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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.

Panasonic releases Sustainability Gap research

Posted on by David Priestman

European IT buyers are stuck in a four-year cycle of refreshing their computing devices for the mobile workforce, despite increasing sustainability pressures, according to new research from Panasonic TOUGHBOOK. On average, IT Buyers reported they were refreshing their mobile computing technology every four years and they expected manufacturers to support devices for just over three years after product launch.

“Despite an increasing awareness of sustainability issues and a general desire to use devices for longer, worryingly we still see organisations across Europe stuck in the mindset of the four-year technology refresh,” said Lisbeth Lashmana, Head of the European Marketing for Panasonic TOUGHBOOK. “The reality is that with the new modular design of mobile computing devices and the extended support available for the latest powerful devices, there really is an opportunity for organisations to extend the life of the technology used by the mobile workforce, simplify management and improve total cost of ownership.”

In the UK, France and Germany, 750 mobile technology buyers in companies of more than 50 employees across the utilities, emergency services, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and construction sectors were independently surveyed by Opinion Matters, for research commissioned by Panasonic TOUGHBOOK.

PANASONIC research reveals top 5 considerations

The top 5 most important considerations for IT Buyers when purchasing computing devices for mobile workforces were Security (23.7%), Reliability (23.7%), Performance (22.9%), Battery Life (19.3%), Ruggedness (18.7%) and Initial Cost (18.3%).

Surprisingly, half of all IT buyers still do not pilot new computing devices with users before purchase.

On average, companies were supporting 2-3 different types of mobile computing devices within their organisation ranging from laptops and tablets to mobile workstations and wearables.

Recognising the increasing awareness for security, around 70% of respondents considered regular Bios, Firmware and Driver updates as important with the average updates happening between 2.5-3 times a year and taking an average of 4 days a year to implement.

Huge opportunity

“There is a huge opportunity for businesses to reset their approach to buying technology for the mobile workforce and close the Sustainability Gap,” said Lashmana. “By engaging the workforce in pilot projects before purchase, buyers can ensure devices are much more closely matched to the users’ needs. Secondly, by purchasing the latest modular designed devices, the technology can be modified and customised by users in the field to different requirements or repurposed later for another purpose within the business.

“Combine this with the incredible CPU and memory performance available in the latest generation of devices, with the ability to upgrade as required and the long-term extended support being offered by manufacturers like Panasonic and there are reasons to be optimistic. All the elements are now in place for organisations to extend the usability of their mobile computing equipment – by years in many cases.”

Panasonic has recently expanded its range of rugged modular laptops and tablets with the updated TOUGHBOOK 55, the introduction of the TOUGHBOOK G2 rugged tablet and the launch of the TOUGHBOOK 40, the ultimate 14-inch modular rugged notebook designed for Defence and ideal for Police and Utilities. To ensure the security and long use of devices, Panasonic TOUGHBOOK supports its products for a further five years after they have been withdrawn from sale. Panasonic TOUGHBOOK ProTect Warranties can be extended for up to five years for all devices.

CLICK HERE to download an Executive Summary of the The Sustainability Gap – Breaking the four-year technology refresh cycle.

 

GoFreight raises $23m

Posted on by David Priestman

GoFreight has announced that it raised $23m in Series A funding, co-led by Flex Capital and Headline. The round includes participation from LFX Venture Partners, Palm Drive Capital, and existing investors like LA-based Mucker Capital, Cornerstone Ventures, and Red Building Capital.

GoFreight offers an all-in-one cloud-based software that consolidates the complex and meticulous work of freight forwarders into a single software platform solution. GoFreight’s software helps its customers manage the transportation of goods via ocean, air, and land routes with features tailored to freight forwarding. The platform is accessible from any device type, including mobile phones, desktops, and tablets.

“The global freight forwarding industry has grown immensely in the past 10 years but the technology freight forwarders use to run their businesses has not changed,” says Trenton Chen, CEO, and Founder of GoFreight. “Many of these companies still use antiquated ERP systems that were developed over 20 years ago. With GoFreight, a freight forwarder sales rep can turn an inquiry into a quotation that can convert into a new job with just a few clicks.”

