Global floorcare company Vax has announced major growth in its direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce channel following implementation of SnapFulfil’s warehouse management system (WMS).
Vax said use of the cloud-based WMS has resulted in low overheads and bigger margins.
The SnapFulfil system was originally purchased to handle the inventory side of Vax’s B2B business, whereby large pallets had to be shipped into the distribution centres of retailers, such as Argos and Currys, for them to send onto their fulfilment centres.
However, Vax’s D2C division marked a step-change from packing pallets to picking items. This led to Vax increasing its item picking areas and introducing pick face packing, whereby operatives pick from ground level at a fast rate to improve success rates for forecasted replenishment.
Suki Lotay, European business systems lead at Vax, said: “The SnapFulfil system makes sure the pick is in place and the first time pick is successful, as for us it’s all about a quick pick, pack and dispatch.
“Because a good customer experience from start to finish is vital, we’ve evolved too and started to offer things like free next day delivery, timed delivery and have opened the gates for nominated delivery.
“If a customer does come to the site for vacuum cleaners and accessories, we ensure they get the full story from start to end – when it’s been picked, dispatched and signed for.”
According to Lotay, the introduction of pick waves, managed by the SnapFulfil system, has also helped the company to reduce warehouse labour.
Furthermore, by using the WMS’s cross docking functionality, Vax can identify when a product is to go directly to the pick face for an order, rather than being put away.
“Cross docking, replenishment and pick facing are some of the tools we use to ensure we are always meeting the customer’s service level agreement, for example, if it’s next day delivery,” added Lotay.
“Customers expect the delivery to be clean, efficient and trouble-free. That’s where the power of the SnapFulfil WMS comes into play and illustrates why we need best-in-class systems to consistently deliver that for us.”
Want to learn more about how automation is transforming warehouse operations? SnapFulfil is exhibiting at IntraLogisteX, which takes place on the 31st March and 1st April 2020 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. Register your interest now at www.intralogistex.co.uk
