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Author: Keith McKinley

New Lithium-ion Forklifts Power Efficiency

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Yale Lift Truck Technologies has announced the expansion of its UX series of lift trucks with the addition of new lithium-ion power options. The new counterbalance forklifts, available in the four-wheel ERP15-35UXL series and the three-wheel ERP16-20UXTL series, strike the ideal balance between efficiency and cost-effectiveness, helping outsmart everyday challenges.

“The lithium-ion powered Yale® UXL series helps varied warehouse and intralogistics operations to tackle the challenges of rising costs while benefitting from clean, zero-emission technology. All without compromising on efficiency,” says Robert O’Donoghue, Vice President of Marketing at Yale Lift Truck Technologies.“

The new Yale lithium-ion UXL options address some of the real-world challenges posed by lead-acid batteries. By eliminating the need for scheduled watering, the UXL series has the potential to enhance workflow, ultimately increasing operational time and helping to enhance day to day operations.

“With efficiency key to any intralogistics operation,” continues O’Donoghue, “the ability to take advantage of opportunity charging means the UXL series can be ready to go at any time. When not in use, users can expect a fast, full charge in about two and a half hours on most models.”

Catering to diverse industries, including manufacturing, logistics, retail, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals, the versatile Yale UXL models combine technology and practicality. Their compact design and excellent manoeuvrability enable efficient navigation of narrow aisles, alongside responsive performance, consistent lifting power, and travel speeds up to 16km/h. Lift capacities up to 3.5 tonnes and a reach up to 6m give the UXL the ability to efficiently move materials within a facility and support a wide range of different handling tasks.

Lithium-ion Battery Forklift Trucks

With zero exhaust emissions, these lift trucks also contribute to a cleaner, quieter working environment while supporting sustainability goals by helping reduce operational CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the 5-year or 7,500-hour warranty on the lithium-ion batteries minimises replacement costs, providing a long-lasting fleet solution. The flexible battery box design also allows for potential future conversion to lead-acid power if business needs evolve.

“Yale UXL truck users will also benefit from peace of mind thanks to our well-established independent dealer network which offers exceptional aftermarket support, readily available parts, and a comprehensive warranty programme,” says O’Donoghue. “The Yale lithium-ion powered UXL series is further proof of our commitment to providing efficient, cost-effective solutions to the materials handling industry all while continuing to work towards a zero-emission future.”

The Yale ERP15-35UXL and ERP16-20UXTL models are available now from Yale dealers across Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

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Contract Packing Operations Digitised

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Nulogy, a global provider of contract packing software, has been chosen by Prism eLogistics, to digitalise its contract packing and shrink sleeving operations as the growing business focuses on enhancing agility, operational efficiency and quality.

Established in 2020, Prism eLogistics has built a strong reputation in the logistics industry, particularly within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Its expertise spans a wide range of products including beverages, cosmetics, personal care items, alcohol, and nutritional products, with services including shrink sleeving, storage, distribution, ecommerce, and secondary contract packing.

Operating from its headquarters in Basingstoke where shrink sleeving, fulfilment, contract packing, and remediation services have become a growing part of its offerings, Prism eLogistics sought to scale its business, eliminate paperwork, and enhance collaboration with brand customers through digitalisation.

Having previously relied on software tailored for ecommerce, which lacked functionality designed for the specific demands of its contract packing workflow, the team recognised the need for a system that was purpose-built for the growing co-packing area of their operations. Nulogy’s Shop Floor Solution emerged as the perfect fit and has been selected to optimise the company’s co-packing operations and drive efficiency and profitability.

“Digitalising our processes is a key component of our growth strategy,” said Ian Wright, Sales Director at Prism eLogistics (UK) Ltd. “In the co-packing industry, where accuracy and efficiency are crucial, partnering with Nulogy will give us the real-time data and insights necessary to streamline operations, control costs, and improve our service quality. This solution is essential for supporting our current expansion and for positioning us to meet future demands, ensuring we continue to drive growth and deliver exceptional value to brand customers.”