GoFreight customers benefit from funding

Freight forwarders can win more bids with a dynamic quotations tool and automate their workflows by removing much of the manual data entry and transference. The software helps freight forwarders track shipments with real-time, carrier, EDI-integrated, container-tracking, visibility–close files with integrated payment processing and accounting–and oversee the efficiency and general health of the business with dashboards containing both out-of-the-box and customizable reporting and analytics. GoFreight will use the new capital for further product advancements and team expansion, specifically around research, development, and customer experience.

“We will expand upon the platform to develop products and features like smart quotations, rate management, and purchase order management,” says Chen. “This will help freight forwarders grow their businesses by providing a more frictionless experience to service the freight forwarder’s end customers. We believe this is the correct path to truly digitalise the freight forwarding industry, and further help the entire global supply chain become more efficient and resilient.”

The Series A funding will also fuel the continued buildout of GoFreight’s customers’ end-user-facing applications to lessen the burden placed on forwarders to manage their customers’ manual requests for information related to shipments and containers. GoFreight will expand its Product and Customer Experience teams with this funding. It follows a high-growth year for GoFreight, which saw its sales more than double.

“When GoFreight began, it had one mission in mind: to revolutionize the Freight Forwarding industry with modern tools designed by industry experts,” says Chen. “It exists for a customer base that has not seen innovation in their tech stack in the past 30 years.”

State-of-the-art tools

GoFreight says it serves its customers by empowering them with state-of-the-art tools and applications in a platform that is easy to implement and boasts a modern user interface for swift adoption. GoFreight’s comprehensive analytics suite with prebuilt dashboards and reports can help busy managers easily oversee their business. Further, the platform is designed to connect all freight management features into one easily accessible, centralized location. Its software makes use of EDI integrations with carriers to reduce repetitive data entry, and easily transpose documents into the platform where they can be sent to freight partners and carriers electronically.

“GoFreight’s cloud software is transforming the freight forwarding process, a $186 billion segment of logistics that is often overlooked,” said Tom Gieselmann, Partner at Headline. “GoFreight’s all-in-one software provides greater transparency to freight movement, allowing freight forwarders to better manage their business, which can range anywhere from 0-1500+ users, end-to-end. This versatility makes the product incredibly impactful, and a big reason behind why we’ve identified them as one of the most promising logistics tech companies on the market.”

 

Black Friday returns up 60%

Posted on by David Priestman

Following the Black Friday weekend, retail returns specialist ZigZag Global’s proprietary data has revealed interesting consumer trends. The headline is that global returns for Black Friday weekend were up 60% from the same period in 2021 as shoppers looked to spread the cost of Christmas during a time of economic downturn.

Full data released by ZigZag indicates:

  • Global returns for Black Friday weekend were up 60% from the same period in 2021
  • UK returns for Black Friday weekend were up 8% from the same period in 2021.
  • Sunday had the biggest jump in returns in the UK, with people returning 24% more on Sunday 27th November than they did on the Sunday after Black Friday in 2021
  • Germany had one of the biggest return weekends in Europe, with 88% more returns flowing back to retailers over the weekend compared to 2021
  • The value of goods returned over this week rose by 44% compared to last year globally
  • The value of goods returned over this week rose by 5% compared to last year in the UK
  • 488% increase in returns handed into lockers in the UK
  • Padded coats, leggings, and bags were the most returned items this weekend as consumers seek to wrap up warm on a budget this winter
  • Liverpool saw the biggest drop in returns in the UK, with returns volumes in 2022 only 49% of that in 2021
  • Leeds (45%), Global (54%), and Bristol (56%) all saw significant jumps in their returns this weekend
  • The UK and France sent back more items per returning order this year than in 2021, although the world average actually dropped. With less items coming back per return parcel
  • People were more than happy to pay for returns after securing their discounted goods as paid returns were up 159% this year in the UK
  • The cheapest item returned was only £0.10 – a light-up decorative eucalyptus tree.

