RetailT
customisation on its products and the system allocates workloads and tracks items as they are prepared for delivery in the site’s reworking and refinishing workshops. The WMS also manages more conventional
warehouse operations. The system generates and prints all requisite labels for handling media and delivery packaging. Each box despatched is given a unique reference number to assist tracking. Order picking sequences are aligned with drop
schedules for efficiency and optimum vehicle loading. Scanning on departure from Swindon and arrival at customers’ locations supports complete traceability. Overall Neptune estimates it is completing around 25% more work in the same time and that it will achieve payback on its investment in around two years. Neptune is currently building a 3500-square metres extension to the facility. Capacity will increase through the use of mobile racking, which will also be controlled by Empirica The impact of omnichannel selling on the
supply chain is also a major concern for smaller businesses, such as Natural Baby Shower, a UK- based independent retailer selling boutique- style natural baby goods. The company recently automated its stock control using retail management platform Brightpearl to replace an inadequate in-house system. “In addition to simplifying and integrating our
accounting procedures, Brightpearl has allowed us to ensure our stock levels were accurate online and in-store,” explained director and co-partner Clifton Vaughan. “When staff received goods in a shipment, the manual input of stock quantities onto the website led to errors and returns weren’t really working properly.” Soon, it was evident that the stock levels were out, which impacted both on-shelf and online selling. “With Brightpearl, we can create purchase orders (POs), ticking stock off inventory as it comes in and flowing that information directly online, allowing us to have both correct stock levels and correct stock listings on the website.” Today, Natural Baby Shower can check its low inventory stock report, generate an automated purchase order, modify it if necessary and send it to the supplier with a delivery date request and update prices within the system. Once the stock arrives, packing lists on both sides ensure the stock is delivered and processed into the Brightpearl system accurately. Brightpearl then updates all sales channels with
the current stock quantities that are present in the building. Brightpearl currently serves both the
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website and physical shop, but Natural Baby Shower is planning on expanding to bigger premises. “We use a boutique sales method at the moment, where we process the orders in the Brightpearl system and reduce the stock automatically from online or in- store sales. Any future channel that comes in, such as a planned EPoS system with iPads in the near future, will be integrated into BrightPearl so we maintain a single view of our stock.” The change in purchasing habits is affecting
everybody in the retail chain, but especially suppliers such as Smiffy’s. The UK-based supplier of costumes, wigs and accessories employs over 50 warehouse pickers and ships up to 2.5 million products every month to 5,000 stockists in over 40 countries around the world. Smiffy’s implemented Voxware’s Cloud Voice
Management Suite (VMS) over the summer, to align with the supplier’s busiest time of year between October and November. It’s expected that the adoption of voice technology will help improve warehouse picking accuracy, productivity and safety. The company expects it to simplify the training of new hires during seasonal peaks. “We updated our operating system three years
ago, taking us from a paper system to a more sophisticated ERP system, Microsoft Dynamics Navision,” explained Ross Johnson, head of operations at Smiffy’s. “Implementing a voice technology system was always an end-goal, but we wanted to bed the new operating system in before we introduced it. We have multiple warehouses but only use the voice technology on the picking operation but will probably look at expanding it.” The voice solution to offer the picking method
for each category of customers. “It can be extremely flexible, moreso than the handheld operation we were running previously,” commented Johnson. The work is all done by voice command, through an earpiece wired to a console worn around operative’s waste. Voxware’s voice technology system means workers can do their jobs hands-free, which Smiffy’s feels creates a safer working environment. “With staff able to pick entire orders without the
need to look down, we anticipate fewer hazards and risks when working in the warehouse environment, contributing to a marked increase in both our levels of productivity and accuracy,” added Johnson. He says it is difficult to pinpoint business
benefits at such an early stage, but expects to enjoy a 12% increase in productivity. “While we currently operate with a same-day dispatch policy, we hope
Autumn 2014 37
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