From its warehouses in Sint-Niklaas, Unigro handles 24 deliveries by truck by appointment with customers. The company offers a range of over 8,000 products for home, garden and leisure, which can be ordered via the Internet or telephone. The more than 200 employees do their best to ensure that 200,000 loyal customers receive a prompt and accurate delivery, a strong after-sales and expanded payment options.
The complete version of this case study is not available in English yet. Please refer to the Dutch or French version.
UNILIN produces laminate flooring, composite hardwood floors and luxury vinyl flooring under the Quick-Step and Pergo brands, as well as wood-based panels (chip boards, MDF boards), decoration panels, roof systems and insulation boards. UNILIN has 4,800 employees and generates a turnover of 1.4 billion euros. The 20 production sites are spread across the world. Since 2005, UNILIN is part of the American quoted Mohawk Industries. It is the world’s biggest flooring company, with production sites in North and South America, Europe, Russia and Asia. The Group is listed on the stock exchange (NYSE), has a turnover of 8.1 billion dollars and has 34,000 employees worldwide.
Stock management of IT equipment
The UNILIN IT department was looking for a way to improve the stock management of IT equipment. “Our stock mostly consists of hardware and computer equipment, such as PCs, keyboards, mice, cables, smartphones, etcetera”, Ludovic Six of UNILIN explains. “We noticed that whenever equipment was taken out of the stock, it wasn’t always documented correctly. During the biweekly or monthly manual counting of the stock, we would find that products were missing. These counts were also rather time-consuming and, as all products had to be counted one by one, not always accurate. Therefore we searched for a solution to automate the stock management. We were already working with PHI DATA, as they provided our forklifts with computer terminals. We asked them for help and they immediately suggested a RFID solution.”
This solution includes RFID technology and the accompanying IDasset solution by PHI DATA. Whenever the supplier delivers new computer equipment, all packages are immediately given an RFID label and placed in a fixed stock location in the cabinets. When it’s time for a stock counting, it suffices to walk past the cabinets with a RFID reader and immediately register all products. Thanks to the IDasset solution, the collected information is immediately registered in an excel file, providing a clear overview of the stock.
“Since we’ve installed the new system, we conduct a weekly stock counting. The frequency of the counts might have doubled, but the total time spent on them is four times less. Not only does it save us a lot of time; as the counting is no longer carried out manually, the number of mistakes has been brought back to a minimum. And whenever there’s a shortage of a certain product, we can immediately act upon this.” Since the project has been implemented, almost one year ago, it is regarded as a success: “Since it’s become operational, almost no equipment gets lost anymore.”
“PHI DATA is an excellent partner with very open communication, and we have a great collaboration. During the installation they were always available for questions. Moreover, since the implementation of the system we haven’t had a single minute of downtime. It works exactly as we’d like it to”, Ludovic Six concludes.
Van Marcke is a specialised wholesaler managing the distribution of bathrooms, kitchens, heating installations, sanitary and installation material, plus sustainable solutions for heat and water. The company is the market leader in Belgium and Luxembourg. The group has around 1,600 employees (of which approximately 1,200 in Belgium), 19 showrooms in Belgium, Luxembourg and France and 132 shops worldwide for professional customers. The company has also invested 75 million euros in a revolutionary new distribution centre of about 90,000 m² at its Kortrijk headquarters.
When it comes to transporting products to and from the shops, Van Marcke uses both external hauliers and its own fleet of lorries and drivers. “Some of our products, such as shower panels, baths and jacuzzis, just don’t fit in a standard lorry,” explains Stijn Hoegaerts, IT Director at Van Marcke, “and that’s why we have our own lorries, which are perfectly equipped to transport all kinds of products.”
Making warehouse management and logistics more predictable and transparent
Until recently, Van Marcke used a system with company-specific software to manage their warehouse and logistics. This environment urgently required an update, in order to respond to today’s needs. “Indeed, we needed to evolve to an environment that could meet our expectations in terms of predictability and transparency. These days, this has just become essential: customers, but also your own employees, expect prompt information regarding availability and delivery, just like in their daily lives,” says Stijn Hoegaerts. Van Marcke chose an SAP environment, offering sufficient open standards and interfaces to provide visibility to the outside world and other systems.
