This case history about C&S Wholesale Grocers comes courtesy of Retalix. It has been selected and edited by the MHM editorial staff for clarity, content and style.
Retalix, a global provider of software solutions for distributors and retailers, today announced that C&S Wholesale Grocers, the second-largest grocery wholesaler in the U.S., has deployed the Retalix Dock Scheduling system at all 34 of its distribution centers across the U.S. The distributor already reports significant efficiency gains in scheduling processes and improved visibility at its distribution centers using the Retalix system.
Based in Keene, N.H., C&S Wholesale Grocers serves large chain supermarkets, independent grocers and military bases at more than 5,000 locations in 12 states. The Retalix Dock Scheduling implementation went live at the first warehouse in March and in less than three months, all 34 locations were rolled out.
C&S currently reports that more than 60 percent of vendor and carrier appointments are scheduled through a custom-built portal and implemented via the Internet. More than 21,000 appointments were scheduled in the past month, and C&S expects this number to continue to grow, as the solution gives the $19 billion wholesaler unprecedented visibility into its supply chain process.
Scheduling Productivity Jumps
"We streamlined our in-bound scheduling process over a period of four months and already see a 40-50 percent improvement in our scheduling productivity," said Joe Caracappa, CIO of C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. "The system enabled our schedulers to receive and set an appointment in half the time required by the previous system. The web scheduling functionality greatly reduced the overall number of phone calls and manual entry. The solution also provides much greater visibility to our warehouse, receiving, and procurement teams."
Retalix Dock Scheduling uses appointment-scheduling functions to optimize resources, predict labor demands, facilitate carrier scheduling via the Web and streamline the flow of goods through the distribution center. The solution tracks due dates, forecasts estimated loading and unloading durations, and recommends the appropriate warehouse dock and door. By optimizing the receiving schedule, the application helps distributors plan labor more efficiently, thereby increasing overall dock throughput.
"Retalix Dock Scheduling has proven repeatedly to deliver wholesalers' immediate and substantial productivity gains as a point solution," said Reuben Halevi, executive vice president of Retalix USA. "But by integrating Retalix dock scheduling with Retalix purchasing and billing, C&S has also synchronized and improved their core supply chain business processes."
Retalix Dock Scheduling is one component of the Retalix Transportation Solutions Suite. Other applications include Retalix Yard Management, which is designed to automate the yard and dock management process through advanced predictive logic and leading-edge optimization algorithms; and Retalix Traffic Management, which provides comprehensive inbound freight management for planning, procurement, execution, settlement, visibility, and supplier control.
About C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. is a privately owned company with annual sales of $19 billion. The company is the 10th largest privately held company in the U.S., as ranked by Forbes magazine. Founded in 1918, C&S provides distribution services to grocery chains and independent stores, delivering to more than 5,000 locations from its distribution centers in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, California and Hawaii. For more information please visit www.cswg.com.
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