The Nulogy system digitalises the end-to-end contract packing workflow from estimating and planning jobs, to managing materials and inventory on the line, and optimising labour allocation. The system will also facilitate improved quality inspections, and efficient product recall processes with accurate batch tracking at the touch of a button. This enhanced recall readiness is essential when working with FMCG brands, allowing for rapid resolution of product issues and ensuring regulatory compliance. Implementation of the software will take place in the fourth quarter.

In line with its growth strategy, Prism eLogistics will also soon receive delivery of its second high-speed sleeving line and move to new larger premises, while still operating across its existing sites. Nulogy will ensure full control and visibility across all its locations, fully supporting the company’s expansion plans. These significant investments have been made possible due to the continued support of Prism eLogistics’ parent company, Spearpoint Security Group Pte Ltd, based in Singapore.

Commenting on the investment, Paul Mitchell, Managing Director at Prism eLogistics (UK) Ltd, said, “The backing of Spearpoint Security Group has been instrumental in enabling us to make these significant advancements, positioning us for sustained growth and success in the highly competitive logistics and sleeving sectors.”

Josephine Coombe, Chief Commercial Officer, Europe, at Nulogy, concluded, “Forward-thinking companies like Prism eLogistics understand the importance of specialised digital solutions for managing their contract packing operations. Being ‘Powered by Nulogy’ gives co-packers a competitive edge by enabling superior service quality, improved throughput and traceability, and greater customer responsiveness. We look forward to supporting Prism eLogistics in improving operational efficiency, serving their brand customers more effectively, and supporting their growth in the market.”

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Efulfilment Centre Made by META-ILS

Posted on by Keith McKinley

A custom-designed storage solution from META was recently handed over to its customer Ananas E-Commerce in Belgrade and successfully put into operation. This efulfilment centre ideally demonstrates the expertise that META offers global customers with its META-ILS system (ILS = Innovative Logistic Solutions).

The company Ananas E-Commerce was founded by Delta Holding in 2020 and brings together customers, retailers and employees in Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and, in the future, other regions on a digital platform. This marketplace enables customers to compare offers from various retailers based on price, delivery speed and ratings – Ananas has revolutionised the e-commerce industry in the Balkans and aims to be the premier choice for online shopping in the region.

In addition to e-commerce, Ananas is now also concentrating on the development of AdTech, FinTech services, a strong marketplace platform and the retail sector. One of the company’s particular strengths is its logistics division. Their new building now put into operation means they have a state-of-the-art, 10,000 square metre efulfilment centre with advanced META warehouse solutions such as the pick tower system as well as a conveyor system with a length of 700 metres, thus enormously increasing productivity and cutting order throughput times to a minimum.

Under the name META-ILS (ILS = Innovative Logistic Solutions), META offers individual customer solutions for complex tasks within the field of warehouse automation with conveyor technology. Customers worldwide thereby benefit from efficient conveyor technology in tandem with premium-quality storage technology.

It was precisely this expertise that was the focus of the construction project for Serbian client Ananas E-Commerce in Belgrade. META won the contract for this outstanding project not least due to its many successful references in this sector and its professional expertise with META-ILS. This once again demonstrates that the company based in Arnsberg, Germany is gaining access to projects that could not previously be served.

At the centre of the Belgrade project was the perfect combination of the tried-and-tested standard shelving systems, a wide variety of conveyor systems and connection to the company software.

The storage of consumer goods with A to Z diversity requires flexible storage options with rapidly adaptable systems. Four-storey META MULTIFLOOR shelving was therefore installed as a stationary system to ensure flexible storage of the wide variety of products. With the META MULTIFLOOR shelving system, designed as a comprehensive modular system, it is possible to respond even better to highly diverse storage needs, offering a much wider range of applications. Steel construction platforms and components with pallet transfer gates are connected to the shelving system.

Automated goods and container transport is highly efficient thanks to roller and belt conveyors as well as vertical conveyors across all warehouse levels, and covers the entire logistics chain from goods receipt to dispatch. The identification systems implemented ensure correct internal transport routes. Work tables installed in the goods receipt, sorting and packaging areas round off the facilities for the entire flow of goods.

