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Softeon Establishes Atlanta Office to Strengthen Customer Support Amid Expansion

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Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

Softeon Establishes Atlanta Office to Strengthen Customer Support Amid Expansion

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Softeon, a leading provider of warehouse management solutions, inaugurates its Atlanta office on February 5th as part of its strategic expansion initiative. This move comes on the heels of Softeon’s recent update and rebranding of its unified WMS and WES solution, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing customer service and positioning itself for further growth.

Jim Hoefflin, CEO of Softeon, expressed the company’s dedication to delivering value to its clientele by tapping into Atlanta’s rich pool of supply chain talent. With Atlanta being a renowned hub for logistics expertise and home to numerous Fortune 1000 companies, the decision to establish a presence in the city aligns with Softeon’s vision of providing top-notch support while capitalizing on opportunities for expansion.

“The expansion into Atlanta underscores Softeon’s relentless pursuit of excellence in meeting the complex needs of businesses through our WMS solutions,” stated Hoefflin. “By leveraging the talent and resources available in Atlanta, we aim to bolster our team and capabilities to deliver unparalleled service to our customers.”

Softeon’s decision to expand into Atlanta reflects a period of significant growth for the company, accentuated by its recent solution update catering to evolving warehouse automation trends. The update introduces features such as robotic interfaces and automation implementation capabilities, positioning Softeon as a frontrunner in addressing the changing demands of the supply chain industry.

“The opening of our Atlanta office marks an exciting chapter in Softeon’s journey, signaling our commitment to providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to our partners,” added Hoefflin. “With this expansion, we are well-positioned to navigate the evolving landscape of warehouse management and meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

warehouse management You Need to Communicate Your E-Commerce Forecasting to Your Fulfillment Center
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

Warehouse Management Systems: 5 Steps to Modernize Your Warehouse

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Warehouse management is one of the most important facets of supply and chain management. It encompasses all the processes involved in running a warehouse, including storage, inventory management, shipping and distribution. In this post, Brosnan Property Solutions (facility management company) and Global Trade Magazine will discuss more regarding warehouse management systems and how you can use the technology to modernise your warehouse.

Managing a warehouse is relatively straightforward in a small-scale distribution setting. If the business is small, distributors can get away with a simple approach to running day-to-day warehouse operations. But as the distribution business expands, warehouse management becomes more complex.

An increase in product lines leads to a larger facility and more locations to be monitored. With all these changes and increasing demand in your warehouse, brick-and-mortar management practices might soon prove inefficient in meeting the needs of your consumers. That’s why you need to invest in a warehouse management system (WMS).

What is a Warehouse Management System?

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a sophisticated software platform that gives you an all-in-one way to handle all your warehouse operations. Its primary purpose is to ensure your warehouse operates most efficiently and cost-effectively by simplifying various functions, such as inventory tracking and storage.

Implementing a warehouse management system offers a wide range of benefits for your distribution business. For instance, it helps reduce human errors and promotes better customer service. So, if you feel the competition is always a step ahead of you, it might be time to invest and reap the benefits of a warehouse management system.

How to Modernise Your Warehouse Using a Warehouse Management System

Here are a few steps to modernise your warehouse and enhance operations using reliable warehouse management systems.

Evaluate Your Current Warehouse Management Systems

Before you take any step, it is essential to evaluate where your warehouse is in the modernisation journey. You need to assess current warehouse management systems and identify your strengths and areas that need improvements. It is important to note that warehouses (with varying capacities) have different feature requirements.

If you run a small distribution company, you may need a few tools/features to automate fully. However, larger and established warehouses might need an all-in-one supply chain suite. Conducting an assessment helps you establish the current state of your warehouse and identify your feature requirements before you embark on your modernisation journey. 

Automate Data Collection and Inventory Management

Inventory management and data collection are the most basic warehouse management operations. Distributors need to document every item throughout the warehousing process. As we all know, manual data entry can be time-consuming and error-prone. That’s why it is essential to invest in various technologies to improve its overall efficiency.

Some of the technologies you can use to automate data entry include barcodes, RFID tags and paper & OCR scanners. These data-capturing technologies can help minimise human intervention in data collection, reducing errors and boosting productivity.

Besides automating data entry, your warehouse can benefit from additional technologies such as voice recognition software, AI & ML and robotic systems. A reliable warehouse management system can help incorporate these technologies to enhance the distribution process. 

Spruce Up Your Warehouse Layout

Besides modern automation technologies, your warehouse layout plays an important role in the success of its operation. The primary purpose of organising your warehouse is to properly utilise available space, increase efficiency and facilitate the smooth running of operations. It helps improve order fulfilment rates by minimising travel time and providing easy access to stored goods.

With a reliable warehouse management system, you can quickly generate an optimised warehouse layout design that arranges processes in a logical sequence, streamlining operations. Using the data collected by these systems, you can identify the most effective picking routes and determine what items should be placed close to the parking area.