As well as something more open, Van Marcke was also looking for a system that was able to register and process product delivery faster. “In the past, drivers were often required to get delivery notes signed by the customer, which they then had to scan and send to the administration department. However, in doing so, two days could be lost between the actual delivery and processing in the administrative system. That is a huge amount for a company that only invoices once the goods are physically with the customer. Given the many deliveries in a year, this also affected our ‘bottom line’.” Furthermore, it appeared that the technology in the existing system for registering delivered goods was insufficient for the new environment.
That’s why Van Marcke went in urgent search of a solution whereby the delivery receipt was also the immediate trigger to send the invoice, without further processing delays or additional steps. This required an infrastructure that was not only reliable, but also flexible and sufficiently open to connect to the infrastructure of other parties involved. “Besides our own SAP Warehouse there was also PTV to consider, using their software program Smartour to manage transport dispatching based on the products for delivery. And last but not least, the hauliers naturally needed the right technology to combine convenience with reliable and accurate integration.”
“There was already a click during the preparation work”
The fact that Van Marcke had already used PHI DATA for product scanning in the warehouse, to the satisfaction of both parties, meant that a close inspection was made of the latter’s IDdelivery software. “Given our history, we knew we would be able to rely on PHI DATA. Initially, we had only considered them for the hardware, but when they turned out to have the right software to process the scanned data we naturally wished to take a look. And they did not let us down. Even before the contract was signed, they were already actively involved to find the best solution and integrate the environments of the three parties concerned. And not only did they propose alternative hardware that matched our request, it was also cheaper. You naturally have more faith in someone who puts your needs before their own profit.”
While the implementation was being prepared, Van Marcke needed to sit down with four parties: Van Marcke themselves, PHI DATA, PTV and Centiro, as the Swedish logistics partner who decides who will carry out the transport assignment, right down to providing the right labels for the transport chosen. The good collaboration between the four parties was remarkable, continues Stijn Hoegaerts: “There was already a real click during the preparation work, when we discussed the necessary and desired functionality in great detail. We even began to dream of all the possibilities we would achieve by combining our forces. However, at the time, the tight deadline forced to focus on the basic functionality. But the road map for the coming years is already clear.” Meanwhile, the tight deadline was achieved without any particular delay.
95% adoption after hardly a week
And even more remarkable: the solution was almost entirely integrated in the hauliers’ deliveries, says Stijn Hoegaerts: “By week two we had already reached 95% adoption. So almost all hauliers used the solution right from day one. No real training was required. In fact, we called it an acquaintance session, as it was so user friendly and intuitive that little explanation was necessary. A result of 95% after hardly a week is quite exceptional. 100% adoption is normally impossible but, in this case, I would even dare to hope for it.”
Saving time for the haulier and in administration
The way the solution works is simple. All deliveries have a barcode with a unique number. Every driver has a mobile device with a built-in barcode scanner, which is connected to the central database in real time. During loading, it is already possible to check whether there is a 100% match between the scanned goods and the dispatch note, which summarises all the goods to be transported. If there is, then the haulier receives the address of the first customer and the accompanying driving instructions.
Upon arrival at the customer, every delivered article is scanned. The recipient signs for receipt on the screen of the device. If there are any problems with the delivery, these can be indicated, using photos if necessary. After delivery, the details are immediately sent through via the mobile device, allowing the administration to be finalised or for customer service, without the driver having to bring in the paperwork first.
Clear plans for the future
Van Marcke was so delighted with the implementation and result that they are now looking forward to the next phase, with new functions which boost the benefits of the technology even further and make the hauliers’ lives even easier and more pleasant. “For example, I am thinking of the opportunity to adjust the route when the haulier is already out on the road. That used to be out of the question, but thanks to the good integration between the three environments, this is now perfectly possible. For example, if a truck returning from a delivery could pick up a load of goods that have been confirmed as returns during its journey, this could often save two additional trips.” Also, the integration of e-CMR, the electronic version of the accompanying document that hauliers are required to submit to customs is among the next steps.
