Smart
client and
touch screens
reduce Fressnapf's
warehousing
costs
Background
Fressnapf
Tiernahrung
GmbH is
a major trade
discounter
and specialized
franchise
providing
foodstuffs
for pets,
indeed they
are the biggest
specialized
trade chain
in Europe.
The name
Fressnapf
literally
means 'Feeding
Bowl'! Fressnapf
has over
3,000 employees
operating
from more
than 650
stores throughout
Europe. They
recorded
revenues
of around €508m
in 2004,
making them
the largest
specialized
pet food
chain in
Europe.
Torsten
Toeller,
the company
founder and
Managing
Director
was recognised
in 2003 with
the award
of 'Entrepreneur
of the Year'
and Fressnapf
Tiernahrung
GmbH was
awarded 'Franchise
of the Year'
in 2004.
Challenge
At Fressnapf’s headquarters in Krefeld,
Germany, productivity issues were being encountered
with warehouse processing. The iSeries 5250 based
ERP application supports all of Fressnapf’s
core business requirements, however Organization
and Process Manager, Joerg Boettcher recognized
the potential for productivity improvements offered
by role based customization. The 5250 green screen
devices and cumbersome user interface were not
suited to efficient warehouse operations and repeated
errors were occurring. Joerg decided to evaluate
modernization alternatives that could provide:
- A modern
customized,
operator-friendly
user interface
- Reliable
support
for Windows
XP
touch-screen
devices
- The
option
of extending
ERP
functionality
to
optimize
warehousing
business
processes
- Integration
with
other
applications
- No
changes
to
the
underlying
ERP
application
Joerg
believes
the
resulting
business
benefits
include:
- Significantly
reduced
user error
rates
- Improved
cost savings
through
introduction
of a 'Pick
by Screen'
solution
- Reduced
costs
through
improved
training
requirements
Solution
Seven modernization
solutions
were evaluated
and Joerg
decided
to take
a closer
look at
looksoftware
and contacted
local reseller
Goering
iSeries
Solutions
(Goering).
Fressnapf
chose looksoftware
for the
following
reasons:
- A client
application
was capable
of being
produced,
with no
changes
to the
base
application
- Further
new features
were able
to be created
at the
client
interface
- The learning
curve was
fast – the
team found
the looksoftware
suite intuitive
and easy
to learn
- No
additional
components – like
Java, VB
etc - were
required.
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GUI’s
designed
for
touch
screen
devices
used
in
the
warehouses
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Benefits
Joerg said,
"I’m
comfortable
the looksoftware ‘Dynamic
Environment’ can
support our
longer term
modernization
and integration
needs."
The Fressnapf
technical team
had a short
introduction
to the features
of the looksoftware
suite. So short
that it could
hardly be called
a training
programme!
But it didn't
matter because
they were able
to start producing
the new GUI
functions almost
immediately.
Their prior
VB knowledge
enabled them
to be immediately
productive
with looksoftware’s
development
modules newlook
and centric.
The initial
project required
only 10 person
days – plus
the one day
introduction
by Goering.
It should be
said that Goering,
with assistance
from looksoftware’s
support team,
provided speedy
and competent
feedback to
any questions
or requirements
encountered
by the team.
The outcome
has been a
significantly
improved warehouse
processing
application.
It has enabled
better planning
of routes through
preview capabilities,
the user interface
is now self-explanatory
and the interface
has a consistent
look and feel
throughout
the application.
Users really
appreciate
the intuitive,
easy-to-understand
style of the
interface.
The IT team
has also experienced
significant
reductions
in support
time because
the application
can be amended ‘on-the-fly’ without
having to touch
the underlying
code, thereby
eliminating
the need for
time-consuming
and risky changes
to the ERP
application.
From a business
perspective,
the main benefits
achieved will
be derived
from the significant
improvements
in warehouse
processing.
These improvements
will enable
Fressnapf to
continue its
current growth
without increasing
personnel.
Their ability
to speedily
respond to
new application
requirements
with a consistent,
intuitive and
easily implemented
framework from
looksoftware,
means that
integration
with the ERP
application
can also be
achieved effectively.
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