by Noelle Abarelli | Dec 19, 2023 | Blog
Over the past decade, many businesses prioritized the rise of e-commerce without considering the underlying supply chain. While businesses implemented an “all e-commerce all the time” approach, they ignored the importance of addressing the supply chain, leading to limited innovation and stunted growth. Now, to right that wrong, boardroom conversations are returning to supply chain solutions, prioritizing time-to-value, flexibility, and end-to-end accountability. The goal? Building an agile supply chain for the e-commerce age.
Körber Supply Chain published a helpful e-book for the upcoming year, Supply Chain Imperatives: 2024 and Beyond with tips on how to future-proof supply chains. They spoke to partners, thought leaders, and subject matter experts about the value of configuring your supply chain to match your business strategy for years to come. The book is divided into five helpful sections. Below you will find quick summaries of what the book has to offer, but we recommend downloading a copy of it now. It contains far more details that are sure to serve as a useful guide in the coming years.
Section 1: Foundational | Structural | Continuous
Stratagem makes the case for microservices in supply chains. Microservices is a software architecture where large applications are broken down into smaller, independent services that work together through APIs. They are ideal due to its agility, scalability, and resilience, which enables businesses to thrive in the face of growing consumer expectations and constant disruption.
Tsol highlighted nearshoring, which to the US and Canadian market, refers to work performed outside their borders but within a region incorporated by Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It helps facilitate logistics, enables cost savings, and improves skilled labor access, helping to mitigate supply chain uncertainties.
Publicis Sapient dove into supply chain sustainability. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, from sourcing to packaging and delivery. Organizations that fail to embrace this shift risk losing market share and damaging their reputation. To succeed in this new landscape, they must build a sustainable supply chain that meets the needs of today’s conscious consumers and secures their long-term success.
Section 2: Commerce and Order Lifecycle
Pivotree, a leader in frictionless commerce, stressed the increasing importance of seamless ordering and fulfillment in today’s competitive market. It recommends using an Order Management System (OMS) to enhance order processing and improve customer satisfaction, with real-time data on inventory, orders, and fulfillment; and a Warehouse Management System (WMS) to reduce space needs, enable error-free order processing, and real-time tracking and automated processes.
Experts over at Perificient argue that personalization reigns supreme and that a seamless omnichannel experience is the new gold standard. They believe the future is driven by AI, that it is transforming e-commerce into a holistic and immersive experience, with AI-powered customer support and intelligent solutions to manage inventory levels.
Körber explains how adopting the “on time in full” key performance indicator allows businesses to measure a company’s ability to deliver on their promise while capturing the highest gross margin on their inventory investment.
Section 3: Warehouse operations and design
As Körber’s 2023 Breakthrough Partner of the Year, Alpine Supply Chain Solutions was invited to contribute to the publication, and our Senior Managing Director, Greg Utter, provided his insight into the evolution of warehouse control systems and how they play a pivotal role in optimizing distribution centers and warehouses. As supply chain complexities continue to grow, the synergy between WCS, automation, and WMS solutions remains essential for maintaining competitiveness and efficiency, while fostering an agile supply chain.
EnVista shared best practices for warehouse management, covering omnichannel fulfillment strategies, cloud-based WMS solutions, automation & robotics, and AI and machine learning. By embracing these WMS best practices, businesses can block new levels of efficiency.
Thought leaders at Extolla focused on the significance of distribution center (DC) design and the consequences of neglecting it. They explain how a poor DC design with ineffective storage can lead to operational inefficiencies, inaccurate inventory management, safety hazards, and reduced employee well-being.
Section 4: Fulfillment
Easypost lists carrier diversification as a key step to take to avoid capacity crunches and spiraling costs. They uncover countless tips that equip businesses with the tools they need to maneuver the intricacies of a multi-carrier strategy.
Folks at Red Shift believe fulfillment optimization can help protect profit margins. Inventory management, order orchestration, physical fulfillment, shipping optimization, and customer communication are some of the main strategies operations can employ to improve fulfillment as a whole.
Section 5: Labor and Robotics
Nowadays it’s almost impossible to talk about labor without the mention of robotics. Experts at Bricz believe that labor challenges will continue, which means more robotics solutions should be expected. They predict fewer new vendors entering the robotics space with some established vendors consolidating and the automation space growing as both vendors and customers work to solidify new automation value drivers.