“It was a real pleasure to have such a professional partner for this demanding project. It was our first time working on equipping the Ananas efulfilment centre, which is why expertise, commitment and appropriate support were absolutely decisive for us,” explains Mladen Jezdić, Head of Supply Chain at Ananas E-Commerce, about his company’s collaboration with META. “The result of the teamwork is yet another revolutionary transformation that Ananas will realise in the region’s e-commerce market – and it’s the most modern efulfilment centre in this part of Europe.”

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Lampenwelt Brings Light into the Supply Chain

Posted on by Keith McKinley

When it comes to ordering lights online, many consumers make the final click at Lampenwelt. The e-commerce specialist, which is part of the LUQOM Group, recently started using the SCM software OSCA to bring transparency to the supply chain. As a result lead times and the workload for orders have been significantly.

“In addition to simple user guidance, Setlog convinces with its fast implementation,” says Patrick Keyser, Director Demand & Order Management, Global Forwarding, Lampenwelt GmbH. Anyone moving into a new home has a lot to do. Packing, moving, unpacking, assembling furniture and then lots of paperwork. Often there are only temporary light bulbs hanging from the ceiling in the new apartment. Replacing these is also on the to-do list. In the past, people would rush to large furniture stores and often spend half a Saturday in the lamp department to find a new lamp and the right light bulb for each room. But in the age of the Internet, many consumers do away with such time-consuming activities: Instead, they shop for their desired lamps online from the comfort of their new sofa.

For more than two decades, Lampenwelt from the Sauerland region of Germany has been one of the largest and most successful platforms for the sale of lamps of all price ranges. The company sells its products in 27 countries via various domains, including lights.co.uk in the UK and luminaire.fr in France. The online pure player, which is part of the Berlin-based LUQOM Group founded in 2017, offers a range of around 450 brands and more than 60,000 products. Lampenwelt is the nucleus of LUQOM. The LUQOM Group was extended by the strategic acquisition of Lampemesteren from Denmark in 2021 and the acquisition of the QLF Group in 2019, the online market leader in Benelux.

The associated sales growth also brought challenges – in all three of LUQOM’s business divisions: Services, brands including own brands and the e-commerce business. “Without a cutting-edge IT landscape, companies in the consumer goods sector can no longer be successful today,” emphasizes Patrick Keyser, Director Demand & Order Management, Global Forwarding at Lampenwelt. The retail expert has years of experience in digitalization in the fashion sector. Since 2022, he has been transferring his knowledge to the lighting and smart home products sector with the help of his team. His goal: to bring light into the darkness of the supply chain.

Darkness is an exaggeration, of course. Until now, the ordering process had been handled via email to the group’s branch in Asia, LUQOM Asia. The employees took care of purchasing from the Asian suppliers. “On one hand, the effort involved via Excel and email is huge. On the other hand, changes in production or delivery times pose challenges because the supply chain is not transparent,” reports Keyser.

He therefore tackled the project ‘introduction of SCM software’ quickly. From his previous position, he had fond memories of the cloud-based tool OSCA from the Bochum-based software company Setlog: “In addition to simple user guidance, the provider convinces with its quick implementation,” emphasizes Keyser. After consultations with Setlog Managing Director Ralf Duester and an analysis of other providers, the contract was signed in August 2022 and the project launched immediately. The first project milestone by December was to connect and train LUQOM Asia (30 employees) and all Chinese manufacturers of Lampenwelt’s own brands to OSCA SCM. The same applied for the two existing logistics partners. In a second step, the remaining suppliers from Europe and other countries – such as Turkey – will be integrated into the system so that OSCA SCM is used by more than 200 suppliers.

• OSCA SCM contains four service areas for LUQOM Group:
• Delivery Planning & Dialogues: This is where the purchase orders are confirmed by the suppliers.
• Booking & Shipment: This involves the suppliers’ transport booking process with the freight forwarders, the storage of shipment data (manually or via TMS connection) by the logistics service providers and the upload of mandatory documents.
• Delivery to DC: This is where the delivery process at the warehouse is controlled. The forwarder and warehouse employees coordinate the time of goods delivery.
• Reporting: Here, the system offers comprehensive reporting and analysis functions.

