Cases Archive • Page 5 Of 6 • PHI DATA

Challenge:

To automate the logistics of the laundry process for detainees’ clothing

Description:

PHI DATA automated the entire laundry process for detainees’ clothing with the help of barcode and RFID tags. The automated process allows the logistics of the laundry process to run more efficiently and for clear reports to be generated for each garment.

Results:

Efficient washing process
Traceability of clothing
Reports per garment in terms of number of washes and repairs

The penitentiary institutions in Leuze and Marche-en-Famenne, which are managed by FPS Justice, depend on external service providers to help manage their laundry. Leuze uses the services provided by Facilicom; the prison at Marche-en-Famenne works with Sodexo. Both institutions were looking for a way to manage all the logistics related to the washing process more efficiently, and to give visibility to the whole laundry cleaning process. One of the reasons why this is necessary is to demonstrate that the service provided meets the demands laid down in the specifications issued by FPS Justice. PHI DATA designed a solution to suit each of the two institutions perfectly.

Leuze

In the Leuze penitentiary institution, PHI DATA has set up a system of barcode labels, attached to the clothing. Each barcode is a unique number that is associated with a type of garment and size. Each code is also linked to a cell number. In the laundry there is a PC with an integrated memory and barcode scanner. All garments entering and leaving the laundry room are scanned with the barcode reader and logged in the terminal. If a garment is not linked to a cell, or if a garment is submitted for washing ahead of time, it will be rejected and it will not be washed. The system also makes it possible to identify if any repairs are required.

After washing, each garment is rescanned to register the fact it has been washed, but also to arrange the distribution of clean laundry. The scanner displays on a screen the associated cell number and the registration number, so that the operator can place the clothes in the right tray, linked to the correct cell. Once all laundered clothes have been sorted, they are packed up and sent to the cells. The fact that the system registers all incoming and outgoing clothing means that all information related to the laundry room’s activities is accessible. This allows the system to produce reports, which are linked to a database and are automatically updated.

Marche-en-Famenne

In Marche-en-Famenne, Sodexo chose to work with an automated management system featuring RFID tags. The process minimises the need for manual registration, allowing the clean clothes to be returned to detainees within 6 hours. Thanks to the RFID tags, the clothes can be identified and traced, and the quality and efficiency of the laundry services can be improved.

PHI DATA supplied RFID tags for attachment to 8,000 items, including t-shirts, trousers and sweaters. In addition, detainees’ laundry bags, used to bring the clothes to the laundry, are also fitted with an RFID tag. These bags are linked to a cell, so that it is immediately clear at the point of scanning which detainee is washing which clothing. This information is passed on to another team in the laundry, which ensures that the detainee immediately receives a set of clean clothes of the same type and the same size.

The advantage of this is that the clothing does not need to be removed from the bag for the contents to be known. This is extra handy as the clothes also remain in the bag for washing. The clean clothes are put ready on a surface with a built-in RFID antenna. A screen immediately displays whether this is the correct clothing and the article is automatically removed from the list of clothes to be put ready. Once the list is empty it is clear that the complete set of clothes sent to the laundry has been replaced with a clean set. All information and reports are found in a MS SQL server. Every day 1,000 garments are washed in this way.

“Our request to PHI DATA was very clear: we wanted the entire logistics process of sorting, washing and returning laundry to be conducted as efficiently as possible. Now that the clothing is identified with RFID chips we can automatically read which items are coming in and going out again, and which detainee they are given to. The solution has been up and running ever since the prison opened, and appears to be a great success. The detainees working with this system also have an advantage when reintegrating in the community thanks to the fact it is such modern technology”, says Jacques Deltour from Sodexo.

At its healthcare facility in Ghent, DSV, a global supplier of logics solutions mainly deals with the storage and distribution of temperature-sensitive products and healthcare articles, such as medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The company has five different temperature zones, where goods are stored in line with the strictest temperature requirements.

Accreditation

During audits in view of accreditation reporting, DSV has to be able to demonstrate how exactly goods are stored. The company was looking for a solution that offered continuous monitoring and reporting capabilities. DSV wanted to monitor temperature and humidity among others. For each of the sensors it should also be possible to set different threshold values. When these values are exceeded or not reached an alert sounds for the person who has been assigned to that particular sensor at that time.

Wireless solution

During the search for the most suitable solution different suppliers were compared. In the end, DSV decided to choose PHI DATA’s solution.

