Liquor store Dirck III improves picking rate by 20 packages an hour with ZetesMedea Voice

By Phumeza Tontsi for Zetes
Brussels, Eindhoven, 25 Apr 2014

Zetes, supplier of identification and mobility solutions in the supply chain, is helping liquor store Dirck III to pick orders faster and more accurately. With the help of ZetesMedea Voice, Dirck III's distribution centre in Zundert has achieved a productivity increase of at least 20 packages an hour. At the same time, the frequency of errors has been reduced and 99.5% of orders are now correctly picked.

ZetesMedea is a logistics solution that efficiently directs all warehouse processes. The underlying aim for companies deploying ZetesMedea is to complete logistics processes more quickly and flexibly, prevent mistakes, and reduce costs. The module ZetesMedea Voice concentrates on the use of speech processing technology for operations, including order picking in the warehouse. It uses the MCL Voice platform and offers a next generation, speaker-independent approach to speech recognition. Dirck III has integrated ZetesMedea Voice into its SAP ERP system.

"ZetesMedea maximises operational efficiency of warehouse processes by counteracting common warehouse challenges which many companies are facing such as labour-intensive, paper-based picking processes, redundant work because of non-integrated processes, inefficient resource planning, manual replenishment, inefficient lift truck utilisation and incapacity to accommodate easily flex and 'last minute' order requests," says Karin Parker, Executive Head of Sales and Marketing for Zetes SA.

Voice picking replaces sticker lists

Until September 2013, employees at Dirck III's distribution centre still collected orders using A4 lists with package stickers. As a result of stickers becoming creased, peeling off, or getting stuck in the wrong places, unnecessary mistakes occurred when deliveries were sent to shops. DC manager Jan van der Nagel explains: "Early in 2013, we considered the advantages of voice picking and concluded that it could improve distribution centre productivity by 6 to 7%. Furthermore we could reduce the number of mistakes, which is vitally important for client satisfaction. We opted for ZetesMedea Voice because it is a speaker-independent system and was recommended by A.S. Watson Health & Beauty Benelux (trading as Kruidvat, Trekpleister, and ICI PARIS XL). Using a speaker-independent system saves precious time, which, with traditional voice systems, is spent on training, registration and the configuration of user profiles."

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Computerised hands-free order picking

At Dirck III, ZetesMedea Voice sends all order pickers on the shortest possible route to warehouse locations, where they receive assignments via their headset to collect the required number of packages. Once all the products for a single order are collected, the picker is informed that the assignment is complete and the order is given a unique order, branch, and journey number. ZetesMedea automatically arranges for orders to be processed on the basis of priority instead of personal stacking preference, and switching between slow and fast moving sections becomes unnecessary. Mr van der Nagel continues, "Thanks to this technology, order picking is now 99.5% correct and employees are enjoying hands-free working much more. Our previous average picking speed of 160 packages an hour has risen to at least 180, while for large orders with several packages of the same article, we're able to achieve up to 225 packages an hour."

* Article first published on itweb.africa

Dirck III Slijterijen

With over 65 stores, Dirck III is one of the biggest liquor store chains in the Netherlands. Most stores are located in the vicinity of the Dirk van den Broek, Bas van der Heijden, or Digros supermarkets. The range consists of beer, soft drinks and juices, wines and spirits. All shops are supported from the headquarters in Alphen aan den Rijn and a central distribution centre with 4 500m^2 of warehouse space in Zundert. You can find more information on: www.dirckiii.nl

Zetes

Zetes is an international Group highly specialised in identification and mobility solutions. Connecting what matters is at the heart of our business: physical movements and digital flows, our customers and their critical data, but also consumers and corporations, citizens and governments. By using the most innovative technologies, we allow our customers to improve speed, quality and accuracy in order to be on the leading edge of their industry. This has made the company a pioneering leader in its market.

The Zetes Group has its headquarters in Brussels and employs more than 1 000 people across 16 countries in EMEA. Zetes aspires to achieve sustainable profits and growth; its consolidated revenues for 2013 amounted to EUR211, 5 million. More info: www.zetes.com

Zetes South Africa

Zetes South Africa is part of the leading pan-European company that provides value added solutions and services based on the automatic Identification of Goods and People (Goods ID and People ID).

Zetes uses both emerging and mature technologies (barcode, voice recognition, RFID, smartcards, biometrics), and develops focused solutions to optimise the business performance of many customers through the supply chain across many market segments: manufacturing, transportation, logistics, retail, healthcare, finance, telecommunication, government and public services.

Zetes' head office in South Africa is situated in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, with regional offices in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. www.zetes.co.za

Zetes' supply chain solutions

Zetes transforms the way modern supply chains collaborate. Its process optimisation solutions for packaging, warehousing, proof of delivery, direct store delivery and in-store management, connected by Zetes Track & Trace repository, enables major organisations to achieve end-to-end product traceability, from manufacture right through to the household. Zetes plays an important role in helping organisations to meet global traceability challenges such as serialisation, diversion, safety, regulatory compliance and anti-counterfeiting. Zetes integrates the latest cloud based platforms with its state of the art ImageID, voice recognition, RFID, coding and mobile computing technologies. As a reliable partner, Zetes guarantees the best life cycle management of its solutions through its ZetesTotalCare and ZetesTotalFinance.

www.zetes.com

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