Fashion, lifestyle and sports etailer improves inventory control with new warehouse management system   One of the UK's leading fashion, lifestyle and sports etailers, MandMDirect.com, has successfully deployed the warehouse management solution from provider, Manhattan Associates, at its distribution centre (DC) in Hereford, UK.  

Fashion, lifestyle and sports etailer improves inventory control with new warehouse management system

One of the UK's leading fashion, lifestyle and sports etailers, MandMDirect.com, has successfully deployed the warehouse management solution from provider, Manhattan Associates, at its distribution centre (DC) in Hereford, UK.

The deployment has resulted in improved stock management and accuracy, less paperwork and, for the first time in the business’s 22-year history, the completion of Christmas stock preparation ahead of schedule.

Online evolution demands legacy migration

MandMDirect.com launched as a call centre business, but has evolved into an online retailer as internet shopping has gained in popularity. The company relocated its DC last year and trebled the capacity to 290,000 square feet, as part of a two-phase upgrade. The subsequent system deployment enabled MandMDirect.com to transition its fulfilment processes and fully utilise the barcodes on inventory via radio frequency (RF), ultimately driving both improved productivity and real-time visibility.

“The legacy system was paper-based, so stock had to be entered and counted manually,” explained Steve Robinson, MandMDirect.com chief executive officer. “During peak seasons, it was difficult to keep on top of data entry because we couldn’t process inventory moves fast enough, and so we always had a delayed picture of the precise location of stock or inventory levels. This is now all done automatically and in real time with Manhattan’s system, so we expect to see much improved levels of inventory accuracy as well as operational efficiency.”

MandMDirect.com also plans to benefit from Manhattan’s additional functionality, including voice picking, in the near future.

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