“What convinced us most were the extensive possibilities to set alarms and the reporting capabilities”, says Willem Wijnant, Project Manager at DSV Solutions. Another decisive argument to choose PHI DATA’s solution was the system’s extensive flexibility: the connections are wireless and the sensors can be easily moved. Moreover, the alarm threshold values and other settings are easy to change.

PHI DATA installed an AeroScout condition monitoring system. The installed solution is very complete and flexible and offers an overview of the site’s floor plan in which each sensor’s location is clearly visible.

Because these are wireless sensors, no extra cabling nor additional access points are necessary. And when the sensors go off line unexpectedly, not only does an alarm sound, but the sensor’s memory retains the storage conditions for a period of time until a connection between server and sensor is re-established.

The data extraction and reporting is very user-friendly. By working with an access rights system, each user has different options. A warehouse worker for instance will be able to see the temperature in ‘his’ temperature area but will not be able to modify the configuration.

By opting for a solution with a service contract, all upgrades and updates and the software support are included in DSV’s package. Without a contract a licence needs to be renewed with every large update. Moreover, support by PHI DATA is included in case of questions or problems, both remotely and on site.

Smooth implementation

“The implementation ran very smoothly”, says Willem Wijnant. “PHI DATA was clearly very knowledgeable about the product and offered good support during configuration. We were already working with a system that monitored temperature but that didn’t allow reporting within the software. With this new system the reporting runs very smoothly, so that is a big advantage. Before, we had to run reports manually, whereas now we can simply run them from the system. Moreover, the adjustments to our existing system and our location were minimal. Because everything works via Wi-Fi, we didn’t have to foresee other hardware investments.”

In time, DSV wants to extend the solution to other branches in Belgium.

Wemmel, 18 April 2017 – Specialist in ID Automation PHI DATA^® from Wemmel (BE) has won a tender with four entities of the European Union: The General Secretariat of the Council, the Court of Justice of the European Union, The European Court of Auditors and the European University Institute to implement a new system for asset management.

These four entities perform regular inventories of their assets (IT materials, furniture, but also valuable objects). The current inventory process is supported by mobile barcode readers, which are end of life and need to be replaced with a new solution.

The tender awards a five year framework contract to PHI DATA^® for the purchase of barcode readers, the installation and configuration of a client application on the barcode readers, the setup of an intermediate server and five years of maintenance of the entire solution (including software and hardware).

PHI DATA^® has understood the needs and requirements of the four institutions and proposed a solution using 150 barcode readers (Datalogic Memor X3). They will connect with the backend client through PHI DATA^®’s own IDasset^®-software.

The new solution will replace the current inventory system that is in use since 2007 at several European institutions and will allow the management and inventory of assets spread over multiple locations.

About PHI DATA^®

As Auto-ID solution integrator, PHI DATA^® advises, integrates and maintains automation and optimization solutions. We cover among others areas such as field service, distribution, shop floor, ID labelling, temperature monitoring and internal localization throughout the supply chain and in various industries. Through the high quality standards we maintain and the highly customer-oriented service we provide, for 35 years, PHI DATA^® has been in a leading position in this rapidly evolving industry.

Thanks to our solutions your organization will always have accurate information fast. Moreover, because of the increase in quality and productivity of daily operations, you will recover your investment on a short-term basis.

As a solution integrator PHI DATA^® works with world class manufacturers This means that we find a solution that best suits the needs of your organization. Our guiding principle is our philosophy of Creativity, Competence and Continuity.

In its 20 Belgian and Luxembourg sites, electronics chain Media Markt makes use of terminals supplied by PHI DATA to inventory goods. Thanks to the rotating head and the lack of handle, employees can handle the equipment more easily and thus scan delivered goods faster and in a more user-friendly way.

Media Markt – Saturn is the largest electronics chain in Europe with over 800 stores in 16 countries. The shops are known for their large range of electronics, household appliances, CDs, DVDs and games.

Challenge: Speed and ergonomics

The extensive product portfolio and the size of the stock make receiving and inventory of the products that are delivered quite a big task.

“At the opening of a new store some 70,000 different products have to be scanned”, says Benoit Brumagne, ICT-manager at Media Markt BeLux. “Because the products are so different in shape and size – ranging from CDs to washing machines and refrigerators – scanning was a time-consuming and often tiring task for our employees. After all, the scanners need to be perfectly positioned in front of the label in order to properly scan.”

Since unsold CDs can be returned after a certain time, Media Markt was also looking for a solution that would speed up the scanning and inventory of large numbers of CDs.