Vaibe believes gamification is the answer to addressing ongoing problems of low engagement and turnover. They stress that gamification is the answer to unlocking the power of employee engagement by reducing absenteeism and turnover rates and improving quality control and productivity.
The e-commerce revolution is here to stay, but its success hinges on an adaptable and agile supply chain. While the promise of instant gratification and global reach is undeniable, it’s important to remember that behind every purchase lies a complex, interconnected web. A successful supply chain isn’t just about keeping up; it’s about taking the lead. Körber’s e-book provides tons of actionable insights to equip your business for the exciting years ahead. Download a copy of it today, and for more details on how to implement supply chain solutions that offer a measurable ROI, simply give us a call, we’re here to help.
by Noelle Abarelli | Oct 31, 2023 | Blog
Warehouses today face many challenges that prevent them from meeting expectations, including poor inventory accuracy, late order fulfillment, inefficient operations, high turnover, and excessive labor costs. The root causes often come down to outdated legacy software systems that are obsolete and don’t take full advantage of current capabilities.
Upgrading Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Labor Management Systems (LMS) can drive dramatic improvements by leveraging new features and moving systems to the cloud. WMS optimizes inventory control and order processing. LMS optimizes labor planning, scheduling, productivity tracking, and incentive pay. Together, they enable warehouse success.
If your systems are more than seven years old, replacement is likely needed as upgrades can be painful and often the data architecture is outdated. New systems should align with corporate IT strategy and support automation plans. Assessing whether current systems meet evolving business needs is critical.
When selecting new WMS and LMS solutions, it’s important to fully understand your unique operational requirements, evaluate vendor experience, calculate total cost of ownership, meet with vendor implementation teams, visit customer sites, and leverage third-party consultants.
Avoid common pitfalls like lift-and-shift mentality, lack of executive sponsorship, under-communicating changes, and inadequate investment in change management. The implementation team dynamics and customer adoption readiness are key factors for success.
Benefits of optimized systems include improved inventory accuracy, labor productivity tracking, performance dashboards, and greater employee engagement through techniques like gamification. Quick wins can build momentum.
With the right solutions and implementation strategy tailored to your warehouse’s needs, you can unlock major gains in productivity, accuracy and customer satisfaction. Assess where you are today and chart a course to a future enabled by technology.
To learn more about creating a LMS/WMS program that meet associate expectations, determine whether you need to upgrade your systems or completely replace them, and get more tips on selecting and implementing a joint LMS/WMS solution, check out our webinar: Unlocking the Future of Warehouse Associates: Optimizing LMS/WMS for Success with TZA & Alpine.
by Noelle Abarelli | Oct 16, 2023 | Alpine News Blog
In 2022, Ecentria, an outdoor equipment and tactical gear retailer, experienced 200% growth in a year, revealing a need to enhance its warehouse systems to manage increased demand efficiently. Their objectives included handling growth, reducing costs, boosting productivity, and improving fulfillment and delivery times for their diverse customer base.
Facing these challenges, Ecentria partnered with Alpine Supply Chain Solutions, a boutique consulting firm focused on optimizing space, equipment, labor, and systems within the four walls of the warehouse. The goal was to analyze Ecentria’s operations, inventory management, and distribution processes to recommend automated systems and design changes for their distribution centers (DCs).
Ecentria operates in two facilities and manages around 130,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs) of various sizes and types. They needed a partner to evaluate their processes objectively and propose changes to enhance efficiency and labor savings. Alpine conducted a thorough analysis, considering inventory movement, demand fluctuations, and projected growth to identify opportunities for layout and slotting adjustments, yielding immediate productivity and labor savings before the broader automation project.
Alpine recommended space optimization, reconfiguration, and slotting adjustments in both facilities, including implementing very-narrow-aisle (VNA) racking systems for high-velocity SKUs. These changes significantly improved Ecentria’s average pick rate, reducing travel time, optimizing forklift usage, and almost doubling productivity while reducing errors. This led to substantial labor savings and increased operational efficiency.
Looking forward, Ecentria and Alpine have larger plans for the future, including building a new automated DC in the Midwest by 2025. This new DC will feature an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), picking robots, and advanced conveyor systems to optimize the fulfillment process comprehensively. The AS/RS is expected to pay for itself within five to seven years of implementation.
