Note: Following a rebranding exercise Zetes’ in-store execution solution is now called ZetesAthena (formerly NucleusIS). All features and functionalities remain valid.
Swiss Sense has implemented a mobile scan and inventory solution to optimise the logistical processes within the fast-growing company. The solution was integrated with SAP. A few months on, Swiss Sense is finding that its productivity is increasing according to expectations.
Swiss Sense is a Dutch manufacturer and retailer of box springs and mattresses. The company differentiates itself in the market with its quality beds that guarantee a good night’s sleep. They have around seventy shops (60 of which in the Netherlands), production facilities in the Philippines and a new head office with added 10,000 m2 warehouse space in the Dutch town of Uden. Swiss Sense also has eight shops in Belgium, two in Switzerland, one in both Curaçao and Aruba and a shop-in-shop in Germany. CFO Camiel Wels tells us why process optimisation and logistical automation are important in their market.
What is your market differentiation?
Camiel Wels : Our name was chosen for the feeling of reliability and quality that it conveys. They are the most important core values of our company, and we manifest them through keeping the whole supply chain under our own management. From product development and production, through to the logistics and service provision to customers. We also invest continuously in the optimisation of our business processes and the necessary IT systems. A good example of these are the three recently implemented logistical solutions for RF scanning, printing and mobile shop inventories. These are integrated with our SAP ERP system.
What is the most important objective of your investment in automation?
Camiel Wels : To increase our productivity and to be able to facilitate successful growth with the same number of people in the head office. That is only possible if the supporting processes and systems are optimally organised . For the warehouse at our new head office, we needed a WMS with associated infrastructure. In view of the current replacement of an obsolete business system with SAP, it was crucially important for us to choose our logistical supplier who belonged to the SAP partner network.
"Logistics processes are easier to monitor and manage centrally."
How did you find this solution?
Camiel Wels : On the advice of our SAP partner , Ctac, we talked to Zetes. During those discussions on our requirements it appeared that we needed more software functionality than was first thought. We initially planned to extend SAP with the necessary custom work for purposes of mobile inventory of all the products in our shops, until Zetes presented a ready-made solution in the form of Nucleus. A standard solution like that is much easier and cheaper to maintain than custom work, certainly with our fast growth in shops.
What else does the logistical solution offer?
Camiel Wels : We have three solutions – for RF scanning, printing and the shop inventories mentioned earlier. As far as the required hardware was concerned, we let our employees themselves experience and choose which barcode scanners and label printers they found the best to work with. These turned out to be the LXE MX7 hand scanners and LXE VX3 truck terminals, while the shop inventories are carried out with Motorola MC3190 hand terminals. The printing of all the packaging labels, lists and price stickers is done using Zebra ZM600 barcode printers.
What are the benefits and results?
Camiel Wels : We’ve only been using our new logistical automation solution for a few months. Nevertheless, we are already finding that our productivity is increasing according to expectations . And the relevant processes are easier to monitor and manage centrally. Since our logistics are naturally business-critical, interruption is not an option. We avoid that by having a couple of reserve units on the shelf, with which to deal with peak periods, and we have a Zetes Care service contract for the total solution.