Solution: Rotating head

PHI DATA supplied 800 Motorola MC3090R terminals without handle and with a rotating head to the 20 Media Markt stores. “Thanks to these devices employees can perfectly position the terminal more easily in front of the label in order to scan”, says Benoit Brumagne. “An additional plus point is that the terminal can be used by both left-and right-handed users.”

Because the devices are equipped with a radio card the data can be sent in real time over a wireless network, making them readily available in the software system.

To return unsold CDs PHI DATA developed its own software solution. “When a CD is scanned, the solution immediately checks the inventory to verify how long that CD has been on the shelf. If a pre-set date is passed, the employee who is scanning is immediately alerted and he can then retrieve the CD from the shelf and return it”, says Vanbellingen.

Result: Fewer mistakes and gain of time

The choice for the PHI DATA solution delivered concrete results for Media Markt. For instance, the return process of unsold goods is running considerably more smoothly, thanks to the easier follow-up of existing stocks.

In addition, Media Markt realised a saving of half an FTE for goods receiving at the opening of a new store. But the most important result is that Media Markt saw a considerable increase of the data entry quality, according to Benoit Brumagne. “Errors associated with manual entry now are completely taken out ever since we have been doing the entire goods receiving via scanners.”

“For 8 years already we have been customers of PHI DATA and time and time again we are pleaseantly surprised by the quality of their service and the proactive way in which PHI DATA deals with specific requests and problems.”

Benoit Brumagne – ICT-manager at Media Markt BeLux

With its new LabelEasy concept, PHI DATA implements the first all-in-one labelling solution at SCA Hygiene Products Stembert, supplier of household and sanitary paper products. Thanks to the all-in formula the company is assured of continuity in the operations and deliveries and a guaranteed productivity. The cooperation is for five years, during which time PHI DATA will deliver over 40 million labels to SCA Hygiene Products.

Managed Labelling Services

PHI DATA launched LabelEasy late 2011 in the Belgian marketplace. This new concept offers an all-in Labelling solution at a fixed price per label and provides a clear planning for delivery terms and support. This way, the customer has one overall solution, one contract, one contact and a fixed all-in price per label. This eliminates the need for negotiating with multiple suppliers in order to cover all the steps in the printing – from purchasing, installation and training until the operational phase. The biggest advantages are the ease of use, the flexibility and the gain of time, but most of all the consistency in quality, because only one party takes care of everything.

From CAPEX to OPEX

SCA Hygiene Products was the first in the Belgian market to choose LabelEasy. “The importance of labels and printers is often underestimated. In our market however, they are business critical products, that ensure that we can remain operational. We could see nothing but benefits in the new formula by PHI DATA, and we decided quite quickly based on our previous cooperation to work with them. Thanks to LabelEasy we can now rely on one supplier for managing the complete printing process and all deliveries. Moreover, we now have access to predictable and distributed costs in line with our manufacturing volume, and there is no high investment up front,” says Fabien Grégoire, financial director at SCA Hygiene Products.

With LabelEasy we try to even better meet the current requirements of our customers and the market trends. Instead of ordering labels separately, buying printers and signing support contracts, they can now turn to us for and all-in ‘labelling as a service’ formula. Apart from numerous practical benefits we offer companies above all a huge peace of mind.”

Rudi Lambrechts, Business Development Manager Printmedia Solutions at PHI DATA.

Saint-Dimpna hospital in Geel has initiated temperature monitoring of its refrigerators over a wireless network. In cooperation with AeroScout, world leader in Visibility Solutions in healthcare, PHI DATA introduces this project as a first in Europe. By means of Wi-Fi tags the hospital can remotely check, in a first phase, the temperature of the refrigerators in 10 nursing units, automatically generate reports and react vigilantly in case of sudden temperature fluctuations.

At the Saint-Dimpna Hospital in Geel PHI DATA carried out the installation of wireless temperature sensors and the MobileView management platform by AeroScout for temperature monitoring of among others medication and food.

Wi-Fi tags (AeroScout T5a Sensor Tags) are placed in the hospital’s refrigerators. Thanks to this technology it is possible to wirelessly monitor the temperature of the refrigerators, to automatically generate reports and to fire alerts in case of sudden drops or increases. The MobileView solution by AeroScout is integrated in the existing wireless Cisco network and the existing Honeywell facility management system. Later, when extending the network in the rest of the hospital, apart from nursing units, other departments such as the lab and pharmacy will be equipped with this temperature monitoring system.