You can also devise proper spacing between storage lots to enhance manoeuvrability for both machines and employees. Or, rearrange goods to ensure popular items are easily accessible while less popular ones take storage lots further down the aisle. 

Data Synchronisation in All Systems

A modernised warehouse should have synchronised data across all systems. But what exactly is data synchronisation?

Data synchronisation is the effort to establish consistency between source and target data stores. It ensures that all changes made to data in one device are reflected in the entire system.

Every modern warehouse has various systems, such as inventory tracking and shipping systems. If these systems operate separately, it can result in data conflicts, leading to poor data quality and a lack of trusted data down the line. That’s why it is essential to invest in a flexible warehouse management system that allows integration with other systems.

Synchronised systems enhance warehouse operations by ensuring information is up-to-date at every stage of the warehousing process. 

Go Mobile With Your Warehouse Management System

With the advancement in technology, it is now possible to migrate your warehouse management system to a mobile device, such as a tablet or smartphone. Accessing your WMS through a mobile device makes scanning, tracking and planning your warehouse operations easier. It also allows you to monitor employee performance, even if you aren’t at the warehouse. 

In a Nutshell

Warehouse management is an ever-changing enterprise of supply chain management. With the regular introduction of new technologies and trends, it is essential to adapt to keep up with the competition. Implementing these 5 steps is one of the easiest ways to modernise your warehouse and tune the standards of your operations to the future of warehousing and distribution.

 

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

Fight the Labor Shortage with Upskilling and Reskilling

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Warehouse and logistics employees were getting harder to find pre-pandemic, and the COVID-19 outbreak has increased that level of difficulty. Companies across all industries are having a difficult time finding, recruiting and retaining workers in an industry known for requiring long hours on your feet, some heavy lifting and high overall employee turnover.

“Competition for warehouse workers was already stiff before the pandemic. Stores were adding jobs at their warehouses and logistics networks as more customers ordered online,” CNN reports. When the global pandemic drove up ecommerce sales, it added more pressure on retailers to staff up at warehouses.

“Now, retailers are scrambling to add extra warehouse staff as they ramp up for the peak holiday season amid a record number of unfilled jobs,” CNN adds. Citing Korn Ferry statistics, the news outlet says 52% of retailers are facing “significant challenges” hiring warehouse employees right now, and that 33% of the companies surveyed are having an equally hard time staffing their stores.

Of course, at the opposite end of any major disruption lies new opportunities. In this case, companies have a chance to reverse the tide of the labor shortage through upskilling and reskilling. Are you up to the challenge? Read on to find out.

What are Upskilling and Reskilling?

The speed at which jobs are changing—sometimes due to automation and other times due to new business models—means that employees must constantly learn new skills in order to stay relevant and satisfied with their jobs. In many cases, traditional career paths or educational models aren’t enough to satisfy the rapidly evolving demands of the modern workplace. This is where upskilling and reskilling come in.

Upskilling is learning additional skills or enhancing existing abilities, often with the goal of advancement. A retail store clerk or office manager would upskill when transitioning to a management or corporate role, for example. Reskilling, on the other hand, is learning a new set of skills or training for a new role, often with the goal of transitioning to a new job or different industry. A truck driver who wants to become a computer programmer would need to reskill.

Updated Knowledge and Skillsets

Highlighting the value that upskilling and reskilling provide companies and their associates, Ohio News Time says more companies are investing in both because they help employees “perform better with the updated knowledge about their field and the latest developments in their industries.”

“Upskilling creates a positive impact on both organization and staff that can be witnessed through better performance and an increasing number of goals being achieved,” the publication points out. Upskilling and reskilling also help companies promote productivity and bring out the best in their associates; build more self-reliant, confident workforces; and help workers navigate through uncertainty.

“Uncertainty is a crucial reason for companies to invest in upskilling their employees,” Ohio News Time points out. “This includes all the technological advancements, new projects, and reorganizations.”

How Technology Supports Upskilling and Reskilling

With technology transforming every field and advancing the functionalities within those fields,  employees are learning how to leverage new advancements at work. The warehouse or distribution center (DC) is a perfect backdrop for seeing the value of upskilling and reskilling in action. Highly automated warehouses are much more attractive and require a more advanced skillset from the new generation of warehouse/supply chain employees.

For example, Cameron’s Coffee is a coffee roasting, packaging, and distribution company that receives its coffee beans from South America, stores them in Minnesota and ships them to hundreds of stores across the country. The company originally had a paper-only warehouse where individuals had to manually check and encode items.

Ready for a change, Cameron’s Coffee decided to update its warehouse and use a combination of the SOLOCHAIN WMS and MES that directly tied into its ERP. With the addition of the software coupled with iPads and handheld devices, the warehouse’s efficiency skyrocketed, sales increased by 50%, ecommerce grew by 200%, and the company was able to expand the size of its warehouse by 25%.