Last but not least, Van Marcke aims to increase transparency even further, confirms Stijn Hoegaerts: “Not only do we now save lots of time ourselves in the old processing of dispatch notes, we can also inform our customers better and from a central location about where their delivery is, regardless of whether it is being transported by our own transport services or by third-party hauliers. In the future, we will even be able to inform them of progress from the very moment the order is released right up to the moment of delivery.”
The working environment where production, logistics or other core activities take place are the beating heart of a company. That physical chain, within which all processes and movements of goods, assets and people take place, must however be connected to the digital chain of the underlying IT systems and technologies. Our Smart Edge solutions connect those physical and digital chains with each other and optimize the business processes, with the ultimate goal: higher operational efficiency and productivity. – PHI DATA, The Smart Edge
The company Verbau, based in Leuze in Hainaut, is specialised in the production of desserts for supermarkets and other retail outlets. This family business custom-makes their products according to the customer’s wishes. With the know-how and expertise of their staff on the one hand and the best local raw materials on the other, Verbau guarantees the consistently high quality of its desserts.
Not only does Verbau strive for the highest product quality, its processes are also subject to the highest quality standards, and product safety is crucial at all levels of management. The FEFO (First Expired, First Out) principle is one of their guiding principles, guaranteeing the freshness of delivered products at all times and minimising the risk of out-of-date stock.
“The configuration has been made as error-proof as possible.” – Boris Criquet, Packing & Technical Manager
It is one thing to introduce the FEFO principle, but applying it continually is another matter. Regular errors were identified in this set-up, meaning that the product flow was not always optimal. Moreover, the validation of shipments to be sent to customers did not always run smoothly. “It was always a hassle to check whether the right pallet went to the right customer”, explains Boris Criquet, Packing & Technical Manager at Verbau. Every retailer orders different products, and it was not easy to get the right combination on the right truck at the right gate. It was all very time-consuming and prone to human error.”
“Loading is now much faster and with far fewer errors” – Boris Criquet
Verbau commissioned PHI DATA to develop an innovative solution using RFID technology. This solution consists of two fixed RFID gates from Acceliot, RFID readers and antennas, RFID labels and three RFID printers from Toshiba, as well as proprietary PHI DATA technology for integration of the data created with this solution. After a 2-month project, the solution was rolled out in March 2020. “It took some time to affix the RFID tags to the pallets, so that these can be read at any moment. But PHI DATA has been superb in the way they helped us optimise the right configuration”, confirms Boris Criquet.
The finished products are placed on RFID-tagged pallets and go into the stock. Before the delivery goes out, it is checked that the correct pallet has been taken from the stock and goes through the correct gate and onto the correct truck. “The configuration has been made as error-proof as possible: you scan a product before loading it; if it flashes green, it is ok, if it turns red, it is not intended for that shipment”, enthuses Boris Criquet. There are 2 “light towers” with a buzzer at the dock doors, to warn the loaders visually and audibly if an error has been made during loading.
“Every time we contact PHI DATA, they provide rapid and impeccable support”– Boris Criquet
More than one year after the rollout, the RFID configuration has already yielded excellent results. The error rate during loading has fallen to a very low level, and products ready for shipment are validated in real time thanks to the integration with the management system, resulting in optimal supply chain performance vis-à-vis customers.
The collaboration with PHI DATA remains excellent, even after implementation. “Our RFID printers have fairly intensive use and therefore need occasional repair or maintenance. Whenever we need to contact PHI DATA, they respond quickly and any problems are resolved without any hassle. We are and will remain a satisfied customer,” concludes Boris Criquet.
Challenges
Automate the registering of item movements
Simplify the administrative processing
Implement efficient location management
Accurate and rapid stock-taking
Avoid loading errors
Smart Edge solution
Integration with Verbau’s ERP partner and RFID technology that integrates perfectly with the existing ERP system.
