With NetSuite ERP at the hub of its multichannel business, Blue Sky Distribution, a distributor of grocery and tobacco products, integrated Descartes’ cloud-based WMS software for mobile barcode-based picking and packing, ecommerce shipping, and delivery management.
30%, Graham says. Accuracy generally increases to between 99.5% and 100%, which cuts both rework and the volume of returns. The capability of ShipRush to automate the process of picking an optimal carrier and service for each delivery helps many companies save between 15% and 25%, Graham says. With eet delivery operations, a 20% savings in miles driven and ultimately costs on the road is also typical. Descartes’ Route Planner On Demand automates shipping calculations. For example, if a company has ve trucks and 100 orders, the solution identi es the most effective and ef cient delivery routes for each, taking into account any constraints, such as customers that accept deliveries only during certain hours. BOOSTING ACCURACY AND EFFICIENCY Overall, by shifting to Descartes’ solutions, Blue Sky boosted order accuracy from about 80% to close to 100%, Poole says. By using mobile handheld scanners, Blue Sky’s ful llment ef ciency jumped by about 80%. Through Descartes’ automated rate shopping capabilities, Blue Sky is able to offer more cost-effective shipping options and more ef cient last-mile delivery operations. “From accuracy and ef ciency to everything else, it has been a night and day difference,” Poole says. n
customizations to its Descartes solutions and is considering more, Poole says. He plans to tackle one or two each year until the company completes its list. This customization includes turning on some standard features that Blue Sky didn’t activate during the initial implementation. One example is the inventory module. This cut the time required to complete an inventory count by about two-thirds, while also boosting accuracy, Poole says. In the past, because few Blue Sky employees trusted the ancient scan guns, they hand- wrote bin labels, which can stretch to 20 or more characters. Many companies see signi cant jumps in ef ciency when they implement Descartes’ solutions, Graham says. For instance, the Descartes OzLink Mobile Warehouse product reduces the time workers spend trying to nd items. It also cuts the time employees spend working to correct picking mistakes, which typically requires returning the wrong item to the warehouse shelf, picking the correct item, and then packing it with the other goods for that order. In all, companies typically reduce the time required to ful ll orders by roughly
order is ful lled, that tote is available to be reused for another order. “It has been a godsend for our team,” Poole says. When orders are ready for transit, the Descartes routing system optimizes the delivery routes with a goal of minimizing costs while meeting service requirements. In doing so, it considers factors such as the time required to load or unload orders, the driver’s skill sets, and delivery time windows. Blue Sky can see how long each route will take, helping to reduce driver overtime. The solution saves time, so orders move to their destinations more quickly, Poole says. Delivery noti cations let customers know when a delivery is en route and when it’s complete, among other information. This helps eliminate text messages and emails. Blue Sky employees can also provide proof-of-delivery using mobile devices and digital signature capture. This has been key, especially with retailers that demand documentation before offering payment. ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION As important, the proof-of-delivery records attach to the transaction in NetSuite. If a question about a delivery arises, Blue Sky employees can nd the documentation electronically, instead of digging through a paper ling cabinet. “That is huge for us,” Poole adds. Blue Sky has implemented some
January 2025 • Inbound Logistics 201
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