Pedigree Wholesale Ltd has improved efficiency and control across its business, following its investment in a 90 user multi-depot Accord system from Supply Chain Solutions specialist Business Computer Projects Ltd (BCP) and is now considering implementing additional Accord functionality and extending Voice WMS to its smaller depots.

The company
Based in Nottingham and founded over 30 years ago, Pedigree is a major pet products wholesaler servicing the independent sector, including pet shops, garden centres and specialist outlets. With its own fleet of vehicles, operating from a network of five depots, the company services some 2000 accounts across England and Wales with a complete range of over 10,000 pet and aquatic products.

The Challenge
Following a period of growth and investment in two new warehousing facilities at the company’s main distribution centre in Nottingham, Pedigree identified the need for a warehouse management system (WMS) to help fully utilise the new facilities.

The Solution
Originally, Pedigree planned to invest purely in a WMS to integrate to existing technology within the company. However, following a 24 month review of various options and systems it decided to implement a completely new distribution solution and selected BCP’s Accord to integrate activities across its whole business, improve overall efficiency and grow market share.

Key to selecting Accord were its powerful Telesales features and fully integrated, Voice activated WMS which outclassed specialist stand-alone warehouse offerings in terms of functionality. Brian Mellors, Pedigree Financial Director: “Initially we were looking for a WMS to complement our existing systems, but my preference always was for a fully integrated and proven system. We were so impressed by BCP’s Accord that we decided to invest in a completely new solution.”

Accord has been implemented in two main phases and is now used by 90 employees, 32 of which are dedicated warehouse operatives.

Stage one involved the implementation of core Accord modules, including Purchase Order Processing, Stock Control, Telesales and Financials, systems going live at all five depots over the course of a single weekend.
The second phase saw the expansion of Stock Control into full warehouse management with the implementation of Accord Voice WMS in the Bulk Warehouse in Nottingham where bulky, low value goods are stored. As the warehouse operatives are handling large and heavy products the Voice solution is ideal as it is totally hands free. Implementation took place over several months starting with the installation of a radio frequency (RF) network, followed by RF Goods Receiving and then Voice functionality for Put Away and Replenishment. The final stage was the introduction of Voice Picking, workers being directed by Voice as to what to pick, how much to pick and which warehouse location to pick it from.

Following the success of the system in the bulk warehouse and, in particular, the improvement in picking accuracy, Voice Picking was introduced into the accessory warehouse which stores 75% of the company's products. Implementation was completed with the introduction of Voice Put Away and Replenishment in the accessory warehouse.

The Results
The Accord system gives Pedigree the power and flexibility to operate the business effectively with the most modern IT facilities, providing access to key sales, product and buying information, as well as effective warehouse control.
The company now has increased control and efficiency across its whole business, with particular improvements in several areas:

Multi depot Stock control and replenishment - Management and control of stock across Pedigree’s depots had always been complex with customer orders often satisfied from more than one depot, trunking of products between depots, central and depot level buying, and the added complication that deliveries may be made to a depot from orders placed centrally and vice versa. Accord’s true multi-depot design has simplified this whole process, providing full visibility of stock and its movement and matching to SOP and POP so that Pedigree can fully control and monitor these activities across all depots.

Buying – Accord’s flexible POP easily accommodates Pedigree’s requirement to buy both centrally and locally and has delivered considerable savings by allowing them to rationalise stocks whilst reducing out-of-stocks, reduce time spent on buying and, using sophisticated demand forecasting, better information and supplier performance statistics, to negotiate better deals.

Telesales – Efficient Telesales is vital for Pedigree as all sales are generated this way. Accord’s Telesales system has given the company greater control over the daily management of calls and improved overall effectiveness of the Telesales operation. CTI enabled, intuitive and easy to use, it allows operators to work more efficiently and proactively using the wealth of real-time information available to increase sales by, for example, promoting deals and cross-selling.

Operations – Voice WMS is the latest phase of the implementation, but, already, the conversion from a manual, paper-based system is delivering significant improvements and allowing Pedigree to better control and monitor warehouse operations and optimise use of warehouse space. Operations, in general, are now much more efficient, completing faster and more accurately. Previously, invoicing required manual input with up to 5 separate picking notes for each order. Now all invoices are produced automatically on completion of picking. As expected, Voice directed Picking is helping Pickers work quickly and accurately from pick faces which are now automatically kept replenished by the system, optimising the use of both forklift truck drivers and pickers and eliminating re-picks and waiting time due to empty picking faces. Picking rates have improved and accuracy is in excess of 99%. Less obvious benefits have arisen in terms of faster training of new staff and flexibility to move staff around departments as product knowledge is no longer needed.

The Future
Brian Mellors says Pedigree are delighted with the Accord system: “We now have effective control across our whole business and are fully equipped to grow successfully and increase our market share.” Looking ahead, the company hopes to launch web ordering early in 2008 and, longer term, will be assessing the viability of introducing Voice picking at its smaller depots.