The Customer:

The customer is a prominent third-party logistics (3PL) provider with operations spanning multiple states. The company oversees a diverse array of products, ranging from electronics to clothing, across several warehouses.

Their operations depend on the robust Enterprise-level version of Codeworks WMS to address their unique needs. They focus on process improvement initiatives and are constantly seeking innovative ways to leverage the WMS.

They frequently collaborate with Codeworks Consulting on these initiatives by examining their operations and pinpointing potential areas for system customization to boost efficiency. This collaboration results in system enhancements that optimize operational benefits.

The challenge:

According to the VP of Operations, "The operation was struggling with committed product lingering in location systematically until orders were shipped." The pain points their VP referred to included:

• Delayed inventory updates: The inventory records were often out of sync, burdened by problematic discrepancies between the location of the physical stock at any given moment and the system records.
• Lack of real-time visibility: Without a laser-focused, birds-eye view of inventory that was spread across multiple warehouses, the 3PL often couldn’t promptly and precisely answer client questions about stock availability and shipment status.
• Picking inefficiencies: The existing inventory management system couldn’t pivot swiftly enough in response to inventory constraints or warehouse restrictions.

The SC Codeworks Solution:

The company needed a nimble solution that could provide real-time inventory visibility, streamline location management, and optimize the picking process.

After consulting with the 3PL, SC Codeworks offered a Real-Time Inventory Management system.

This enhancement to the 3PL’s existing WMS provided:

• Pre-WMS inventory visibility: The customer could now track inventory as soon as it arrived—even before it was fully processed into the WMS—and compare that data with expected arrivals.
• Automated order updates: The WMS now provided real-time updates to orders as warehouse employees moved them from one location to another.
• Pending location updates: The system could also now provide alerts about scheduled moves.
• Dynamic picking commitments: In the event of inventory constraints or warehouse restrictions, the WMS could now nimbly pivot and direct picking to a new location.

The VP of IT mentioned that “Cycle count accuracy was improved because the system was now in sync with the physical locations with no delay."

The Benefit:

Thanks to this enhancement to its WMS, the 3PL enjoyed a substantial return on its investment.

The Customer Service Manager noted, “We were able to quickly provide our customers more accurate inventory levels and answer any questions on receipts and orders before any updates made it to the system."

The upgrades included:

• Improved inventory accuracy: The real-time updates reduced discrepancies between the stock on hand and the WMS records, reducing stockouts and improving order fulfillments.
• Enhanced client satisfaction: Customers were kept happier through improved order accuracy and faster, more precise responses to their inventory inquiries.
• Increased operational efficiency: By streamlining their location management and optimizing the picking processes, the 3PL’s operations became a more well-oiled machine. Freed from cumbersome manual-data-entry and reconciliation efforts, warehouse employees could focus on more value-added tasks.
• Reduced costs: By reducing costly stockouts, order errors and labor demands, the 3PL’s investment saved the company money.
• Better decision-making: The data-analytics insights the company gained from greater visibility of their inventory and operations drove a positive feedback loop. They were able to make more informed decisions about inventory management, resource allocation and supply-chain optimization.