According to Keyser, the software was implemented quickly – just as planned. Training in German, English and Chinese also took just two weeks. Some employees and partners initially found it a little difficult to get used to the new workflows. “But anyone who recognizes the advantages also understands the change. OSCA brings transparency to the supply chain. There is now only one central system for communication and document exchange for everyone involved,” says Keyser. For him, there is no alternative to a ‘digital twin of the supply chain’.

Whether ‘Lindby’ ceiling lights or ‘Arcchio’ wall lights: Five employees in Keyser´s team can already manage 2.5 million orders per year via OSCA in the first stage of expansion. The products from Lampenwelt’s own brand are delivered via two logistics service providers to a multi-user warehouse with a total area of 45,000 square meters near Fulda, which is managed by a contract logistics provider, as well as to the company’s own distribution center, which is also located in Hesse.

Although OSCA has only been in operation since December 2022 and the connection of the remaining suppliers is yet to follow, SCM expert Keyser is already excited by two results: Lead times have been reduced by around 15 percent. The company has achieved even better results when it comes to reducing the amount of work involved in ordering lamps and the like: Keyser was able to measure around 20 percent. He anticipates a reduction of up to 50 percent – after the end of the second expansion phase. “The solution has also been well received by the retail specialists in Asia. Our Asian colleagues also benefit from the centralized solution in terms of data exchange and communication. A large number of emails are now a thing of the past,” says Ludger Tillmann, General Manager of LUQOM Asia.

Although the current project is not yet finished, Keyser is already working on others – the connection of other subsidiaries such as QLF and Lampemesteren to OSCA. The interfaces will be implemented shortly. Light should therefore soon be shed on the other supply chains.

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New Clark Sales Partner for Morocco

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Clark Europe has gained a new contractual partner for Morocco in Techniplus. The market leader for the maintenance and repair of vehicles in port handling in Morocco will take over all sales activities for Clark Europe in Morocco in future. With this strategic step, Clark aims to further expand its sales activities in the North African market.

Techniplus was founded in 1991 in Casablanca and is owned by Motherwell Bridge Industries Ltd. based in Malta. The company is managed by Amine Rfiqi. The company’s core competences lie in the provision of high-quality industrial equipment solutions and after-sales services for the industrial, logistics and port handling sectors. Its customer base includes operators of the largest Moroccan ports in Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir and Jorf Lasfar as well as well-known companies from the industrial, steelworks and mining sectors.

Techniplus offers its customers a comprehensive range of services, including sales, rental, spare parts and lifetime maintenance and repair services. The company is also active in this segment in Mauritania, Senegal, Tunisia and Algeria. The Casablanca site has sales offices, a warehouse and a workshop covering a total area of 500 m2. The company currently employs a total of 52 people in administration, sales, workshop and warehouse – 41 of whom work in customer service alone. Techniplus has further service centres in Tangier, Agadir, Jorf Lasfar and Safi.

Techniplus offers its customers in Morocco the complete Clark range of services. In addition to the sale of all forklift truck classes and warehouse trucks, this also includes the supply of Clark spare parts and accessories. A comprehensive range of services including rental and financing as well as a comprehensive technical service for new and used Clark industrial trucks rounds off the range of services. The highly qualified service technicians receive regular training and are equipped with the latest tools and technologies. Techniplus offers its customers both on-site and off-site service options.

“With Techniplus, we can welcome a very experienced partner with in-depth expertise in the logistics sector to our team. We are very pleased to be able to further expand our sales in Morocco with our new sales partner. We wish Techniplus every success in their new role,” says Rolf Eiten, President & CEO at Clark Europe.

“Our cooperation with Clark Europe is an significant milestone for Techniplus. It enables us to expand our product offering and provide our customers with reliable and innovative industrial trucks. We look forward to a continued and prosperous partnership,” said Amine Rfiqi, Managing Director of Techniplus, at the signing of the contract.

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How is the ‘Uberisation’ of Warehouses Changing Supply Chains?

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Warehouse ‘uberisation’ is changing supply chain, writes Steve O’Keeffe (pictured below), Regional Vice President of UK&I, Epicor.

