Gartner WMS Accolades by the Dozen

Technology innovator Synergy Logistics has been showcased in the elite Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ (MQ) for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) – for the 12th successive year.

The WMS domain expert reinforces its leading status in the ‘niche’ quadrant (focused on producing tangible functionality improvements) but with strong movement towards ‘visionary’ thanks to its innovative SnapFulfil configurability, robotics orchestration platform SnapControl, and speed-to-value solutions.

Synergy is one of only a handful of independent software vendors worldwide to be selected for the prestigious 2023 WMS MQ. SnapFulfil is one of the pioneering cloud and SaaS-dedicated warehouse management systems, heralded for its industry-leading and cost-effective deployment speed. Apart from having a highly credible and proven WMS solution that quickly flexes to supply chain uncertainty, the business was also measured on foresight and capacity to execute.

Synergy’s Group CEO Rich Pirrotta said: “We view this recognition as testament to our continued ability and determination to deliver superior technology, agile solutions, and value to match our clients’ unique and challenging needs. This gives them rapid ROI and low total cost of ownership (TCO). Our strength and differentiation are in the highly competitive SMB market, but as Gartner acknowledges, SnapFulfil has the ability to scale down to high Level 1 warehousing and up to more complex Level 4 operations by improving data visibility and accuracy to extend decision support capabilities for enterprise organizations.”

Another Gartner highlight is Synergy’s new device and technology agnostic multiagent orchestration platform SnapControl, which connects all automation devices and robotic systems within the warehouse from one centralized platform. It’s already been successfully delivered in 2022 in an expanding customer DC, featuring AMRs and automated packaging systems in just weeks, without major software upheavals.

SnapControl uniquely promotes bi-directional MQTT (MQ Telemetry Transport) messaging and conversational decision-making between the WMS and remote warehouse devices. “In other words, SnapControl speaks to the devices and the devices talk back, enabling the most efficient warehouse decisions to be made automatically,” explained Pirrotta.

SnapFulfil differentiators that are listed include remote and self-implementation capabilities, via a solution called SnapBuddy, which offers interactive configuration instruction and real-time training to end users. Such tools also reduce both short-term costs and entry to market risks. SnapFulfil’s robust rules engine equally facilitates elevated levels of non-code adaptability to support customer-specific and vertical-industry-specific requirements.

Additionally specified by the Gartner WMS MQ is SnapFulfil’s pricing strategy, which allows companies to easily flex their number of users based on seasonal demand variations. A no-capital-expenditure, turnkey-managed service option combines software, cloud infrastructure, ongoing support, and implementation services as part of a single and competitive subscription fee.

Gartner is also focused on how companies make the most of partner agreements. This is an area that Synergy has been developing with the implementation of an official partner management program to extend their partner ecosystem which already includes robotic specialists 6 River Systems and HAI Robotics, with more ready to launch in the near term. With an already strong presence in the UK and North America, Synergy recently expanded into the UAE, and has its sights set on further global expansion.

Pirrotta concluded: “We continue to punch well above our weight, enhance WMS data analytics, and improve technical support for integrations, plus we have greatly expanded our partner ecosystem and global reach. With our focus on strong value, Gartner also recognizes our aim of being the provider of choice for the ever-expanding e-commerce sector, as well as the third-party logistics (3PL) companies that retail and D2C increasingly rely on.”

SnapControl – Warehouse Automation Connectivity

Synergy, the experts behind cloud-based WMS software SnapFulfil, have unveiled a breakthrough tech solution that orchestrates all automation devices and robotic systems within the warehouse from one centralized and convenient platform. As a multiagent, rather than just a point solution, SnapControl brings a more uniform approach to automation, which also makes this pioneering orchestration platform completely device and technology agnostic.

Synergy has successfully delivered the solution in an expanding customer DC, featuring AMRs and automated packaging systems, where SnapControl was deployed in just weeks, without major software upheavals. This deployment is the first of many as more businesses explore the need for many different types of automation in their warehouses.

Rich Pirrotta, Group CEO said: “As businesses adopt new technologies and automation to mitigate labour challenges and make warehouses more efficient and productive, the ability to rapidly integrate and operate these investments is critical. Synergy is one of the very few WMS providers with an integrated, holistic and high value solution that can be deployed quickly, cost effectively and with minimum disruption.”

SnapControl orchestrates the prioritization of work, automatically allocates tasks and workflows, evaluates which robotic devices best match specific operations, and enables data capture to assess the value each device yields – all with a low total cost of ownership and rapid time to value. Equally, it connects to all types of devices, including RF, AMRs, Conveyors, Palletizers, Putwalls, ASRS, etc, plus in any possible transport method (API, CSV, etc,) – and if one type stops working, you can switch over to another device quickly and in real-time. SnapControl uniquely promotes bi-directional MQTT (MQ Telemetry Transport) messaging and conversational decision-making between the WMS and remote warehouse devices, which typically have a small code footprint and minimal network bandwidth.

“In other words, SnapControl speaks to the devices and the devices talk back, enabling the most efficient warehouse decisions to be made automatically,” explained Pirrotta.

Consequently, it’s an ideal solution for mixed portfolio and multiple vendors offering both AMRs and other autonomous/manual systems, plus it works hand in hand with SnapFulfil and any other incumbent WMS, OMS or e-commerce front end system – both in the cloud or locally. This latest technological differentiator from Synergy facilitates a much more efficient and adaptable warehouse that accelerates integration and gives customers the freedom to choose automation and robotic devices that best fit specific operational needs and can futureproof the business and workforce needs. Additional benefits due to the power of SnapFulfil’s Tier 1 WMS rules engine functionality include the capacity to make adjustments for expiry dates and traceability, create buffers for delaying tasks and manage exceptions without downtime.