Black Friday reinvented

Al Gerrie, CEO & Co-founder of ZigZag Global, comments: “Black Friday has been reinvented yet again this year and 2022 shows that we’re more determined than ever to bag a bargain. One thing is for certain: by spreading the Black Friday deals across the month of November, retailers are doubling down on every effort to combat consumer concerns around the cost-of-living crisis and the potential impact this might have on anticipated Christmas spending budgets.

“However, if the trends in returns tell us anything, we can see that the shoppers are becoming more discerning with the purchases they choose to hold onto, and those they choose to send back. There has been a significant jump in global returns compared to last year’s Black Friday weekend which is up 60% for global returns and 8% in the UK.

“The increase in returns is because shoppers are buying multiple items and being more considerate of returning items they don’t want. There is also an interesting trend in the value of the returned items being higher than last year – again pointing towards a more frugal shopper this year.

“The data also shows a significant increase in the number of paid returns this Black Friday – which are up 159% this year in the UK – whilst free returns have dropped. This reflects retailers’ recent decisions to start charging customers for returns, and is a healthy sign for retailers looking to recoup profit on the returns journey.

“Alongside this, UK customers are actively adopting more sustainable practices regarding their returns, with 79% opting for a paperless return when it is offered and an increased likelihood – almost five times more – of returning via a locker this year. Overall, paperless returns were requested 64% more globally this year compared to 2021.

“With such a drastic change around the largest consumer event of the year, it is our hope that consumers continue to adopt these sustainable practices all year-round.”

Booking platform receives new funding

Posted on by David Priestman

The technical development of further innovations at Modility, the booking and brokerage platform for Combined Transport, has received funding from the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) in the context of its ‘Future Rail Freight Transport’ programme. The funding will be used to accelerate the development and integration of new features and thus attract new customer segments on the supply and demand side. The project will run until October 2024.

Managing Director Hendrik-Emmanuel Eichentopf considers the funding of Modility to be a recognition of the positive development over the past months. “Since the market launch in March 2021, we have made tremendous progress with Modility. The successful pilot phase as well as increasing user and booking numbers have shown the great demand and potential for our solution in the market. With the new funding, we can now take Modility to the next level in terms of functionality and thus facilitate the switch to more climate-friendly CT for our users.”

The BMDV also funded the pilot phase of Modility as part of the ‘Future Rail Freight Transport’ programme.

Technical innovations

The objective of the demonstrator project that has now started is to attract additional customer segments on the supply and demand side through new innovations. “During the pilot phase, we spoke to a range of different companies that would like to use Modility but have very specific requirements,” says Eichentopf. “We have to take these into account to ensure that our online platform can be used in day-to-day operations and becomes a market standard.”

Therefore, Modility has scheduled the implementation of three sets of measures which consist of functional and modular innovations as well as market opening actions. Specifically, this involves more precise illustration of transport prices and available train capacities, acceleration and simplification of the booking process, and mapping of processes for major client organisations. In addition, it will implement an option for the technical integration of other transport platforms.

Platform continually growing

Since its official market launch in March 2021, Modility has been growing continuously. As of today, 40 train operators are already registered, offering a range of more than 650 bookable rail connections throughout Europe with around 2,500 departures per week via the portal. In total, Modility has more than 350 users registered on its platform.

“We are increasingly noticing that with the growing range of transport options at Modility, we are not only an information site, but also a matchmaker between supply and demand,” states Eichentopf. The company exceeded its targeted booking volume in the four-digit range for this year. In 2023, it should continue to grow – also with the help of the new funding.

GoRamp secures CEE award

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Logistics technology start-up GoRamp has been selected as the best solution for the management of logistics and supply chain in Central and Eastern Europe.

CEE Logistics & Supply Chain Management Excellence Awards organised under the auspices of Translog Connect has selected a transportation process optimisation tool developed by the Lithuanian start-up GoRamp as the best logistics Service Provider of the year. The award is annually conferred upon an innovative service that proves its effectiveness in the optimisation of customer supply chain, ensuring saving of costs and resources as well as sustainable business development.

