Catering Engros A/S
Danish Catering Business Optimises Warehouse Logistics by Replacing its Paper-Based System with a Voice-Enabled Solution
On April 1, 2004, Ove Juel Catering A/S merged with Flenstad Catering A/S to form Catering Engos A/S, and has since become one of Denmark’s leading suppliers in the catering sector. Catering Engros A/S operates warehouse facilities in Hvidovre and Middlefart which are both approximately 13,000 m2. Both warehouse facilities have three different environments: dry storage, cold storage, and freezing storage.
“The transition from paper-based to electronic inventory control has given Catering Engros considerable advantages. Without the natural inertia and risks of wrong entries from the paper system, management can now work with real-time inventory data with the resulting possibilities for proactive planning and action. Efficiency and fast customer service are also thriving – orders that are received and registered up until 10 pm are dispatched the same night at 2 am – to great satisfaction for both the customer and us. Overall, and with financial glasses on, we have made a profitable investment which will turn out to have a very sensible payback time. Furthermore we have made a service agreement with Psion Teklogix, which gives us extra security.” – Niels Peter Habekost, Finance Manager, Catering Engros A/S
The Challenge:
- Catering Engros A/S determined the paper-based system it had been using for its inventory tracking was hindering the effectiveness and efficiency of its warehouse operations through productivity losses and inaccurate order picking.
- A solution was required that could operate in three different environments – dry storage at regular room temperature, and cold storage at both cool and freezing temperatures.
- The chosen solution had to eliminate manual inventory tracking, enable real-time inventory visibility, and be rugged enough to handle harsh working conditions.
The Solution:
- Catering Engros A/S enlisted the help of Psion Teklogix to implement a voice-enabled warehouse solution.
- Employees were equipped with Psion Teklogix 7535 G2 and 7530 G2 rugged handheld computers.
- The 7530 G2 was selected for use in frozen storage environments due to its IP67 rating and the 7535 G2 was selected for use in the cold storage and dry storage environments due to its IP65 rating.
- Both rugged handheld computers have battery capacity to last an entire workday and the display screens are touch-sensitive, background-lit and easy-to-read.
- Access points were set up across the warehouse facilities to enable wireless connectivity via WLAN to the WMS-inventory control system.
- Psion Teklogix also delivered the complete voice-enabled solution with Vocollect Voice as application software, allowing order pickers to perform their tasks hands and eyes free.
The Benefits:
- 70% improvement to picking accuracy
- Increased productivity
- Real-time inventory visibility, which enables Catering Engros A/S to plan better for supply shortages
- Improved customer service
- Fast return on investment (ROI)
- Service agreement ensures uptime
