Optimisation of e-commerce warehouse processes
At Ahold, we supported the digitalization of warehouse processes and the entire order process. This client is a retail market leader in the Netherlands, operating more than 1,100 supermarkets, 6 distribution centers, and over 10 Home Shopping Centers (HSCs).
The order fulfillment processes, including order picking, stock replenishment, inventory counting, time registration, product information management, and expiration date control, were partly supported by outdated and insecure applications. In addition, several processes were still handled on paper and through Excel spreadsheets.
Ahold Online
Service
Solution
Sector
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Scalability and maintainability
A new suite of fulfillment apps that run on the latest Zebra handheld scanners (running Android) was required. The apps should be easy to deploy and maintain on thousands of handheld scanners spread across multiple HSCs.
No downtime
In the event of network problems, employees must be able to continue their work undisturbed without losing progress. The previous app was completely dependent on network connectivity. Without a connection, all activities came to an immediate standstill.
Performance
Despite the fact that the previous app was outdated, that app was very fast. Delays or errors in the app directly disrupt the order picking process, causing employees to be frustrated because they have strict targets. Orders may then not be able to be delivered on time.
Convenience
Every second you spend looking for a feature is an expensive waste of time. So making the apps easy and intuitive to use is crucial for the operation to run efficiently.
Security
The previous apps had a direct database connection (telnet session) that was very fast but not secure.
Suite of order fulfillment apps
- A suite of android-based order fulfillment apps that works on the latest Zebra hand scanners.
- Each app synchronizes its required data locally and lets employees perform their tasks while the progress in the background is synchronized to a central database. In the event of network problems, the apps still function, so employees offline are able to continue working and their progress is monitored.
- Minimalist designs focused on the tasks at hand, which only show what is relevant in context.
- Local validations for every user action to prevent unexpected errors (scanning incorrect product, incorrect barcode, too many products, etc.).
- Local business logic that lets employees take the shortest route for order picking, skipping products if they're not available to come back later, and many other smart improvements to make processes run as smoothly as possible.
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