Revamping Warehouse Management System: A Case Study of The Order Fulfillment Group

The Order Fulfillment Group (TOFG) is a third-party logistics provider (3PL) that specializes in providing fulfillment services to business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients. The company, founded in 1989, operates from a 28,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Indianapolis, strategically located between hubs for UPS and the U.S. Postal Service. TOFG offers comprehensive fulfillment and distribution services that include order entry, accounting, warehousing, and returns receiving to organizations nationwide. The company is known for its efficiency and quick turnarounds, serving clients ranging in size from Fortune 1000 corporations to small enterprises.

The Order Fulfillment Group (TOFG), a third-party logistics provider (3PL) known for its efficiency and quick turnarounds, was facing a significant challenge. The company had outgrown its legacy warehouse management system (WMS), an Oracle database that had been continually customized over the years. The need for a cloud-based system that was as cutting-edge as the company’s services, but flexible enough to accommodate TOFG’s unique needs was evident. Some of these needs, such as the way the 3PL charges freight, were related to its own business practices, while others were client-specific. The Director of Operations, Robert Kolpien, was frustrated by the lack of flexibility among many software providers. He was looking for a solution that would not force their unique requirements to fit into a standard model.

The solution came in the form of Camelot 3PL Software, a provider whose philosophy seemed aligned with TOFG’s. Camelot’s Excalibur WMS™ was chosen for its adaptability and ability to handle both standard and unique processes. The software provider’s team worked with TOFG to understand system-wide processes as well as client-specific deviations. This allowed Camelot to give the 3PL a fulfillment system that uses a standard pick and pack configuration for low-volume fulfillment and the more powerful eOrders module for high-volume demand. Rules built into the software allow the system to automatically move between the two options as needed for individual clients. The two organizations migrated TOFG’s least complicated clients to Camelot’s Excalibur WMS™ first, allowing time for adjustments and streamlining of processes before moving on to the more complex fulfillment clients.

• The implementation of Camelot’s Excalibur WMS™ has brought about significant operational improvements for TOFG. The system's flexibility allows it to accommodate both standard and unique processes, making it a perfect fit for TOFG's diverse needs. The ability to validate product numbers earlier in the process has eliminated headaches for the shipment and the client, improving client satisfaction. The system's digital capture of billing information has not only made invoicing quicker and easier but has also boosted client confidence due to the improved accuracy. The kitting capability of the new WMS has also enhanced efficiency, allowing for quicker fulfillment of orders. Overall, the new WMS has proven to be a more powerful and versatile tool, making it a valuable asset for TOFG.

• The new system captures billing information digitally, making accurate invoicing quick and easy, saving significant time.

• The system allows for automatic movement between low-volume and high-volume demand, optimizing resource allocation.

• The system's ability to validate product numbers earlier in the process saves time for both TOFG and its clients.