Technology
Acceliot’s RFID hardware
Integration by PHI DATA
RFID printer control with BarTender labelling software
Toshiba RFID printers and labels
Advantages:
Better productivity in the internal supply chain
FEFO process optimisation prevents lost production raw materials.
Improved real-time visibility of items and their locations
Simple management of the movement of goods
Time savings and reduced error margin
Administrative work minimised by automatic registration
Rapid and correct loading
Effective external supply chain
The solution features IDwms software from PHI DATA in combination with TC8000 scanners
In an aim to handle the entire logistical process in-house, food manufacturer Didden was looking for an efficient solution to manage the warehouse with a database that was updated in real time. The company wanted to be able to track the movements of goods at all times: from the delivery of raw materials to the finished product, and including any returns. The solution needed to be compatible with the existing ERP package and suitable for implementation in the short term.
“In the past we outsourced our logistics department. With everything now under our own control we urgently needed to extend our systems,” says Olivier Reimann, IT Manager at Didden. “We went in search of a system that could be easily integrated with our existing ERP package and that could be introduced in the short term. Efficiency was an important motive during our search.”
Didden approached PHI DATA having seen the IDwms solutions in operation with their former partner. IDwms is a warehouse management system that monitors warehouse stock movements by using Auto-ID with barcodes and Wi-Fi. The basic principle is that all packs in the warehouse are given a unique label, making them quick and easy to identify. Staff use portable terminals equipped with a barcode scanner and Wi-Fi connection. This means that the database is updated in real time. Thanks to IDwms our stock management is now considerably more efficient, less locational errors are recorded and our administration is much easier.
As soon as raw materials arrive at Didden, they are scanned and integrated in the existing ERP package. Staff also print new labels and attach them to the packs. When these are scanned they appear neatly in IDwms and people know where the package needs to be stored. This clearly varies depending on the type of raw material. The moment the production department requires a raw material, their request is converted into a picking order by the system. Once this has been carried out, the system informs the database and the stock is automatically updated. After the production department has processed the raw materials into a finished product, they continue their way in the ERP package.
When the finished products are ready to be taken to the logistics hall, they are also integrated in IDwms. The finished products are either placed in a rack in the logistics hall or go to a picking location if the stock is already exhausted.
Staff use IDwms to complete orders, which are then given an IDwms label for temporary storage or be sent directly to the distribution bay. Once the order has been sent, a file is created that goes to the ERP package via an interface to handle invoicing.
Leftovers are taken into account as well. If raw materials are left over in the production department, they can easily be restored to IDwms. The same applies to returned goods, even though they are first given an extra inspection.
“The solution that we have provided to Didden will allow them to manage their future stock control efficiently,” says Kurt Nauwelaerts from PHI DATA. “Everything runs smoothly using their existing ERP package, from goods receipt right through to invoicing.”
“We chose PHI DATA because, for us, it was the most logical compromise on a technological and economical level,” explains Olivier Reimann. Another major factor was the short deadline in which the project needed to be up and running. “We first had contact in September, and the test was already underway in November. By early December the solution had already been integrated in the raw materials department and the finished goods department was included by early January. I would call that a sporting deadline and we are certainly delighted with the result that has been achieved in such a short time.”
It was also important to Didden that the solution was user-friendly. “The integration of IDwms was a challenge but it isn’t ‘rocket science’ and it’s a very simple system to use. Also, since its integration, no major changes have been necessary. The users passed on the odd modification to make their lives easier, but nothing more than that.”
Challenge
Allow the logistical process to be carried out entirely in-house
Solution
IDwms software from PHI DATA
TC8000 (ZEBRA) mobile terminals
Extreme APs
Result
Efficient warehouse management
Easy administration
User-friendly solution
Hortiplan, part of the Aveve group, is active in the horticultural industry. Currently, Hortiplan has around 48 employees and is situated in Sint-Katelijne-Waver and Roeselare. For many horticultural companies, Hortiplan is a trusted and innovative partner providing technical installations and related services. That means that there is constantly lots of material in circulation: for each installation the staff at Hortiplan need numerous parts. Customers can also come and exchange, collect or drop off parts at the site. Keeping an overview of the material’s location and the stock situation is therefore a real challenge.
