Case study

Supporting a Warehouse Company’s Growth With A More Calibrated Management Solution 

Supply Chain and Logistics
Female worker on a warehouse with a notebook checking inventory

Challenge

With several initiatives on its plate, an international automated warehouse system integrator required assistance with building, testing and installing a reliable warehouse management automation solution for its fashion industry client. 

Outcome

With the integrator company and fashion client’s needs in mind, we helped develop a robust warehouse control system software capable of broadening the warehouse management system, fostering customisation, improving functionality and increasing scalability.

Our client, a global warehouse automation system integrator, was tasked with helping a Netherlands-based footwear company create its first fully automated facility. Wanting to sustain its recent growth and continue its momentum in the EMEA region, the shoe brand needed a flexible, omnichannel 15,000 SKU warehouse capable of efficient delivery.   

  

As a long-time partner of the automation integrator, we partnered with them to create technical documentation, software design, control systems, warehouse management software, oversee commissioning and assist with other necessary services to put the warehouse into operation.

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Fostering faster workflows

The fashion client sought a stable, scalable warehouse built with its existing processes in mind, kept under budget and capable of real-time iteration. Therefore, we chose a phased approach to speed up time to market and get faster feedback from the end client:   

  

Phase 1 focused on building a material flow control software optimised for: 

  • Auto bagging to deal with high volumes of small parcels and cutting back on repetitive manual tasks
  • Robotic solutions equipped for dynamic package labelling, weighing, track-and-trace, throughput and seasonal warehouse needs
  • Print-and-apply functionality that uses induction and is capable of labelling various types of cartons accurately at a thousand-carton-per-hour rate  
  • Shipping sorter that consolidates systems and helps with more efficient handling and transportation of pallets and roll containers   
  • Shipping sorter that consolidates systems and helps with more efficient handling and transportation of pallets and roll containers   
  • Supervisor station and clearing station software 
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Phase 2 was dedicated to:  

  • Ergonomically calibrated decanting and return systems that are more user-friendly to operators and prompt more efficient storage and retrieval
  • Automated storage and retrieval functionality that minimises congestion and maximises workflow

  • Goods-to-person picking that makes object retrieval more accurate, reducing travel time and aligning with customer demand

Dividing our focuses enabled us to create features aligned with our partner and its customer’s most high-priority business objectives. Furthermore, we helped our client educate the end-client's stakeholders on the technology’s capabilities so the warehouse could be utilised to the best of its capabilities.

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Laying the foundation for next-level warehouse operations  

Our team completed work on the system upgrades in a timely fashion and continues to support the client with 24/7 maintenance support at all three levels. Since the engagement ended, the company has seen measurable improvement in operations such as: 

  • Full functionality and availability: The warehouse operates at 99.9% under normal circumstances and during rush/peak periods.  
  • Seamless customisation and integration: The facility continues to align with the client’s operational needs and existing workflow
  • Scalability: The warehouse’s IT platform retains its flexibility, allowing for effective updates that don’t disrupt production. 

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