Case Study Distribution channels in the Empik warehouse
Integration of multiple channels into a central logistics solution.
About Empik
The Empik Group, Poland's largest retail chain for books, press, multimedia, toys, games, and tickets to cultural events, distributes products in an omnichannel model through a network of over 300 stationary stores. It also operates the empik.com platform, where it offers customers over 1.5 million products.
Challenges
Omnichannel sales offer many benefits for companies, but also pose significant logistics challenges. The need to reconcile the differing priorities of traditional and online logistics processes within a single warehouse creates significant challenges for warehouse management. Empik faced the following challenges with its omnichannel sales strategy:
- Having three separate warehouse locations in the ERP system and three separate interfaces with WMS
- Separate goods receipts for retail and e-commerce
- Process management through three separate WMS systems:
- A large WMS system for supplying showrooms
- Two local WMS systems for e-commerce and publishing during warehouse operations and launching new automation
Furthermore, planned investments in warehouse automation necessitated a replacement of the WMS system. The decision was made to replace the three WMS systems with a single WMS system comprehensively responsible for warehouse management.
Solution approach
- Integration of three sales channels through one WMS system
- Integration with warehouse automation: sorter, Pick Tower conveyors, put-to-light, automatic shuttle container warehouse
- Integrated goods receipt and issue process
- One warehouse in the ERP system and one interface to the ERP
- Implementation of a transport management system on conveyors
Lösung
The implemented PSIwms system replaced the existing WMS systems at Empik supporting various sales channels, integrated automation from multiple suppliers and the needs of various distribution channels, allowed for increased efficiency of logistics processes and reduced order processing costs.
In the case of retail, the migration was carried out from the MHT system. Each migration required approximately eight weeks of preparation by the entire team: PSI, Empik, DHL, in collaboration with Exorigo to implement the requirements for individual processes in the GOLD system.
In the case of e-commerce sales, due to the complexity of the process and the use of new automation, the project was divided into several stages.
Conclusion
PSIwms allows for the management of all warehouse operations, ensuring proper coordination of various distribution channels and their logistics processes, so that warehouse logistics can meet growing business demands while optimizing costs. Proven solutions allowed for the efficient implementation of the system in an operating warehouse without the need to interrupt its operations.
