InterChange Group, a cold-storage warehousing and distribution company, was faced with the challenge of increasing the efficiency of its cold storage facility to better service a local customer. The company needed to prove its capability to handle growing volumes in the future. The specific challenge was to integrate their new fleet of semi-automated forklifts with the Camelot Excalibur Warehouse Management System (WMS). The deployment of this technology investment, especially with temperature and date-sensitive food products, within a tight timeline, posed significant challenges.

Winchester Cold Storage, a company providing food grade freezer and temperature-controlled storage solutions, was facing challenges in improving the accuracy and automation of their receiving operations. Despite having an impressive accuracy rate of 99.8%, the company was looking for ways to further enhance this. The inaccuracies primarily occurred during the shipping of smaller orders that were intended to be case-picked but ended up being shipped as full pallets. Winchester needed a system that could verify the contents remaining in the bin location as a second verification of the pick quantity accuracy. The company required a solution that could implement count back checks through the use of MobileLink tablet scanners, include a system to check using counts for Bin or Pallet ID, alert the picker if the count back quantity is incorrect, and send exception notifications via email to the supervisor.

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.

Colorado Distribution Group (CDG), a Denver-based company providing small parcel fulfillment services, was facing challenges in improving the accuracy of packing high-volume orders and reducing unnecessary labor efforts for printing labels and shipping documentation. The process of picking and packing orders required at least three warehouse operation staff members per shift. When an order was received, the information was communicated to the floor for picking. After the shipment was picked, it was moved to the packing area for packaging and labeling. The cartons were then packed and verified for order accuracy. Finally, the shipping label and packing list were printed to complete the order. CDG was looking for a solution to improve their packing operations and reduce the labor required.