We live in an ‘on-demand’ economy. Amazon’s ‘Last Mile’ logistics model, as well as platforms like Uber, Airbnb and a whole host of others, has led consumers to expect near-instantaneous delivery of products and services. This has set high standards across industries, compelling businesses to rethink their supply chain strategies to keep up. The nature of this ‘on-demand’ paradigm, alongside the growing trend towards the ‘uberisation’ of warehouses, is drastically reshaping the supply chain landscape. This shift involves converting underused spaces into strategically located micro-warehouses, bringing products closer to customers.

By decentralising their warehousing network and integrating these localised storage facilities, companies have reduced delivery times and improved customer satisfaction. But why are local warehouses important?

Local warehouses have become crucial in the modern supply chain. Unlike large, centralised warehouses that serve broad geographic areas, these facilities can be situated closer to urban centres and densely populated regions. This proximity allows for quicker last-mile deliveries, which are often the most time-consuming and expensive part of the delivery process, a hallmark of Amazon’s renowned efficiency. Local warehouses play a vital role in the modern supply chain, not just for their geographic location but also for their versatility. They can be established in diverse types of locations, such as garages, unused office spaces, and even within retail shops, maximising space and reducing overhead costs.

Challenges for Business Leaders

While the uberisation of warehouses offers many advantages, it also presents challenges for supply chain managers. Ensuring security and safety within these unconventional storage spaces is essential, necessitating investment in robust security systems and insurance policies to protect against theft, fire, damp, and structural damages. This is crucial for safeguarding inventory and maintaining customer trust.

Steve O’Keeffe

The fragmentation of the warehousing network also requires careful coordination and integration between each element of the supply chain to prevent disruptions and inefficiencies, demanding a strategic logistics approach, where technology is vital for providing visibility.

The Role of Technology

Technology is the lynchpin in modern warehousing. Advanced warehouse management systems and real-time tracking technologies enable businesses to maintain precise oversight of inventory across multiple locations. These systems enhance visibility, allowing for rapid decision-making and agile response to market demands. The integration of IoT and AI also unlocks huge potential. IoT devices can monitor the warehouse environment, ensuring ideal storage conditions and reducing the risk of damage to goods, while AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data to optimise routing, predict demand, and streamline operations. Businesses must adopt scalable and flexible technological solutions to remain competitive in this dynamic environment. The ability to quickly adapt is critical.

Speed and Convenience

The uberisation of warehouses represents a transformative shift in the supply chain landscape, driven by the need to meet rising consumer expectations for speed and convenience. While this model brings strategic advantages, it also presents challenges in security, coordination, and tech integration. However, with a solid tech-savvy strategy, businesses can thrive in this new landscape, staying resilient and competitive. The future of warehousing is clear: tech-driven, decentralised, and ultra-responsive to today’s consumer needs.

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Olympic Fencing Supplier Transforms Warehousing

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Leon Paul, one of the world’s premier fencing equipment manufacturers, has transformed its warehousing and logistic operations and driven significant growth following its adoption of Forterro’s ERP and Warehouse Management Solution, Orderwise.

The 100-year-old family-run business produces and distributes 90% of its products from its London manufacturing and warehousing facility and had previously relied on a paper-based system. This was highly inefficient and resulted in a warehouse environment best described as ‘chaos’ and an estimated £150,000 wastage every year in lost time and products, according to James Fay, Commercial Director, Leon Paul:

“We had no control of ordering from stock to delivery, no barcoding technology in the warehouse, no form of KPIs to manage our performance. We couldn’t vet orders properly and weren’t even sure if products were being sent to the right places,” he said. “Morale was low amongst staff because they felt they couldn’t do their jobs to the best of their ability, and we were wasting money, time and products hand over fist. We were known for the quality of our fencing equipment, but our warehousing was far from Olympic standard. Orderwise was cost-effective and scalable, and it was actually recommended to me by a competitor, so it felt like the best fit for us right from the off.”

Since implementing Orderwise, Leon Paul has been able to automate many processes and see vast efficiency improvements. It has eased pressure on employees, improved order management and customer service, and delivered a ten-fold increase in order processing. Order shipping time went from an average of nine days to less than one day.

In a complex manufacturing environment — Leon Paul makes more than 3,000 SKUs, which can then become any one of 98,000 SKUs — Orderwise has become integral. It allows the business to make quick and informed decisions, and it has meant that when the company turned over £3.5m, there were seven people in the warehouse, whereas in 2024 (turnover of £10m), there are five.