Efficiency and savings
Since material and parts arrive at Hortiplan for different installations at the same time, it was often time consuming to find the right part. Once material was received, it was often unclear where to find it. The material to be used for a project was recorded on paper vouchers. Since it took a long time before activity was registered, it meant that material was often reordered although it was actually still in stock, or parts went out of stock without anyone being informed. In order to find a more efficient way of working and thus to save time and money, Hortiplan went looking for a partner with expertise in this area.
The needs were clear: Hortiplan required a system that offered an overview of all incoming and outgoing material, identification of the location of materials within the storage area and a record of the project for which the materials are intended. Also, the warehouse staff should be informed when materials need to be made ready. On top of that, it should be possible to register goods separately from the ERP system and customers and technical staff should always be able to receive a delivery note, even when the situation requires the order to be treated manually, instead of using the scanner.
The choice for PHI DATA
Hortiplan approached PHI DATA, the specialist in solutions for automated identification, localisation and data capture. As a solution, PHI DATA proposed to Hortiplan a complete package consisting of IDwms light, a warehouse management system from PHI DATA, and some terminals and PDAs from Intermec.
“We had been looking for a way to streamline our logistic processes better for some time. The solution offered by PHI DATA seemed to be the best one for the job”, says Thomas Ceulemans, Operation Manager at Hortiplan in Sint-Katelijne-Waver. “One of the goals in implementing IDwms light is to make life easier and more pleasant for our staff. By recording the inventory electronically, we can see much more quickly whether certain materials are still in stock and we don’t need to go looking for specific items. Now, we can see just with the touch of a button what has come in, what has been exchanged or what has gone out. That saves us lots of time and money, as we have dramatically reduced unnecessary orders.”
The order picking is going much better. The warehouse staff at Hortiplan are notified on their PDA of the material and the quantity that needs to be put ready for each project. Specific product knowledge is no longer necessary once the products are recorded in an order, which makes it much easier to replace staff who are off sick. “We have made serious progress. Control and logistics are handled systematically and can be monitored. The whole process is more streamlined, more efficient and cheaper”, says Thomas Ceulemans.
Hortiplan is delighted with the service provided by PHI DATA: “To give an example: at one point an update was carried out, after which the scanner ceased to work. That was a tense moment since, once you have made the switch to electronic stock control, you can’t go back. PHI DATA solved this issue quickly and effectively”, confirmed Thomas Ceulemans.
Our client – a global leader in hygiene and health – wanted to protect the staff against Covid-19 contamination in the workplace. It had to be a non-invasive solution that could be deployed quickly and easily and provided effective protection for employees worldwide.
Oplossing
Solution
To make it possible to maintain a safety distance in professional environments to avoid contamination with Covid-19, PHI DATA has developed SmartProximity, a digital safety solution that helps maintain the necessary distance and provides effective reporting in the event of contamination or other proximity threats. People wear a tag (on a lanyard or attached to clothing) that gives a signal when the safety distance is not respected. The warning is visible (flashing light), tactile (vibration) and audible (acoustic signal with adjustable volume).
The “events” are transmitted wirelessly in the Cloud so that efficient anonymous contact tracing can be done in addition to prevention.
Our customer tested several solutions and SmartProximity was considered the best option for global implementation in some 80 locations worldwide (approx. 22,000 tags). The company sees many advantages in this solution: “It is not only quick and easy to implement, it is also very effective. Most importantly, after Covid-19, it can be transformed into a range of other worker safety solutions such as forklift approach alert, mustering, man-down alert or access control.”
Result
22,000 tags were delivered and put into use for safety distancing in the workplace. SmartProximity makes it easier for employees to keep the correct distance from each other and thus contribute to the prevention of Covid-19 infections.
In a second phase, the safety application for forklift trucks will be tested. Here too, SmartProximity offers an effective solution: when forklift trucks threaten to collide with each other or with people, a warning is given to avoid accidents.
