Mar 26
philsnyInventory Management Cost Savings, Inventory, Replenishment, Warehousing
Inventory management can be a challenging logistical process to manage. In warehousing and order fulfillment, this is compounded by the need to both store a significant volume of inventory, while also having access to every SKU (stock-keeping unit) within that inventory at a moment’s notice. Both of these needs can be met by balancing separate bulk storage and forwarding pick areas with an automated replenishment system.
At ProPack, we have developed a replenishment system within our WMS (warehouse management system) to manage the flow of inventory between the bulk and forward pick areas in our warehouse. This is done using locations, scanning and minimum/maximum inventory levels. When a forward pick inventory item falls below a predefined minimum level, a replenishment request is automatically created to restock that inventory item back up to its maximum allowed level. Our qualified employees scan the items out of their location within our bulk storage area and then scan those same items into their forward pick locations. This process is repeated each morning.
Inventory replenishment saves our clients money by minimizing their forward pick locations and placing the majority of their inventory in our low cost bulk storage area. It also ensures that the client’s orders can be located and picked quickly within a forward pick area that is constantly restocked. Clients save money and their orders are always picked and shipped quickly.
For more information please visit our website at www.propack.com.
Mar 21
philsnyOrder Fulfillment, Technology 3rd Party Logistics, Order Fulfillment, Packaging, Returns, Shipping, Technology, Warehousing
Product returns go hand-in-hand with shipping orders. Anyone who orders a product online assumes that they can somehow return that product if it becomes defective or is not what they ordered. Thus, companies shipping product need to be prepared to receive and process returns. When these same companies use a fulfillment warehouse they need to be aware of the returns processing capabilities of their 3rd party provider.
Returns come in a variety of flavors. A shipment can be refused by a consignee and returned to its sender. Likewise, there can be a bad address, causing the shipment to be returned. In both cases the package was not opened and the product can simply be returned to the shelf in the warehouse. Otherwise, a consignee can receive a shipment and later decide to return all or part of the items in the shipment. In this case, an RMS number is often issued by the company along with an address and instructions for how and where to return the item.
The warehouse receiving the return needs to be prepared to quickly receive, identify and report on its contents and condition. Returns must be processed swiftly since the customer is waiting to get a credit back for their purchase. Online visibility is also key for the company to monitor their returns through the process.
ProPack has built a complete returns processing system for receiving, processing and providing online visibility to all client returns. Returns are first entered into our system, complete with an inventory of each item contained within. Clients then receive an email detailing the return and its contents. Once the client authorizes action on the return, its contents are then returned to the shelf, discarded, returned to the customer or held for further inspection. This whole process is visible online along with a complete history of a client’s returns.
Returns are an intricate part of picking, packing and shipping orders. At ProPack, we’ve invested in technology and systems to quickly and effectively drive our returns process. Our added online access allows clients to manage the returns process with complete transparency. This reduces costs and adds value for our clients, allowing them to focus on selling more product and shipping more orders.
For more information please visit our website at www.propack.com.
Mar 14
philsnyTechnology Development, Logistics, Make or Buy, Systems, Warehousing
Every logistics company is at sometime faced with the make or buy question. Does a company custom build their own software specifically for their business needs and incur all related costs? Or does that company purchases their software from a vendor and alter their business practices to fit within the new system’s capabilities? This is a debate that’s ongoing with companies advocating very strong for either side. In end the answer is no less frustrating; it depends.
Custom building software from the ground up is time consuming, full of surprises and delays, and enormously expensive. Small companies can become swallowed in the cost overruns that enviably accompany any complete business system project. $50,000 systems can turn into $500,000 systems with still no end in site. For these smaller companies it is often better to purchase existing systems with set prices and support contracts.
Off the shelf systems limit their users to the system’s capabilities. These system can often be modified, but modifications are almost as expensive as building systems from scratch. The rule of thumb is purchased systems can supply the user with 90 to 95% of what they need to perform their business function. The problem is that extra 5 to 10% could provide the business with the additional edge they need to be competitive in their marketplace. This is why for larger businesses it is often better to custom build their software to ensure that their exact business needs can be met.
So what does the medium sized business do? They are not large enough to allocate the funds to building completely customized systems. Yet they need the competitive edge provided by customized technology to meet their specific business needs, stay competitive and continue growing. They’re stuck between being too big not to do anything and to small to be able to weather unforeseen cost overruns.
At ProPack we’ve met this challenge head on! The answer is to divide your systems between those that add value to your business and customers and those that simply run you business operations. Thus accounting, payroll, time keeping, email, etc can all be handled by industry standard systems which are widely available, reasonably price and easy to support. However, systems for forwarding freight, receiving packages, managing inventory, picking orders and shipping packages are very unique and critical to our operation. We’ve custom built or heavily modified these systems to service our unique client base and give ourselves that extra competitive advantage.
Choosing the “make” option can be a challenging avenue to head down. Yet the reward for both the company and their clients/customers is substantial. With ProPack’s technology we’ve been able to rise above our competitors and offer our client’s with business solutions that reduce their supply chain costs and add value to their brands.
For more information please visit our website at www.propack.com.
Mar 07
philsnySouthbound Forwarding British Columbia, Canada, Consolidation, DHL, FedEx, Southbound Forwarding, UPS, USPS
ProPack’s Southbound Package Forwarding is a service that provides Canadian businesses a way to get packages to their U.S. customers in a cost-effective and efficient way. This service allows Canadian clients the flexibility to pick and pack from their own location in British Columbia, then consolidate their shipments together and courier them down to ProPack’s facility in Blaine, WA. At ProPack the shipments are broken apart and shipped out on domestic services.
The service is broken down into these cost-saving and value-added steps:
- Flexible timing for consolidated pickups in the lower mainland
- Border clearance through your Customs Broker, or one of our Customs Broker partners
- Domestic U.S. shipping to your clients using your choice of carrier (e.g., UPS, Fed Ex, US Postal Service, DHL)
The entire process is technology-driven, providing you with online access to tracking information, charges, history and much more.
ProPack’s southbound consolidated forwarding program reduces the cost for Canadian clients directly shipping their product into the states. It also adds value through giving them online visibility throughout the process as well as access to their historical information through reports and statistics.
For more information please visit our website at www.propack.com.
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