“The temperature control in a hospital is vital”, says Danny Van Reeth of the St.-Dimpna. “Medicines and foods must be kept in optimal conditions and strictly controlled. The nurses used to do a daily round to record the temperature. A time consuming job that always had the risk of errors while writing down the data. This manual system was already replaced with “loggers” that were read only every so many days. The new real time temperature monitoring system will not only help us to comply even better with the strict regulations but also to provide our patients with the best possible care.”

“We are delighted with the confidence we receive from AZ St.-Dimpna“, says Erik Cotman, Business Development Manager at PHI DATA. “The AeroScout application fits perfectly within their existing infrastructure. Moreover, this avoids the installation of a cabled monitoring system that is inflexible and expensive. Thanks to its localisation possibility, the AeroScout platform allows the addition of future other applications, such as asset management, material maintenance, patient and staff safety, flow and resources management…”

“Our cooperation with PHI DATA enables us to offer the healthcare sector added value. Their background in automatic identification (AUTO-ID) and our unified visibility solutions help hospitals to optimise their processes and the care provided to their patients”, says Wim Verduyn, AeroScout’s Healthcare Director Europe.

“The temperature control in a hospital is vital. Medicines and foods must be kept in optimal conditions and under strict control. The nurses used to do a daily round to record the temperature data. A time consuming task with always the risk of errors while writing down the data.”

Danny Van Reeth, Technical Director

Sint-Trudo is the regional hospital for south-western Limburg and southern Flemish Brabant. It has 310 beds. For monitoring the storage conditions of medication and medical samples, the hospital uses condition monitoring with calibration tags. Condition monitoring is a process in which temperatures and, if necessary, humidity and CO2 levels are measured on a constant basis. An alarm sounds if values deviate from set limits.

At Sint-Trudo’s, temperatures are measured every ten minutes for each fridge near the pharmacy and in the storage area. Those temperatures are sent to the server via a wireless connection. Sint-Trudo discovered that the tags became less accurate over time. “This meant that we could not be certain that our drugs and medical samples were kept under the best conditions”, Toon Pirard, pharmacist at Sint-Trudo Hospital tells us. Furthermore, each purchased tag receives a certificate with a one-year validity only. To qualify for JCI accreditation (a quality label granted only to hospitals that obtain optimum scores for more than 1,300 objective criteria) tags must always have a certificate and therefore must be calibrated every year.

There are three ways to carry out tag calibration. One can either inundate them in ice water and in boiling water to check deviation levels and then reset the values; or purchase one certified reference tag to calibrate ten others; or outsource calibration. “We opted for the latter”, says Toon Pirard. The method of calibrating in ice water and boiling water takes a lot of time, requires additional tags to cover the ones under calibration, and is unreliable and not accepted for accreditation. Even if you buy calibrated reference tags, the process takes time, you still need additional tags and you won’t have a certificate for each tag. Outsourcing the calibration procedure is a bit more expensive, but the costs are counterbalanced by the fact that you don’t need additional tags and that your staff doesn’t need to spend any time on it.”

For these reasons Sint-Trudo opted for calibration as a (managed) service, offered by PHI DATA, a maintenance contract with an annual fixed price per tag. Under such a contract, each year before the expiry date of their certificate, customers receive a box full of calibrated tags including the required certificates and a list of the unique codes. All Sint-Trudo needs to do is change the tags, activate the new tags and pack and resend the old ones. Each year upon return the old tags are checked for wear by PHI DATA. The batteries on the tags are changed every two years. Thus Sint-Trudo has the certainty that the tags always work and doesn’t need to perform any monitoring.

“Calibration as a service is an ideal addition to our existing logging system. We save on labour costs and are able to submit certificates showing that all the requirements are met”, Toon Pirard states.

Social housing association

Woonhaven Antwerpen is a social housing association which rents and sells social housing. It provides those renting with a good quality and affordable home with a focus on sustainability and architecture. The association has 18,000 rental homes, 97% of which are flats. These homes are spread across the districts of Antwerp (with the exception of Ekeren), Mortsel and Edegem. The number of bedrooms varies from none (studio) to 5. Woonhaven Antwerpen is also responsible for maintaining and renovating the flats.