Challenge
Those who build top quality and complex medical equipment often face major logistical challenges. Customers are only happy when all of the components have been delivered quickly and smoothly. One of our customers from this sector began looking for a solution to supply their products quicker and to streamline the processes for installation teams and the internal stock chain. The company needed to be able to guarantee a smoother and more comprehensive shipment system and simultaneously make life easier for their installation partners.
Solution
The customer chose a hybrid solution on the basis of RFID and IoT technology. With a combination of RFID gates, personalised labels and hand-held RFID readers, the shipment can be checked in the blink of an eye to ensure that all components are present and to tick off the read-in components on the shipping list. This check can then be carried out again at interim stations, if necessary. On arrival, the customer or installer can make a quick check to ensure the delivery is complete. The supplied RFID labels can also provide useful information on where the specific components must be used during assembly and in which order they must be installed.
The shipments are delivered via a multi-modal system, using external and varied transport methods. In order to trace and monitor the condition of the shipment, the customer uses the active IoT technology which permits location, temperature, humidity, shocks and light detection measurements to be taken, which are linked to ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) and reports on transport quality.
Project partners
The solution was created using technology from various suppliers. The hand-held RFID readers, equipped with IDasset® software from PHI DATA, are from Unitech; Brady provided the RFID printers and labels; Zebra supplied the RFID readers and Innolabel the Active Condition Monitoring IoT Tracker for monitoring during transport. The consulting, architecture and implementation of the entire project and the integration with the customer’s management system was taken on by PHI DATA.
Result
The customer programmes and prints RFID labels; these are then applied to the packaging of each component of the medical device, as they are gathered together by the machine assembler in the warehouse. A line of sight is therefore no longer required to identify each component and identification can take place remotely. “A simple scan of the products while the items are driven through an RFID gate is enough to gain a complete overview of the loaded components,” explains Dave Engel, Business Development Manager at PHI DATA.
RFID scanner gates check each component package on the basis of the freight list in the customer’s ERP system. Incorrect components are easily filtered out and the system also indicates which components are missing and then confirms that the shipment is complete.
When the end user receives the cargo or when it is being transshipped in a hub in the logistics chain, a quick check can take place on whether the cargo is complete simply by walking around or between the pallets, with a hand-held RFID scanner. Upon arrival, the installers can also offload the component packs more efficiently because the RFID labels and personalised software indicate where the content must be placed.
The IDasset® software allows the RFID label on each package to also provide installers with information about the correct content. A search function with a proximity warning allows even the smallest components to be found. The installation process for new medical devices in hospitals will thus become quicker and more efficient.
Advantages
This customer’s clients, i.e. hospitals, will see the average implementation time for medical devices drastically reduced. The quick and effective controls during shipment, transport and delivery are made possible by adapted RFID hardware and software. So, weeks spent waiting for a missing component will become a thing of the past. Installation will also run much more smoothly thanks to the elimination of the search for components and the certainty that the delivery is complete.
The builder of the medical devices will also lose less time when checking shipments and can be much more reassured with respect to the completeness of the shipment. He thus not only increases satisfaction among installers, he also avoids the sometimes high costs associated with subsequent shipments of missing components to all corners of the globe.
Challenges
Reliable and traceable deliveries of medical equipment
Quick and efficient checks of loaded components
Quicker identification of components
Improved satisfaction of installers and shipping companies due to complete deliveries
Smart Edge solution
User-friendly combination of software (IDasset®) and hardware (handhelds, RFID gates, printers and labels and IoT trackers) which perfectly integrate with the customer’s existing management system.
Technology
IDasset® software from PHI DATA
Unitech RFID hand-held devices Zebra RFID readers for gates
Brady RFID printers and smart labels
IoT trackers and condition monitoring from Innolabel.