Leon Paul has more than 75% of the UK market — including supplying the entire Team GB Olympic fencing team — and recently won the 2024 Kings Award for Enterprise in Innovation and Export, strengthening its recent strategy of focusing mostly on exports.

“To further our global growth plans, we needed a modern warehouse and an ERP system to support our e-commerce engine, ensuring our customers all over the world get the right product in good time,” continued James Fay. “Orderwise has done exactly that and more. Our global agents are also connected to it, and we now all have the information to make smarter, data-based decisions about the business.”

Orderwise is an ERP solution that provides wholesalers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers with a platform for growth. It was initially deployed by Leon Paul in operational logistics, sales, and customer service, followed by accounts, and is currently being implemented in the manufacturing plant.

“Leon Paul is an iconic UK manufacturer, rightly celebrated for its quality, longevity and commitment to fencing,” said Jon Roberts, Director, Forterro. “Our ERP solutions are all designed with specific industries in mind, and we are very proud that Orderwise has played a role in Leon Paul’s success.”

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AA Cargo Flies Record Volumes of Mango

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Today on National Mango Day, American Airlines Cargo shares record volumes of mango shipments as it marks the half-way point in a multi-month project for the carrier in transporting high volumes of fresh mangoes this summer. The mangoes began first transiting in late May and will continue to move through the end of August, with volumes peaking mid-July to mid-August.

Originating in Pakistan, the mangoes travel on American’s interline partner to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) where they are trucked to a treatment plant for washing and then on to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).

Out of MSY, American utilizes its vast domestic network and narrowbody fleet to connect the mangoes across the US via hubs Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

The mangoes are bundled together by colour and taste: Red are sweet, Blue are semi-sweet, and Yellow are tart. So far, the carrier has moved more than 50,000 lbs. of mangoes with estimated volumes surpassing 125,000 lbs. by the end of August. This is the first project of this scale to come out of American’s cargo operations in MSY.

American has extensive experience transporting fresh fruits and perishable goods like mangoes for many years. The carrier offers container handling systems and refrigeration coolers at key hubs, as well as transit guidelines and packaging requirements that ensure perishables stay fresh on their journey.

American Airlines Cargo transports cargo daily between major cities in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia. Offering a variety of products and handling capabilities, American Airlines Cargo supports shipments from life-saving pharmaceuticals to mail and e-commerce on the world’s largest passenger network.

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Fresh Tracking Facilities For American Airlines Cargo

 

CIRRO E-Commerce Integrates with 17TRACK

Posted on by Keith McKinley

CIRRO E-Commerce, a leading e-commerce logistics solutions provider, announces its integration with 17TRACK, a global shipment tracking service platform. This partnership is designed to improve the customer experience by providing seamless, real-time tracking information and robust customer support.

The integration between CIRRO E-Commerce and 17TRACK improves access to tracking information for marketplaces, e-commerce merchants, and consumers. By automatically sharing tracking data with 17TRACK’s partners and users, it becomes easy for all stakeholders to stay informed about their orders. The tracking platform enhances traceability, ensuring updates are always available and accurate. This, in turn, boosts CIRRO E-Commerce’s reliability, as timely tracking builds trust and confidence among consumers.

“Welcoming CIRRO E-Commerce to 17TRACK has enlarged our carrier network, marking a key milestone in our strategy to expand in the North American market. We remain dedicated to increasing transparency and reliability through our tracking platforms, alongside ongoing development of advanced technology solutions for the e-commerce sector,” said Ria, Head of Global Marketing Operator at 17TRACK.

“We are delighted to partner with 17TRACK. With transparent tracking information and streamlined operational processes, we collectively optimize the post-purchase experience for e-commerce merchants and consumers,” said Vincent D’Amato, Head of Sales at CIRRO E-Commerce North America. “We will continue to forge collaborations with upstream and downstream companies, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and driving e-commerce growth.”

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Ensure EWM Changes aren’t the Weak Link in your Supply Chain

Posted on by Keith McKinley

EWM changes should not make your supply chain weak, writes Barry Green (pictured below), Global Product Manager at Basis Technologies.

