parts all the way to the customer, so it’s essential to ensure processes are in place to aid efficiency and lessen volatility.

Using an AI system can solve issues in the warehouse quickly and accurately while simplifying processes and strengthening communication. Algorithms can automate and coordinate orders, centralise information and accurately forecast to ensure efficient stock levels – all processes that traditionally would be carried out manually. The use of AI and optimisation leads to increased accuracy and speed in orders, improving cycle times and the customer experience.

3PL reaps benefits of Intelligent Video Services

Posted on by David Priestman

After adding Intelligent Video Services from SiB Solutions, leading US 3PL King Solutions is reaping the benefits by identifying – and quickly rectifying – issues with goods leaving the warehouse.

One of the services offered by King, a dynamic, highly successful 3PL out of Minneapolis, MN., is the bulk shipping of time-sensitive marketing material throughout the US. Pallets are shipped to post offices across the United States and into every zip code. The turnover of the warehouse is intense. The consequences for advertisers of marketing material not arriving on time or in the right zip code is huge. Every pallet is time critical as campaigns have a set start and end date.

The key for King is the ability to quickly investigate issues with pallet delivery in the loading and staging area of its Dayton, MN warehouse and take corrective actions. Before subscribing to SiB Solutions’ Intelligent Video Services, investigations included interviewing associates on the floor and reviewing transaction history to find out what happened to a particular pallet or pallets. In many instances they would estimate when it happened and request that IT pull together a surveillance video of the approximate area, time, and place in the warehouse, to hopefully find what they were looking for. The time and effort could be significant, and the outcome was always uncertain.

Video gives immediate answers

Using Intelligent Video Service from SiB Solutions, King can now easily search its video using a pallet/order number as the reference and immediately get an answer to what happened.

“Previously it took King a lot of time and resources to find the relevant anomaly,” says Derek Gant, VP sales and business development, SiB Solutions US. “They were trying to use security cameras, which are installed for a different purpose, as a last-ditch effort to find the relevant information. Our services are positioned and optimized for monitoring warehouse flows, and we provide rapid search capability, which is what King Solutions was looking for. Now they simply search the video using order or load number and are immediately watching what they need to see.”

Saving time and money

“I’ve had this kind of service on a wish list for a long time. I have often thought that if we could search video easily, we could save a lot of time and resolve most issues very quickly,” says Neil Wackwitz, Director of Operations at King.

“We don’t make many mistakes, but when we do, they can represent significant dollar amounts for our clients and for us. With Intelligent Video Service we are saving time and money by identifying issues quickly and being able to provide visual evidence of exactly what transpired.  We have been able to dispute shipping errors and correct inventory discrepancies that would have been very difficult to prove in the past. With SiB Solutions’ service we get to enjoy “aha” moments regularly because we can see what really happened and then address it, so it doesn’t happen again,” says Wackwitz.

Order to implementation in 30 days

Thanks to an excellent relationship between SiB Solutions and both the IT and Operations Departments at King, the system was up and running in less than 30 days after order. “Working with King was a dream,” says Gant. “They worked closely with us while we installed our services remotely. The system was live for five days before we were training the warehouse and customer service managers on the system, providing them with immediate insights based on real video and data. A whole new view of the ‘Kingdom’ so to speak.”

IMAGE (from left): Lennart Bergström, Co-founder and COO, SiB Solutions; Neil Wackwitz, Director of Operations at King; Derek Gant, VP sales and business development, SiB Solutions US.

3PL reaps benefits of Intelligent Video Services

Posted on by Keith McKinley

After adding Intelligent Video Services from SiB Solutions, leading US 3PL King Solutions is reaping the benefits by identifying – and quickly rectifying – issues with goods leaving the warehouse.

One of the services offered by King, a dynamic, highly successful 3PL out of Minneapolis, MN., is the bulk shipping of time-sensitive marketing material throughout the US. Pallets are shipped to post offices across the United States and into every zip code. The turnover of the warehouse is intense. The consequences for advertisers of marketing material not arriving on time or in the right zip code is huge. Every pallet is time critical as campaigns have a set start and end date.

The key for King is the ability to quickly investigate issues with pallet delivery in the loading and staging area of its Dayton, MN warehouse and take corrective actions. Before subscribing to SiB Solutions’ Intelligent Video Services, investigations included interviewing associates on the floor and reviewing transaction history to find out what happened to a particular pallet or pallets. In many instances they would estimate when it happened and request that IT pull together a surveillance video of the approximate area, time, and place in the warehouse, to hopefully find what they were looking for. The time and effort could be significant, and the outcome was always uncertain.

Video gives immediate answers

Using Intelligent Video Service from SiB Solutions, King can now easily search its video using a pallet/order number as the reference and immediately get an answer to what happened.

“Previously it took King a lot of time and resources to find the relevant anomaly,” says Derek Gant, VP sales and business development, SiB Solutions US. “They were trying to use security cameras, which are installed for a different purpose, as a last-ditch effort to find the relevant information. Our services are positioned and optimized for monitoring warehouse flows, and we provide rapid search capability, which is what King Solutions was looking for. Now they simply search the video using order or load number and are immediately watching what they need to see.”

Saving time and money

“I’ve had this kind of service on a wish list for a long time. I have often thought that if we could search video easily, we could save a lot of time and resolve most issues very quickly,” says Neil Wackwitz, Director of Operations at King.

“We don’t make many mistakes, but when we do, they can represent significant dollar amounts for our clients and for us. With Intelligent Video Service we are saving time and money by identifying issues quickly and being able to provide visual evidence of exactly what transpired.  We have been able to dispute shipping errors and correct inventory discrepancies that would have been very difficult to prove in the past. With SiB Solutions’ service we get to enjoy “aha” moments regularly because we can see what really happened and then address it, so it doesn’t happen again,” says Wackwitz.

Order to implementation in 30 days

Thanks to an excellent relationship between SiB Solutions and both the IT and Operations Departments at King, the system was up and running in less than 30 days after order. “Working with King was a dream,” says Gant. “They worked closely with us while we installed our services remotely. The system was live for five days before we were training the warehouse and customer service managers on the system, providing them with immediate insights based on real video and data. A whole new view of the ‘Kingdom’ so to speak.”

IMAGE (from left): Lennart Bergström, Co-founder and COO, SiB Solutions; Neil Wackwitz, Director of Operations at King; Derek Gant, VP sales and business development, SiB Solutions US.

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.