Equipped with their new software and iPads, the company’s employees were not only more efficient, but they were also happier in their jobs. The new technology increased their independence and reduced the amount of time required to complete tasks.

Time to Replace those Aging Systems

When you replace aging, manual warehouse systems with a modern WMS, you’ll not only get efficiency and productivity gains, but you’ll also experience an overall boost in employee morale. This is because the more you reduce the mental and physical strain on your employees the happier they will be.

Utilizing technologies that younger staff is comfortable with (e.g., iPads and touchscreen devices) helps them be more productive and safe at work. Implementing voice command technology in the DC, for instance, helps reduce mental strain and drives an increase in productivity.

5 Ways to Kick Off Your Upskilling Program

Over the next few years, upskilling and reskilling may become more important than ever before. According to the World Economic Forum’s most recent The Future of Jobs report, about 40% of employees’ core skills will change within the next five years. This means that 50% of all employees will have to upskill or reskill.

To companies that want to start their own in-house programs, AG5 suggests these five starting points:

1. Establish training programs for your current workforce.

2. Set up a mentorship scheme in which experienced veterans transfer still-needed skills to the younger generation.

3. Focus on creating versatile and multidisciplinary staff. Job rotation is a prime example of how to achieve this.

4. Add new tasks to existing job profiles so that staff have to learn new skills.

5. Hire specialists to fill gaps for which your current workforce has yet to be retrained.

With no end in sight to the current labor shortage, and with ecommerce once again expected to grow in the double digits in 2021, the time to start assessing your workforce and implementing upskilling/reskilling programs is now. Rather than waiting for your competitors to get a leg up on you, why not make some moves in this direction today?

Solutions exist today that can ensure any warehouse or distribution center operates at peak efficiency, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Transportation Management Systems (TMS) to Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and more, software platforms can deliver a wide range of benefits that ultimately flow to the warehouse operator’s bottom line.

Generix Group North America provides a series of solutions within our Supply Chain Hub product suite to create efficiencies across an entire supply chain. Our solutions are in use around the world and our experience is second-to-none. We invite you to contact us to learn more.

This article originally appeared here. Republished with permission. 

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

How WMS Allows Yakima Chief Hops to Increase Customer Satisfaction

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As a 100% grower-owned network of family hop farms, Yakima Chief Hops is uniquely positioned to establish strong relationships between the growers who supply their super-premium hops and the innovative brewing customers who utilize their products in their beer. YCH are also committed to being an environmentally and socially responsible company as well as a responsible neighbor and asset to their communities.

 


YCH’s Supply Chain Needs

 

YCH comprises 59 users located in 3 campuses, which in turn are located in Sunnyside and Yakima in California, as well as a new one Belgium. Each of these facilities has its own warehouse. These facilities function with multi-channel distribution to supply a variety of clients, from private to commercial brewers, using eCommerce.

YCH’s commitment to safety and complete traceability of their ingredients requires precise inventory visibility,  control, and tracking elements from the field all the way to the transformation process. Inventory accuracy is the key for success and for YCH to reach their data visibility goals.

Generix Group’s WMS as a Solution

YCH decided to implement Solochain WMS to gain the inventory accuracy they needed. With the warehouse management system, YCH collected constant data on the movement of their products in their facilities. Thanks to this visibility, they cut losses from inventory mistakes that the system enabled them to avoid.

The Solochain WMS also integrated with the Sage X3 ERP and Magento eCommerce due to the flexibility of the WMS.

Goals Achieved

Automating: Opting for automation and switching to the WMS allowed YCH to reduce paper usage by shifting from a pen and paper process to scan guns, which also allowed them to store more data while being more efficient. In addition, automation enabled them to trace the hops to their original growers. This also makes recall management easier and the products safer.

Cost Reduction: The new system increased YCH’s precision and decreased losses related to inefficiency. Inventory visibility assured that YCH stopped experiencing the lost inventory cases they had prior to implementation.  Once the Solochain WMS was implemented, the company realized a net gain of 83,861 Cartons that did not have to be transferred prior to shipping out to the customers.

Increase in Customer Satisfaction:  YCH has been able to cut multiple days from their shipping time which has improved the satisfaction of their customers who received their orders much faster. They also achieved a 24-hour turnaround for eCommerce leading to satisfied customers.

Better Environment for Employees: Employees experienced a smooth change from the old system to the new one. The user-friendly Solochain interface helped the adaptation and provided a process that employees could use more comfortably and that allowed them to work more efficiently.

Solochain WMS helped Yakima Chief Hops in their strive for increased visibility, safety, and quality of service. The gained inventory visibility facilitated recalls when necessary, while the increase in warehouse management efficiency allowed YCH to offer a faster and more precise service to their customers.

