Logistics services provider Maersk has partnered with sportswear retailer Puma to establish what it has called the first semi-automated omnichannel fulfilment distribution centre (DC) in Santiago de Chile.
Maersk has said the DC will provide Puma with end-to-end visibility from production sites in the Asia Pacific region to its new hub in Chile, including the middle mile.
The location was chosen for its proximity to strategic economic centres in Santiago de Chile and its access to the main highways and regional retailers.
The semi-automated solution was built to handle shifts in demand and enable the acceleration, deceleration or redirection of inventory, as and when it is needed.
“Having Maersk as a strategic partner allows us to control our entire supply chain process, from factories to our stores. Furthermore, encountering a company with values similar to ours, where people always come first and where we feel passion for what we do every day, is where we have much in common as enterprises,” said Anibal Castro, managing director, Chile and Peru, Puma.
Site automation will allow Puma to oversee inventories both at origin, in transit and at destination.
The solution includes the implementation of Maersk’s Warehouse Management System (WMS), which will provide real-time reports for complete control over order processing, reporting and stocking.
What’s more, the system can track activities across one or multiple facilities, from dock arrival to customer delivery.
By leveraging real-time data and automation, the solution is intended to optimise inventory management, order processing and shipping logistics and enable Maersk to expedite, decelerate or redirect inventories on Puma’s behalf as required.
