Relekta eliminates overtime and halves picking errors with Apport WMS

About Relekta

Relekta is a leading supplier of repair and maintenance products for workshops, industry, and the construction sector in Norway. With over 100 employees, the company has a strong focus on work environment and was awarded “Employer of the Year” at the European Business Award in 2016. Relekta was acquired by Indutrade AB in 2015 and has continuously worked on optimizing their logistics to support their growth goals.

INDUSTRY

B2B Wholesale

IntegraTIon

Visma Business

EMPLOYEES

13 in warehouse

HEADQUARTERS

Oslo

ESTABLISHED

1977

the challenge

Need for a deep understanding of logistics

Relekta faced significant challenges in their warehouse management. Their previous system was based on manual processes, where pick lists were printed from the ERP system. With a warehouse capacity of 1,700-1,800 slots and goods stored in external warehouses, this had become inefficient and created many manual errors.

The complexity of the warehouse had outgrown the capacity of the ERP system, leading to increased staffing and overtime. They could not handle more staff without creating bottlenecks. Relekta aimed to grow by 10-15% annually, making warehouse optimization inevitable to manage the increased volume. Lack of control over inventory led to picking errors and inefficient workflows, hindering their ability to meet customer needs effectively.

the solution

Higher Efficiency and Fewer Errors

Relekta chose to implement Apport WMS to solve their logistical challenges. Apport’s understanding of logistics and their ability to tailor solutions to Relekta’s specific needs were crucial in their choice.

“We wanted a WMS provider who understood our challenges and generally had a deep understanding of logistics. We quickly sensed this was the case with Apport. All their staff have a background in logistics, which means you get a real sparring partner who can look at your logistics with fresh eyes and come up with new solutions.”

Rune Midtrud, Warehouse Manager.

The implementation ensured that all requirements and specifications were met, and the project was completed on time. Apport WMS was integrated, and their employees were thoroughly trained, ensuring a smooth transition to the new system. The user-friendly platform significantly reduced training time for new employees, and real-time data made it possible to eliminate picking errors and improve warehouse efficiency.

“We have some product series that are complex to pick. The items look alike, and it’s easy to make mistakes, but with a WMS, you can’t pick until the WMS has confirmed that it is the correct location and the correct item. This means we have more than halved our picking errors to 0.5 per thousand.”

Rune Midtrud, Warehouse Manager.

the future

Economic gains

With the implementation of Apport WMS, Relekta looks optimistically to the future. They plan to expand their collaboration with Apport when they move to a new warehouse in 2019. Rune Midtrud expects further process improvements, including possible integration of pick-by-voice technology. The new warehouse management has already proven to be a success, with a significant reduction in paper use and overtime, as well as improved inventory management. Relekta can now generate lists of items nearing expiration and adjust sales strategies accordingly, minimizing waste (FIFO principle).

“A pallet of sealant costs 80-90,000 kroner, and those were items we either had to give away or discard. Now I can instead pull a list of items nearing expiration and send it to sales so they can run a campaign on the items.”

Rune Midtrud, Warehouse Manager.

The detailed overview of warehouse processes has improved the quality of follow-up work and ensured that customers receive the correct items. Going forward, Relekta sees Apport as an important partner in their continued growth journey and logistical optimization.