Pirrotta concludes: “Single point integrations prolong onboarding time, slow growth and often operate within ineffective and separate silos. In today’s especially challenging times the ability to rapidly augment and orchestrate your technology investments, without unnecessary service fees, has never been more important. It’s now mission critical to harness control with 24/7 visibility from one centralized system.”

To download a free handy guide explaining multiagent orchestration and its many benefits visit here.

New WMS solution growing up fast

Leading natural and organic baby product retailer, The Green Sheep Group, has reported immediate stock accuracy and productivity improvements since implementing the flexible cloud based SnapFulfil WMS.

The Stratford-upon-Avon based company, which was established in 2007 and recently won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is additionally enjoying consistent control of inventory and outbound processes, which help deliver a first-class customer experience.

SnapFulfil also integrates seamlessly with Green Sheep’s existing Retail Operating System (ROS), Brightpearl, but has advanced functionality that will optimise their rapid expansion across an increasingly global retail support network, plus expanding D2C and B2B channels.
Green Sheep’s head of operations, Rob Galbraith, says: “We already have much better visibility and a vast improvement with shipping accuracy. Being able to separately track our Little Green Sheep and Snüz brand orders through the whole warehouse process is huge for us going forward.”

SnapFulfil’s ability to remotely implement their software – but while still delivering industry leading deployment speed – has also saved Green Sheep valuable time, money and resource.

Their agile approach means giving clients select parts of the system (e.g. goods in first) bit by bit, so they can practice and familiarise themselves in advance, undertake user acceptance testing, and not go into their digital training cold. Microsoft Teams demos can also be recorded and referred back to, in close up, for extra reassurance and guidance.

Rob Galbraith adds: “SnapFulfil met all our needs, they listened and improvised, while all the online training delivered was spot on, so that go-live was just what we expected. The remote agile medium definitely makes it more manageable for staff and is a lot more practical and cost effective for us as a business than the traditional on-site approach.

“The SnapFulfil system is also very user friendly and even someone with no warehousing experience can be up and running and picking with the RF guns within 30 minutes, which is really useful during peak periods with temporary staff.”

Green Sheep Group has also purchased a SnapData Creator license for real time data analysis and this live data interrogation facility will help maximise performance and cost savings, plus have a tangible impact on strategic direction. SnapFulfil’s multi-site capabilities is also playing a big part in Green Sheep’s expansion plans as the retailer is looking for additional DCs in Europe and the US to meet increasing demand and maximise growth.

Baby retailer grows up with new WMS solution

Leading natural and organic baby product retailer, The Green Sheep Group, has selected SnapFulfil WMS for the efficiency and process automation gains required to drive the business forward and take it to the next level.

The Stratford-upon-Avon based company, which was established in 2007 and recently won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, has signed up to a five-year SaaS contract for 10 licensed users initially, along with a SnapData Creator license for real time data analysis.

SnapFulfil integrates seamlessly with Green Sheep’s existing Retail Operating System, Brightpearl, but has advanced functionality that will optimise their rapid expansion across an increasingly global retail support network, plus expanding D2C and trade channels.

The proven flexibility of SnapFulfil’s cloud-based solution means Green Sheep has accurate and consistent control of inventory and outbound processes, which help deliver a first class customer experience.

The live data interrogation facility will also help maximise performance and cost savings, plus have a tangible impact on strategic direction.

Green Sheep’s operations manager, Rob Galbraith, who has 20+ years warehousing experience with leading 3PLs, says: “I’ve previously worked with a lot of the big legacy/on premise providers, but quickly realised we needed the flexibility of a cloud-based solution and one that is more lean, agile and configurable.

SnapFulfil will greatly improve the pick and ship processing of both our Little Green Sheep and Snüz brands, while automatically separating out and managing both sets of orders, which is huge for us.

“Its multi-site capabilities were also a big factor, because the business is actively looking for additional DCs in the US and Europe to meet increasing demand and maximise growth.”

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New WMS solution growing up fast

 

 

WMS at Heart of Expanding Business

Workplace solutions leader Resource Furniture Services (RFS) has signed a fully bundled, five year contract for SnapFulfil’s advanced cloud-based warehouse management system (WMS), as business stacks up.

The London-based company, which is one of the most established and experienced full service independent installation and relocation businesses in the UK and particularly excels in the financial, legal, government and education sectors, begins with 10 licensed users, but with the flexibility to scale up. With three new warehouse facilities recently added across the capital, RFS can now offer in excess of 50,000 sq.ft of storage and distribution capacity. As a result, they needed to rationalise their inventory management and tracking system and make the operational leap from a small to medium sized business.

Mark Cronk, Joint MD for RFS, explained: “It’s the right time to take the next step and prove to customers old and new that we have the foresight and aptitude to further improve our service capacity and quality procedures. RFS is big on accreditation too and the fact that SnapFulfil is Gartner-backed was an important consideration. We do have a bespoke scheduling system with a warehouse component, but it is paper based, manual and very labour intensive, with the potential for human error and misinterpretation especially as we expand. So, first and foremost, a user friendly and best-of-breed WMS will bring an automated and consistent approach and save us valuable time and money.

“Additionally, we like the fact that SnapFulfil is scalable and will grow with us as a business. Furthermore, with a reputation for multiple efficiency gains, it will quickly start to pay for itself; plus as a digital and system-driven initiative, it will really focus and sharpen the approach of both our warehouse operatives and us as a senior management team.” http://www.snapfulfil.com

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