As a 100% grower-owned network of family hop farms, Yakima Chief Hops is uniquely positioned to establish strong relationships between the growers who supply our quality hops and the brewing customers who utilize our products in their beers.

About Yakima Chief Hops:

“Operating for more than 30 years, we have become more than a hop supplier. We are a resource for brewers, providing solutions-based products and industry-leading research. We are advocates of sustainability and meaningful social causes, working to support the environment and communities around us. Through our commitment to continuous improvement, we aim to be leaders of innovation, quality and customer service.”

Generix Group North America provides a series of solutions within our Supply Chain Hub product suite to create efficiencies across an entire supply chain. From Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Transportation Management Systems (TMS) to Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and more, software platforms can deliver a wide range of benefits that ultimately flow to the warehouse operator’s bottom line. Our solutions are in use around the world and our experience is second-to-none. We invite you to contact us to learn more.

This article originally appeared here. Republished with permission. 

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

Does WMS Help Prevent Stock-Outs in Clothing and Footwear Industry?

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Inventory shortages lead to financial and reputational losses. Around 70% of customers abandon the online store for good after 3 unsuccessful purchase attempts. Retailers must then make sure they are in control of their inventory and that they have the best inventory visibility possible. Browns Shoes Inc. managed to eliminate most inventory problems by implementing the Generix Warehouse Management System.

In the fashion and footwear e-commerce segment, stock-outs are one of the main threats to profitability. International studies speak of billions in annual losses worldwide. Indeed, an inadequate stock, out of sync with customer demand, increases the inventory storage cost and results in unrealized sales. It can prove to be difficult to dispose of those extra items, and a retailer may even need to destroy them. It is estimated that the losses can reach about 10% of the annual revenue for online clothing and footwear stores.

The challenge: Satisfying the evolving needs of the end customer

There is another side to the problem of stock shortage, and that is the consequences it has on the consumer. We are talking about the fashion segment, in which impulse buying has an important role to play. According to a study by Harvard Business School, the lack of stock causes around 9% of buyers to give up the purchase if they do not find what they are looking for right away, 37% will opt for another brand and 21% will search in another online store. When out-of-stock is repeated three times, 70% of customers will not visit the online store again. An out-of-stock situation, therefore, results not only in immediate but also in future losses, as it has a direct impact on the reputation of the company and the brand. Companies like Browns Shoes have customer service standards they want to maintain, and as customer demands change and evolve, the technology used by retailers must evolve too.

How to avoid stock-out problems?

The demand forecasting solution is not always easy to achieve and is undoubtedly one of the great challenges of the logistics world in general. What is essential in this sector is to have an automated Warehouse Management System that is robust and integrated with the rest of the management tools. These systems allow retailers to fix their inventory problems. The Generix WMS facilitates complete and real-time inventory management and optimizes the logistic flows outside and inside the warehouse. It also allows to control the availability of each item and to anticipate possible stock shortages.

Of course, a Warehouse Management Solution is an essential step for an automated warehouse management, but in addition to facilitating operations, the system allows to control the flow of each product in real time, and thus, obtain statistical data that helps understand which products generate the most revenue for the company and adjust supply policies in the long term, improving overall profitability.

The WMS systems are a key element in minimizing the risk of stock shortage, which in the fashion world can be a serious problem that threatens the profitability of the company.

Technology’s constant evolution is there to help business owners adapt and automate their warehouses. Click Here to find out more about the role of automation in the warehouse and its benefits.

How Browns Shoes prevents inventory shortages: A case study

Browns Shoes is a family-owned business that in 2014 decided to invest in a new facility. A warehouse was going to be built and fitted with the most advanced systems for inventory management. The goal for Browns’ Omni-Channel distribution center was to be well equipped to respond to the evolving needs of Browns’ clientele. One of the main advantages in warehouse automation is achieving inventory accuracy. According to an interview with Alexandre Hubert, Browns Shoes’ Supply Chain Director, “In less than 6 months after implementing Solochain, we achieved 99%+ inventory accuracy”. Inventory accuracy helps Browns Shoes maintain its reputation as an efficient and effective footwear retailer and avoid the hidden costs of out-of-stock inventory. Precise data and inventory visibility also guide Browns Shoes in the decision-making process, allowing them to take advantage of all possibilities of improvement.

As omni-channel driven demands become the norm, with resulting customer satisfaction harder to achieve, supply chain professionals need to leverage advanced WMS technology to keep their operations nimble, efficient, and scaling – especially in these volatile times. Given Generix Group’s completeness of vision and ability to execute, as recognized once again by the Gartner analyst community, their Solochain WMS is well positioned to help companies needing a modern, flexible and agile solution that can easily adapt to their changing needs.  More Information about Generix WMS .

This article originally appeared on GenerixGroup.com. Republished with permission.