A Solution for Warehouse Pickers
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About the client
The customer, in this business case, was a company providing end-clients with spatial management capabilities. In this capacity, they offer dynamic logistics workflows, verifiable traceability functionalities, intelligent automation, and collaborative ecosystems.
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Business Context
On the basis of a set of open protocols, standards, and specifications for the next-gen web-based logistics solutions – which were provided by the Spatial Web Foundation – the customer asked our company to help with building two solutions:
- A new warehouse management mobile app to show warehouse pickers the most efficient routes to items with the help of hand-held devices;
- A web app to show app-picking statistics via dashboards, tables, and a real-time warehouse map.
About the project
The product is intended to be used in the capacity of a spatial order-picking WMS module. Its task is to show warehouse pickers the most effective routes to items with the help of Zebra hand-held devices.
This software module was envisioned as one of the steps on the path to smart warehouses, making operations more efficient and resource-effective. All it takes to create such a smart warehouse via the solution is to:
- View a digital twin of a warehouse for a spatial representation;
- Apply proprietary routing algorithms, taking into account insights obtained from the warehouse digital twin.
The module is adaptable to any WMS or ERP. It is an app accompanied by a web portal, displaying picking statistics and providing other features that help to monitor employees' activity, download dashboards and tables for reports, and make warehouse optimization decisions.
Other:
GraphQL
Challenges
The previous software solution used by the customer relied on defective architecture and was not scalable. They requested a new, flexible, and highly-functional tool. Andersen's team was asked to develop, in collaboration with the customer's engineers, a new mobile warehouse inventory management app for the pickers, which would feature all the needed functionalities.
Also, a web-based app was ordered to monitor the operations of warehouses and generate reports with detailed stats, providing warehouse managers and executives with dashboards and charts, 3D map visualizations, slot optimization options, ROI analysis, and KPIs.
App functionality
Speaking about the mobile app, it was designed to help warehouse pickers scan the items effectively with hand-held devices. The major functionalities include:
- Showing the map;
- Providing the most efficient routes;
- Completing pick assignments;
- Scanning item barcodes;
- Reporting the location of an item or its status as missing.
As for the web app, it was designed for warehouse managers and executives who want to monitor the operations of their warehouses and get statistics reports. It's major functionalities include:
- Dashboards and charts;
- A 3D map visualizer;
- Slot optimization features;
- ROI analysis;
- KPI-related info.
Solution
In order to realize their corporate objectives, the customer needed a spatial order-picking Android app for hand-held devices combined with a web app providing app-picking statistics. With such functionalities at their disposal, the end-users were expected to be able to view a warehouse map, determine the best locations to store items, and make decisions on warehouse optimization.
All these functionalities were supposed to be delivered as part of the solution based on a reliable and scalable architecture, enabling a thorough analysis of the work performed by warehouse pickers.
The gathered metrics on pickers' performances then needed to be visualized via dashboards and tables for management reports, helping to optimize routes and increase productivity.
Project results
Andersen, in the capacity of custom warehouse software experts, has helped the customer obtain a new mobile app in close cooperation with their in-house team. The resulting solution can:
- Optimize routes and increase productivity;
- Collect and display metrics concerning pickers' performance;
- Download dashboards and tables for management reports;
- Give overviews of real-time 3D warehouse maps that show employees' locations;
- Propose decisions regarding warehouse optimization, determining the best place to store items.
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If needed, we sign an NDA to ensure the highest privacy level;
We submit a comprehensive project proposal with estimates, timelines, CVs, etc.
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