Optimising stock management

In its technical warehouse the association keeps a stock of around 8,000 articles, all of which are necessary for daily maintenance. Some of the replacement parts are not located in the central warehouse, but in one of the 75 mobile warehouses, vans which the maintenance team use to go out into the field. Until recently there was only an inventory of the stock in the central warehouse. As soon as an item was removed from that warehouse and loaded into a van it was only possible to track its location using a paper picking document. In principle the ERP system used by Woonhaven Antwerpen did allow an inventory to be made of the 75 mobile warehouses, but in reality this was far too much work. This meant that items were difficult to track down for quite some time.

That’s why Woonhaven Antwerpen went out looking for a solution to make it possible to identify the location using handheld scanners. “We looked into what was available on the market and we compared the solutions that were on offer”, says Jan Pieters, Head of ICT and information management at Woonhaven Antwerpen. “The solution presented by PHI DATA was the winner: it provided the best ratio between price and quality.”

PHI DATA has a standard package called IDStock to optimise stock management when articles are spread across different locations. However, since the ERP system used by Woonhaven Antwerpen already knows where each item can be found they created a tailor-made solution instead. “PHI DATA designed special software for us to allow Honeywell scanners to communicate with our ERP system using web services. Our warehouse managers do not need to use special applications, as the update simply takes place using the barcodes.”

The solution allows the transfer of articles between different warehouses to be registered. The picking document then states the correct location. The solution means that the picking document appears on the screen of the handheld scanner rather than on paper. Items that are scanned and picked are automatically checked out. Incoming materials are also automatically registered in the system.

This also means that stock counting is much quicker. Where in the past the warehouse had to close for two days for stock counting and stock was re-entered into the ERP system using Excel files, this solution now allows a system of cycle-counting in the warehouse. That means that zones are quickly scanned all year round, allowing the warehouse to remain open. This allows lost and damaged items to be recorded throughout the year.

Positive experience

Woonhaven Antwerpen has been using the solution since the beginning of 2015. “This was not about cost-saving. Our real aim was to gain control of our central warehouse and the stock in our vehicles. That was lacking before. We do notice that in doing so we also save time and money.”

Jan Pieters is really delighted with the service. “We had to postpone implementation of the solution as we were dependent on another supplier for the web service. PHI DATA was really flexible about this delay and quickly planned implementation for another day. The usual bugs and modifications that you always have at the start of this kind of project were solved efficiently. We were already asking for it to be extended after completion of the first set-up: we wanted the transfers that took place using the scanners to be printed on tickets as well. That gave technical staff a shopping list to add to their work sheets. The provision of hardware and software also went very smoothly. As far as we are concerned this was certainly a positive experience and we would like to go further, together with PHI DATA: we would like to be able to scan an item in the warehouse in order to generate a request for it to be restocked. PHI DATA has assured us that this is quite simple and that it will only require a small addition to our existing software.”

Atkore Vergokan manufactures and distributes metal cable support systems. The company has several production sites, including three in Belgium. Atkore Vergokan exports its products just about worldwide. Their cable support systems are used in office buildings, industry, tunnels, hospitals, shopping centres, sports stadiums, stations, etc. The company also markets a wide range of surface applications.

They have around 18,000 items in stock at their warehouse. These primarily finished stock items are spread across various departments. This was because there was no real warehouse management system in place previously, until recently all movements – from picking to packing, from transfers to shipments – were registered manually. Moreover, warehouse staff often had no clear view of the detail locations of the items and there was no watertight inventory system.

“By working with scanning, manual registrations are no longer necessary. This has resulted in huge time savings.” – Christophe Vanmeirhaeghe, Warehouse Manager

IMG 6732 scaled e1615384573712 225x300 1

Atkore Vergokan had a pressing need for an automated WMS that could ensure well-organised inventory and efficient location management. This needed to be capable of registering and following up all movements, relocations and operations (such as picking and packing) in the warehouse more efficiently and more quickly, but the inventory also had to be more accurate and run more smoothly.

“Stock reliability is now between 98 and 100%.”

Atkore Vergokan ultimately opted for IDwms from PHI DATA. This Smart Edge solution synchronises the entire flow of information in the warehouse with the movement of goods on the work floor. Each item in the warehouse was given a unique number via an identification label. By scanning the label with an industrial handheld computer, the warehouse staff member is in real-time contact with the WMS database. By automating the registration of all movements, there are fewer errors and less administrative work involved in the reception, storage, picking and dispatch of items. Another advantage of IDwms is that stock is always correct and up-to-date.

“Whereas previously a warehouse staff member needed to have product knowledge to know where all the items were, now anyone can do order picking.”

