To be able to deliver its products from one central place in Switzerland to all clients in Switzerland, the company teamed up with one of the largest gastro-item providers with a swiss wide client base and a set up logistics.
Digitize the workflow and visualizing the logistics
To be able to guarantee a reliable and timely delivery of products, the whole workflow was digitized with the help of Astina. This included the ordering of goods, confirming the orders, tracking the commissioning process, preparing the required logistic capabilities and finally delivering the ordered items to the logistics provider.
After the client places an order electronically, the manufacturer starts to prepare the goods which need to be shipped to the client. During this process, the logistics company gets regular updates about the volume, size and quantity of the goods to be delivered, including the packing structure of the goods. This data is generated on the fly by the IT system of the manufacturer and stored in an Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) system. Astina implemented a solution to fetch and transfer this data automatically to the logistics provider to enable a seamless handover to the logistics department.
By using machine readable Global Returnable Asset Identifier (GRAI) and Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) numbers, the handover to the logistics supplier is done in no time and the transfer can be tracked in the system of the manufacturer and in the systems of the logistics provider. Due to the precise information delivered upfront, the logistics provider can easily transfer the goods to the required destinations. In addition, the manufacturer receives updates from the logistics provider to be able to track the progress of the delivery.
For this solution, Astina worked closely with the two partners and their IT systems to provide a solid IT architecture. Astina also provided advice in defining the required processes and setup for the needed measures. A re-design of processes with improvement potential was described by Astina. Together with the client, most beneficial improvements were implemented by Astina to increase efficiency in the processes and minimize source of errors.
Automated electronic product data exchange via GDSN
It is essential for the partner company to have reliable and up to date information about the products and goods that need to be shipped to be able to optimize the transport. For this purpose, all required information about the products and the wrappings are being exchanged automatically via the Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN) to ensure up-to-date information. This approach reduces the risk of data being outdated and it eliminates manual capturing of data.
Achieved goals
- The manufacturer extended his potential client base without additional logistics costs.
- The logistics provider receives real time information about what needs to be shipped where and by when which greatly improves the planning.
- Low handling costs due to automation, digitization and visualization for tracking purposes was achieved
- The process is highly reliant with a low error rate due to the close integration of systems.