“This award is an important recognition for us and the entire logistic technology developers’ community in the Baltics,” said Jevgenij Polonis, CEO and co-founder of GoRamp. “Our contribution to the development of supply chain innovation in Central and Eastern Europe is taken into account and appreciated. That is a strong step forward towards the GoRamp vision to digitise the logistics processes of manufacturing and trading companies, which are currently based on unadvanced and inefficient manual work and outdated methods.”

GoRamp subscription model

GoRamp has developed a tool based on a monthly subscription for logistics units of manufacturing and trading companies. The companies may choose the solutions based on their supply chain processes and challenges. The modules include planning of warehouse arrivals, management of carrier contracts, automated inspection of invoices, and integration of the different systems. According to the feedback received from customers from 19 countries, the system allows for saving up to 70% of operational work, cut waiting time by 20%, avoid downtime and fit the agreed budget.

For the awards, GoRamp presented a success story of Schoeller Allibert, one of the largest global plastic recycling companies, that operates in 50 countries. Installation of the GoRamp system resulted in warehouse effectiveness. Schoeller Allibert managed to increase the efficiency of warehouse operations by more than a third, reduce the queues of trucks by 90%, and cut the waiting time of drivers by 40%.

Translog Connect is an annual international congress of the supply chain industry aimed at discussing the progress of transport, logistics and supply chain management in Central and Eastern Europe. The summit attracts over 400 participants from more than 17 countries.

www.goramp.eu

Partnership increases transparency of shipping emissions

Posted on by Keith McKinley

PortXchange Products B.V., one of the leading tech start-ups in the maritime domain for predictable and sustainable shipping, has formed a long-term global partnership with BigMile, supplier of software for calculating and analysing transport-related CO2 emissions. Through their combined efforts, the two companies will provide digital solutions to increase transparency of shipping emissions in port areas.

With the growing pressure on the shipping and logistics industries to reduce the emissions footprint, ports are emerging as critical players to drive sustainability efforts. However, most ports currently lack the necessary means to track emissions, which is the first step in developing decarbonisation strategies to meet the ambitious reduction targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

By working together, PortXchange and BigMile are ideally positioned to equip ports worldwide with a unique digital service that will allow them to monitor emissions from vessels, road, and rail transport, and help them quantify the impact of their sustainability programmes. “We are excited to partner up with BigMile – the leader in CO2 footprint standardisation – and to contribute our vast experience in the maritime industry to this collaboration,” said Sjoerd de Jager (pictured, right), Managing Director of PortXchange.

Enhancing decarbonisation through digitalisation

Although most shipping emissions occur during the voyage, their negative impact is most directly noticeable in ports because these are usually located close to cities. In fact, around 230 million people are directly exposed to shipping emissions in the world’s top one hundred ports. Digitalisation can significantly enhance decarbonisation efforts by providing means to  calculate and monitor emissions and subsequently implement measures and interventions to reduce emissions.

“With our flagship product called PortXchange Synchronizer, we offer a solution that allows vessels to optimise their sailing speed for just-in-time (JIT) arrival at the port. This reduces fuel consumption during the voyage and avoids unnecessary waiting time at anchorage, which leads to lower emissions in the port area,” continued de Jager.

“Port authorities can play a significant role in facilitating JIT arrival by supporting data-sharing initiatives and offering incentive schemes such as JIT-induced port fee discounts. There are several examples of such schemes currently being trialled, including at the ports in Rotterdam, Los Angeles Long Beach, Singapore, and Esbjerg. Thanks to the insights provided by the combined digital service from BigMile and PortXchange, the effectiveness of these measures becomes transparent. These insights are critical to underpin the investment strategies for these measures,” he added.