Users at Atkore Vergokan have noted higher productivity and better real-time visibility of items in the warehouse. Annual stock-takes are no longer necessary: counts are now made throughout the year using the inventory module. It was also possible to seamlessly integrate IDwms with the existing SAP invoicing system.

Challenges

Automate the registering of item movements
Simplify the administrative processing
Implement efficient location management
Precise and rapid stock-taking

Smart Edge solution

User-friendly combination of software (IDwms) and hardware (TC8000) that integrates perfectly with the existing SAP ERP system.

Technology

IDwms software from PHI DATA
TC8000 devices from Zebra (18 units)

Advantages

Higher productivity in the warehouse
Improved real-time visibility of items and their locations
Simple management of the movement of goods
Well organised location management
Time savings and reduced error margin
Administrative work minimised

The transport and distribution company Dehertogh is a real family business. Founded over thirty years ago by mum and dad Dehertogh, the company has now been in the hands and hearts of their three sons for several years, including Dieter as Managing Director. Thanks to the passion of the three brothers, the company has continued growing in all senses. Not only the turnover and numbers of staff and lorries have grown, but also the types of transport. After previously transporting mainly bulk goods from the building sector, the company now also takes care of general cargo and other sectors.

It was therefore only logical for Dehertogh to take the next step in logistics services, towards warehouse management. “This was limited to start with, as we could only offer limited storage space at our last location,” explains Dieter Dehertogh, “but, since having access to an adequate warehouse in Bornem, – now around 3,000 m² – we can make a proper job of it.”

Wanted: reliable real-time overview in a convenient interface

The logistic ball only really started to roll when a large customer knocked on their door for a large assignment, involving up to 40,000 pickings a year. “We were naturally very keen,” explains Dieter, “but we would never have managed such a task with our existing capacity and infrastructure. We needed a digital solution, which gave us a real-time and reliable overview of the stock in a convenient interface. And, given the customer’s launch deadline, everything had to be ready within a matter of just a few months.”

While searching for the most suitable solution, Dehertogh came into contact with PHI DATA.

“We felt an immediate click with PHI DATA, both with the commercial manager and the software manager Luc Snellings, from the very moment we contacted them for more information. They stopped at nothing to provide plenty of proper information and it turned out that their solution matched our requirements better than those of competitors. To give just one example: other solutions only synchronised the scanned-in goods with the management system as you passed the exit, but at PHI DATA this is done at the very moment of scanning.” Their transparency about what the solution would cost – no hidden costs in hardware or other extras – was something else that swung the balance towards PHI DATA.

Kurt Nauwelaerts, Business Development Manager at PHI DATA IDwms, is keen to add: “We immediately understood Dehertogh’s request and the need for a flexible and convenient system that could easily be extended to new customers among their top priorities. With our IDwms solution, Dehertogh is ready to continue its growth into the future and optimise its use of every m² of storage capacity.”

Having been given the green light in May 2019, the PHI DATA project team set to work on the project to get the entire infrastructure and warehouse management system up and running by the agreed date: on a Monday in mid July 2019, at the same time as the transfer of goods from the customer to the warehouse. The entire environment needed to be ready in the space of two months. The complete migration and launch were to take place the weekend before. “It seemed like a great idea, right in the middle of the building industry’s summer shutdown, but looking back it might have been better to do the two moves separately,” laughs Dieter.

Tremendous time saving and less risk of error

Even so, the deadline was achieved and the solution went live in time to handle the new customer’s big move, and that was partly thanks to the dedication of the PHI DATA team and their rapid reaction to every possible focus point.

The system immediately proved its worth compared to the previous environment: “The connection between the registration of goods going in and out using the WMS system means that we can handle the large quantity of new products with our existing team and are even equipped to cope with more. All incoming and outgoing goods are scanned with our Zebra scanning devices and the transactions are immediately processed in the warehouse management system.

“The customer can log into our WMS system in order to track its stock in real time. Our WMS system can even be connected to their accounting system. Furthermore, this drastically reduces the risk of errors in data entry. Thanks to this PHI DATA solution, we have taken a major step in professionalising our warehouse,” confirms Dieter proudly.

Dieter has much praise for the customer service follow-up provided by PHI DATA too: “A few little errors popped up here and there in the system, partly due to the time pressure. Or we discovered functions that we wanted to add. Then, just one quick call to Kurt Nauwelaerts, and the problem was rapidly resolved or the extension added. That is also one of the many reasons why PHI DATA has won our confidence and continues to earn it.”