Advantages
Drastic reduction in error rate during shipment
Improved traceability of components
Quicker and more accurate checks of loaded goods and matching with order form and management system
Full tracing and monitoring during transport
Quicker checks on completeness during receipt
Smoother installation
No expensive transport or time losses for subsequent shipment of components
Wyckaert is a Ghent-based construction firm that has been implementing projects for industry, utilities construction and the residential market for over 125 years. The company enjoys a solid reputation for reliability and is seen as a dependable reference point, with great consideration for doing business sustainably.
Wyckaert aims for long-term relationships with staff, clients and partners. Each construction project is a partnership. Through continuity in the collaboration with subcontractors, suppliers and service providers, they assure the client of quality and they seek to ensure that every project could be a reference project.
The wide experience in numerous sectors has given them a portfolio that testifies to successful collaborations all across Flanders and Brussels. The project database on their website www.wyckaert.eu gives a great overview of the achievements. They also have the necessary experience in collaboration formats such as Design & Build. For example, they implemented the new police station in Eeklo, a care hotel with assisted living homes and an underground car park in Ghent, as well as the design, construction and funding for a number of schools, etc. With a turnover of 77 million euros and over 140 employees on their payroll, Wyckaert has become a healthy medium business with huge growth potential.
No growth scenario without more efficient logistics
In order to help achieve this growth, Wyckaert built its own new, sustainable head office and warehouse. Keeping their plans and ambitions for the future in mind, Wyckaert came to the conclusion that the existing solutions for warehouse management would not suffice for the long term.
Wyckaert was in need of a solution that could ensure the digitalisation of logistical actions in a reliable manner, and could effortlessly provide a link to the existing management software. Scanning, barcodes, RFID tags: the solution needed to come at it from that angle, and needed to meet the specific requirements. After searching for some while, the company got in touch with PHI DATA, and they were able to provide an answer to all the requirements that Wyckaert was struggling with. “Not only because they have the full range of potential solutions in-house, but also because they listened sincerely to what we needed, instead of pushing us in the direction of one particular solution,” clarifies Pascale De Backer, Financial Director and a director at Wyckaert construction firm.
All the parties on the same page
Once Wyckaert had chosen PHI DATA, the project could begin. Not without thorough preparation and evaluation of the objectives that Wyckaert had in mind, though. PHI DATA’sIDstock® solution needed to bridge the gap between the physical reality and the existing management software. In order to make this link as seamless and faultless as possible, it was essential to get all the parties involved around the table first: Wyckaert, PHI DATA and Van Meijel Automatisering, the supplier of the ERP software Metacom. “That collaboration went smoothly and productively,” says Robby Van Nieulande, Head of Technical Support and Logistics at Wyckaert. “You could tell at some points that the PHI DATA team had wide experience of integrating solutions into other environments.”
The implementation itself was also a success. After a few months, the entire environment had been implemented and the first pilot project could begin. The teething problems were soon worked out and the general impression was highly positive: the anticipated time savings and simplified administration seem to be well within reach.
The right solution was chosen for each application. A barcode is affixed to consumables due for sale, making them easy to identify, so that stock management and sales data are automatically updated. Tools, which are lent out for a specific construction site, are equipped with an RFID tag, for frequent reuse. “Each choice was carefully considered, including the placement of the tags. Ultimately, they’re on devices in some really harsh conditions at times,” says Robby Van Nieulande.
After the initial pilot phase, it is clear to everyone: Wyckaert now has a much better grip on the logistical process, without needing to bring in extra personnel, is Robby Van Nieulande’s satisfied assessment: “That has a lot to do with how user-friendly the PHI DATA solution is. Scanning machines and linking them to the right site takes place in a heartbeat. They’ve developed a solution for back orders too, whereby the products not in stock are included on an updated order form with a clear reference to the first one. It seems so simple, but it makes a huge difference for us.”
After the successful pilot phase, Wyckaert can roll out the solution widely in 2021. Only then will the benefits really become tangible, as Pascale De Backer knows: “Quicker and more accurate delivery to the sites, fewer errors in the administrative processing, real-time information on stock at the warehouse and financial information available … Calculating an RoI for this project really isn’t something we need to do: we know this new infrastructure arms us for the challenges that our growth ambitions will involve.”