The collaboration with Alpine has proven fruitful, and Ecentria plans to continue implementing projects targeting operational improvements while looking forward to more substantial changes in their DC network design and automation. The partnership has not only expedited improvements but has also provided valuable insights that might not have been possible if Ecentria had undertaken the analysis independently. Get the full story as published in DCVelocity here.
by Noelle Abarelli | Oct 3, 2023 | Blog, Warehouse Management
Raymour and Flanagan, a prominent family-owned furniture business that has been serving customers since 1947, faced a significant challenge. Operating with outdated technology and systems within their distribution network, they encountered friction in their processes, impacting both their operations and customer experiences. To address these challenges and keep pace with evolving customer demands, they sought to implement a modern Warehouse Management System (WMS) and optimize their distribution center.
Enter Alpine Supply Chain Solutions, a boutique consulting firm specializing in refining operations within distribution centers. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive WMS, Raymour and Flanagan selected Körber as their new solution. However, they understood that to maximize the benefits of this transformation, they needed expert guidance and support from an Alpine.
Alpine’s expertise and industry-focused approach were exactly what Raymour and Flanagan needed. Acknowledging the complex and expansive nature of the project, the companies collaborated seamlessly, leveraging each other’s unique perspectives and experiences. Despite the potentially chaotic nature of such a major project, the partnership fostered an environment of effective idea-sharing and collaboration.
Through this collaborative effort, they designed an innovative and efficient solution that aligned perfectly with Raymour and Flanagan’s goals. The approach they adopted during the project has already yielded dividends, and they are on track to implement the optimized solution soon.
Having experienced the journey with both Körber and Alpine, Raymour and Flanagan enthusiastically recommend them to anyone embarking on a similar path. The partnership, in-depth knowledge, and openness to understanding and adapting to their unique business needs were critical to the project’s success. With the support of Körber and Alpine, Raymour and Flanagan are well-positioned for a future of streamlined operations and enhanced customer satisfaction, showcasing the importance of strategic partnerships in achieving long-term success. For more from Bryan Anastasi, VP of Customer Care and Business Solutions at Raymour and Flanagan, watch this video.
by Noelle Abarelli | Sep 18, 2023 | Alpine News Blog
In a world where supply chains keep our daily lives running smoothly, there are unsung heroes who make it all happen. Brenda Stolz, the Senior Managing Director of Alpine Supply Chain Solutions, is one such hero. We’re thrilled to share the news that Brenda has been honored as a 2023 Women in Supply Chain award winner by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazines.
A Record-Breaking Year
This year’s Women in Supply Chain awards saw an unprecedented number of nominations, with over 400 submissions. What’s even more impressive is that 118 of these nominations came from male colleagues who wanted to recognize the outstanding women in their field. This demonstrates the progress being made towards achieving gender equality in the supply chain industry.
Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, pointed out, “While there’s still more work to be done, what we’re doing is working. From truck drivers to CEOs, what these winners are doing matters to the future of all supply chains.”
Meet Brenda Stolz: A Supply Chain Maestro
Brenda Stolz brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the supply chain industry. She’s a master at aligning employees with business objectives and fostering a positive work environment. Her approach to change is refreshing – it’s never “in spite of employees, but rather for the betterment of the individuals involved.”
Alpine’s Managing Principal, Michel Wohlwend, highlighted Brenda’s honesty, energy, and enthusiasm, which enable her to build trust between management and associates. It’s this unique blend of skills and her commitment to improving the supply chain that earned Brenda this well-deserved recognition.
Empowering Women in Supply Chain
Women like Brenda Stolz are making a significant impact in supply chain management, contributing to the growth and innovation of the industry. As more women enter the supply chain workforce, they bring diverse perspectives that can help address complex supply chain problems and improve global supply chain operations.
Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, founder of Let’s Talk Supply Chain podcast and Blended Pledge project, emphasized the importance of empowering, recognizing, and elevating these achievements. Initiatives like the Women in Supply Chain Award play a crucial role in celebrating the incredible contributions of women in the field.
Celebrating Excellence
To see the full list of award winners, you can visit the official list here. These remarkable individuals will be honored at this year’s Women in Supply Chain Forum, scheduled for November 14-15, 2023, in Atlanta. If you want to be part of this celebration of excellence and learn more about the event, visit www.WomenInSupplyChainForum.com to register.
As we celebrate Brenda Stolz and her outstanding achievements, we’re reminded of the strides being made in the supply chain industry towards inclusivity and equality. Brenda’s story is an inspiration to all, proving that dedication, expertise, and a commitment to positive change can make a world of difference in the world of supply chain management. Congratulations, Brenda!