Business supply chains are a complex web of operations, and at each critical connection sits a warehouse. Responsible for the smooth delivery of products, warehouse managers shoulder an immense amount of pressure, and it’s easy to see why. Even the most diligent managers or businesses that have perfected ‘just in time’ production and delivery, still face huge financial and reputational risks should one cog in the warehouse wheel stop turning.

As the heart and brain of the warehouse, SAP’s widely used Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) has played a critical role in keeping operations running smoothly. However, the industry is witnessing a perfect storm. Businesses are making an increased number of changes to EWM to further tailor the system to their unique requirements. The trouble is, managing change within such a complex, interconnected system poses a significant risk to the business if it goes wrong.

System disruption can result in costly delays, transport to and from the warehouse being held up, production lines falling behind and the end-customer suffering. Also, if a warehouse goes down, the business cannot meet their SLAs, causing customers to seek out alternatives they deem more reliable. It all adds up.

Where it can go wrong

There are two factors that can trigger challenges within EWM; the fact that the system requires layers of granular customisation, and that the infrastructure is connected to hundreds of other areas of the warehouse and the wider SAP estate.

EWM – not one size fits all

Every business has unique warehouse management requirements which need high levels of customisation in an already complex system. At the same time, each customisation brings an extra level of risk to the wider infrastructure; even the smallest change can have a detrimental impact on the entire supply chain.

EWM needs to be customised to align with the business’ specific needs, yet without visibility of the bigger picture when making changes, EWM managers are left with no insight into the potential chain reaction that could be set off by one change.

EWM – it is not an island

EWM is usually interconnected and highly dependent on multiple integrations, like with transport management – which handles processes including transport orders, incomings and outgoings, and wave processing. As soon as an instruction leaves EWM, data is sent to the transport management system, which is also connected to other areas, such as SAP’s Logistics Business Network.

Granular insights into the entities along the chain maintaining smooth operations and avoiding unnecessary delays. However, a single change has the potential to bring it all crashing down.

An impossible decision

EWM managers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The organisation needs to make changes in order to remain agile and align with businesses strategies, yet each change – big or small – adds more risk of operational disruption. They’ve traditionally had to choose between two paths, neither of which are ideal and both require compromise.

Some organisations have classed changes to EWM as too big of a risk, so they continue with their current system. While understandable, sticking to the status quo quickly becomes unsustainable. The business and vendor drivers of change will only intensify and become more urgent, while more agile competitors overtake and pull ahead.

On the other side, upon recognising the need to make critical changes within EWM, some organisations proceed despite the clear risks. However, without the visibility of how these updates impact connecting systems, there can be a price to pay. Given the severity of the potential financial and reputational consequences of unforeseen disruption along the supply chain, businesses can no longer afford to blindly make changes to EWM. So, what’s the alternative?

Confidence is everything

The capabilities of SAP EWM form a valuable foundation for operations, but this high in-built ability to customise makes it incredibly challenging to understand and deploy changes effectively. EWM solution owners can analyse SAP transports but, due to EWM’s specific way of working within SAP’s internal structures and ‘where-used’ facilities, they lack visibility into how one change can impact other processes and even connected systems.

However, it is possible to make changes within EWM without fear.

In the early stages of planning, scoping, design and development, data-driven solutions can give the developer insight into whether the change will impact functionalities other than those anticipated – and if this can be avoided altogether. Having this level of confidence will save time and costs later down the line as fewer rework cycles will be needed.

Later on, during the validation and quality phases, all stakeholders will gain visibility into which EWM processes will be affected. These insights increase everyone’s confidence in the exact test scope, deployment plan or training requirements, meaning they can save efforts of time-pressured teams both in the project room and in the warehouse where ultimately the change will be felt.

By leveraging predictive insights, managers can foresee the impact of change, giving them assurance that only the listed processes will have been affected by the change, which means no unpleasant surprises. All stakeholders of EWM can use this new source of information to ensure a robust supply chain, business continuity and agility to adopt innovation and change at the pace the business and market demands.

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The Future of Warehousing: Pop-Up EWM

 

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