Supporting targeted decisions

“In this collaboration, our aim together with PortXchange is to encourage and facilitate ports worldwide to map their current footprint so that they can then make targeted decisions to reduce emissions in and around the port. These measures can be either operational, such as optimising the sailing speed as Sjoerd already mentioned, or strategic in nature, because the multi-modal split of emissions creates a more comprehensive picture of where transport emissions come from. This allows ports to take a holistic approach to port call decarbonisation,” stated Jan Pronk (pictured, left), Managing Director of BigMile.

Strategic measures could include electrification and the construction of shore power systems, he explains: “Shore power systems can potentially be an important part of the energy transition. If ships turn off their generators and use shore power when they are at the quay, they are a lot less polluting. The BigMile and PortXchange platform can provide insight into how much air pollution a shore power connection can prevent. Right now, ports are facing strategic choices about whether – and if so, where – to install shore power systems.”

BigMile and PortXchange are currently working on their first implementation of this digital service in the Port of Rotterdam. The service will also become available to other ports by the end of 2022.

Conker makes five new appointments

Posted on by David Priestman

Conker, which provides rugged, wearable and scannable devices for mobile workforces, is expanding yet again with the appointment of five new staff members and a head of team promotion.

Lwazi Sibiya joins Conker in the role of business development executive. With a strong consultative approach and a firm belief in the importance of customer-centricity in service-driven sectors, Sibiya comments: “I am delighted to join Conker with its reputation for outstanding customer service.”

Keshny Naidu has over 20 years’ experience in client relationship management and has been appointed business development executive for the retail and wholesale sectors. She comments: “Joining Conker is a great opportunity to add value to this forward-thinking device specialist. I am looking forward to a new challenge and working closely with retail and wholesale businesses to understand the demands of their environment.”

Dannida Katzen will also be coming on board as business development executive. Outlining her approach to the role, Katzen says: “I am dedicated to bringing successful and practical methods and solutions to my work with new customers. I love working for this cutting-edge company as its core values are extremely client-centric.”

Joining the team as an account manager, Marie-Lousie Du Toit explains what she is looking forward to in her new role: “I believe that attention to detail is a key component of being a trusted adviser and I am excited to bring my relationship-building skills to Conker.”

Jacqueline Mostert, new key accounts manager, has over 10 years’ experience in the client consultative space and comments: “I am driven by a passion for people, building trustful relationships and making a difference to my customers’ tech experience.”

In addition to the new hires, Taryn Ward has been promoted to Head of Business Development. She comments: “I am excited to be part of Conker’s growth journey. Working with a team that is passionate about finding solutions that help our customers maximise their business efficiencies and productivity is extremely rewarding.”

2023 is set to be another busy year for Conker and the expanding team will be crucial to support Conker’s continued growth. Conker CEO James Summers adds: “We are delighted to celebrate Taryn’s promotion and welcome Lwazi, Keshny, Dannida, Jacqueline and Marie-Louise to Conker. It’s great to meet new team members who are fully engaged with our mission to help companies match with the perfect tech for the job at hand and who will help in our continued growth.”

Manifest celebrates women in LogisticsTech

Posted on by David Priestman

Manifest Vegas will host a Women’s Lunch to celebrate women in LogisticsTech in partnership with DHL Supply Chain, Daimler Truck North America, Food Logistics and Supply and Demand Chain Executive on 2nd February, 2023, at Caesars Forum. Manifest is the only event that brings together industry executives, top venture investors, cutting edge startups and technology leaders that strive to find solutions to critical logistics & supply chain disruptions – while identifying breakthrough technologies.

Gartner research says that women in all supply chain roles dropped from 41% in 2021 to 39% in 2022, and at the most senior levels there was also a 2% drop. This is a worrisome trend in the opposite direction from previous years – where between 2016 and 2021 it rose from 35% to 41%. In its report “Diversity Wins”, McKinsey & Company asserts that companies with greater gender diversity have higher likelihoods of positive financial performance. The report also asserts that the diverse perspectives of women can help challenge legacy-focused mindsets, embrace innovative automation technologies and adapt to shifting regulatory mandates and industry trends faster.