PHI DATA solution in detail
Combination of technologies: barcode on consumables and RFID on the tools (for the picking & the returns)
IDstock® solution is linked to the Metacom management software (from Van Meijel Automatisering) for following consumables and assets in real-time.
The power of Smart Edge
With this solution, PHI DATA is offering Wyckaert Construction Firm the power of Smart Edge. Smart Edge is the ‘missing link’ between the physical world in warehouses and production environments and the digital management environments. By bridging the gap between both worlds, the company can optimise business processes and workflows and get a better view of the state of affairs on the shop floor from the same digital environment that also manages and monitors the rest of the business.
PHI DATA has all the hardware a company needs to digitalise physical components in all possible scenarios, and the software and know-how to integrate that information with the client’s existing infrastructure.
XPO Logistics is a global player in transport and logistics solutions and specialises in the storage and delivery of goods from diverse markets. In Belgium, the company is active in six locations: three of which are in Antwerp, with the others in Veurne, Zellik and Welkenraedt. XPO Supply Chain Belgium, the Belgian section of XPO Logistics, recently decided to replace the WiFi infrastructure at the 120,000m2 site in Welkenraedt (XPO Supply Chain Chemicals), to be able to meet their new requirements.
Previously, the site at Welkenraedt was equipped with a (Cisco) WiFi infrastructure (with more than 90 access points), which was primarily used for warehouse processes (receipt of goods, order pricking, storage of goods, order preparation and delivery, etc.) The Access Points were managed by a locally installed wireless controller.
The new requirements include, among other things, updating the WiFi infrastructure to current WiFi standards (802.11n, 802.11ac, etc.). The infrastructure also needed to be managed centrally and additionally needed to be capable of managing multiple sites simultaneously.
“The total cost of our WiFi infrastructure has fallen, because physical controllers can be eliminated and the amount of access points has been reduced by 40 pieces throughout the whole site. Management has also been made easier. The virtual controller is established in Zellik and also manages other warehouses with just one system.”
XPO Supply Chain Belgium had already previously worked with PHI DATA, and following a procurement procedure, were able to collaborate once again with this Auto-ID specialist from Wemmel. In order to meet the requirements mentioned above, PHI DATA proposed the implementation of a Zebra VX9000 solution. This consists of a Virtual Wireless Controller, which is capable of managing more than 10,000 Wireless Access Points at multiple sites simultaneously, and replaces all previous Access Points with Zebra AP7522 802.11ac access points.
“Of course all these access points need a controller”, explained Peter Guetens, IT Manager at XPO Supply Chain Belgium. “Previously, we needed physical hardware for this. In Zellik, we have now opted for a virtual controller; the VX9000. This controller is capable of managing all access points. All signals and channels are managed with the new virtual appliance, and all firmware upgrades are completely automatic. Since the full configuration is on the virtual controller, modifications only need to be made on the VX9000, and then these modifications are automatically pushed to all access points.”
“Everything now functions better than it used to. Whereas we previously needed 125 access points to cover the whole warehouse, we now only need 85 access points with the new network – and the coverage is many times better. We chose PHI DATA because they had the best credentials both in terms of price and experience. They are a very professional and helpful team, who think both reactively and proactively with the customer. We came to the solution together, which fits specifically in our environment.”
The new infrastructure has numerous advantages. Since the VX9000 is a virtual appliance, it can easily be installed on a (Windows) server (hardware or a virtual server). The huge capacity of this controller, which can support more than 10,000 access points, avoids the need to implement several controllers. It is likewise capable of supporting multiple sites simultaneously, with the possibility of inputting a different configuration per site. This means that site-specific requirements can be maintained with regard to the network, protection, firewall, etc.
“The system has been fully operational for one month. We have conducted a post-survey, and it now seems that there is no longer any part of the warehouse without WiFi. Just as important is the economic gain. The total cost of our WiFi infrastructure has fallen, because physical controllers can be eliminated and the amount of access points has been reduced by 40 pieces throughout the whole site. Management has also been made easier. The virtual controller is established in Zellik and also manages other warehouses with just one system.
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