The women’s lunch will welcome Katie Date, Leader of the Women in Supply Chain Initiative at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, who will discuss the importance of diversity in the supply chain and what she has learned talking to leaders of some of the largest supply chains in the world. Also joining the stage will be Alicemarie Geoffrion who is President of Packaging for DHL Supply Chain and was just named one of the Top 100 Women in Supply Chain by Supply Chain Digital. Geoffrion is also a member of the World Economic Forum and the community looks forward to being inspired by her story.

“We are thrilled to host two brilliant supply chain minds at our second annual Women’s Lunch. Their experience, insights and stories will undoubtedly resonate and add value to a discussion that will never really be over until we achieve real equality at the highest levels of the supply chain industry,” said Courtney Muller, President of Manifest.

Manifest’s commitment to diversity doesn’t end with the Women’s Lunch. The importance of including different perspectives from the LogisticsTech community can be seen throughout the entire Manifest Vegas speaker line-up which can be viewed on the website. While it is called a Women’s Lunch, both women and those that support them are invited to attend.

Manifest is organised by the same team that created InsureTech Connect, Blueprint, HR Transform and The Future of Logistics Tech Summit. Manifest will offer unparalleled access to a comprehensive gathering of entrepreneurs, investors and executives from BCOs/Shippers. Next year’s event will bring together over 3,000 executives on 31st January – 2nd February 2023 at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas.

As a reader of Logistics Business, CLICK THIS LINK to receive $200 off your registration fee.

BaubleBar revolutionises batch picking with WMS

Posted on by David Priestman

Fast growing trend-led accessories brand BaubleBar has revolutionised its batch picking and single item orders – for much greater throughput – after switching up to cloud-based SnapFulfil.

The New York-based company, which specialises in affordable yet desirable statement jewellery, recently ditched its inflexible and expensive-to-modify warehouse management system (WMS) for Synergy’s functionally rich and highly configurable SnapFulfil solution.

Shipping around 30,000 orders per month from its 40,000 sq ft distribution centre, BaubleBar has achieved an outstanding 10-fold increase in its pick rate, whilst maintaining 100% accuracy, since implementing SnapFulfil. In addition to successfully scaling up its B2B and wholesale channels, the company has also experienced up to a 30% jump in ecommerce/D2C sales.

SnapFulfil’s ‘SPIM’ is the favourite (and game changing) form of functionality for Maritza Mejia, Senior Operations & Customer Care Director at BaubleBar, because it facilitates streamlined and highly accurate single order line processing of multiple products. It also works in tandem with any other rules regarding stock availability and picking priority.

Mejia explains: “It’s quickly given us incredible efficiency and noticeable workflow and volume gains. Our picking rate has quickly gone up from 40 to 400 per hour, eliminating the previous bottlenecks and limitations of the old system.

“A custom made-to-order (MTO) program also allows our warehouse associates to easily pick unique items (without unique SKUs and sales tags) and track individual POs, inventory and order fulfilment through the WMS for the first time. We’ve only started scratching the surface, but with the real time data now available it will be our go-to business model and blueprint for the future and will triple the size of our business.”

BaubleBar’s implementation was handled remotely, giving them further time, money and resource savings and also coincided with a new ERP (NetSuite) and Shopping Cart – both of which directly integrate with SnapFulfil. Mejia and two of her team were also trained up to be Super Users, so they could easily and effectively cascade their system and testing knowledge down to new users accordingly and make Go-Live as seamless as possible.

They were even troubleshooting exceptions themselves online as the big day approached.

Mejia concludes: “Digital implementation initially seems daunting and challenging, but the SnapFulfil team is very diligent and thorough and soon put our minds at ease. We went live and to schedule with basically less zero disruption and they were very clear on what we have, what can further be achieved and the process improvements that go with it. That to me is the essence of a premier WMS system and service, where nothing is too much trouble.

“They also have a very consultative approach and we were able to brainstorm with them and have an input on the likes of the MTO modifications and racking. I also love the fact that they’re willing to let us ramp up and down on SnapFulfil licenses, as during seasonal peaks we now have the demand and capacity to scale up from 15-20 to 100-150 users per day.

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