CASE STUDIES

BancTec's AutoIDFirst division has assisted its customers to improve customer service while at the same time reduce operating costs via being able to provide consultancy and develop customised solutions for each individual customer. Below are some cases where BancTec's experience has had a significant effect to the customers operations. If you have similar requirements or a similar challenge then contact BancTec via: autoid.sales@banctec.co.uk

Sports retail giant, all:sports, has invested in a wireless solution from systems integration and outsourcing services company, BancTec Limited, for its warehouse operations. The move comes after a successful pilot at the company's Denton textiles warehouse, where the BancTec RF system connects warehouse floor staff with central pick and sortation systems.

According to Matt Bannon, Head of IT at all:sports, wireless connection will solve the problems they were having with damaged cables and connectors. "Warehouse operatives have had portable 'Piccolink' terminals for some time. We used to rely on a plug-in connection to our bulk pick and sortation systems," said Bannon. "But plugging in every time they needed to print a label, for example, was causing real problems. Using RF has removed the weakest link in the system."

all:sports has extended the BancTec RF solution to its two other warehouse facilities in the UK, allowing for a single, live view of operations across the company.

"The practical business solution we’ve perfected with all:sports is a classic case of the right technology for the job," commented James Silcock, Director of Business Development at BancTec. "We are pleased to have been able to provide a working RF solution that overcomes some of the problems of the previous method and brings improvement to the entire operation."

Specialist clothing and gift retailer, The Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM), has invested in the latest scanning and printing technology from BancTec to improve its logistics operations. The company has replaced over 200 barcode scanners with the latest models and installed a Bluetooth printing solution at its national distribution centre, in Carlisle.

According to EWM, the upgrades will improve efficiency throughout its facility, which handles some 28 million items a year. The new scanners are more durable, have a longer battery life, are more accurate and can be used from a greater distance. EWM saves time at every step in the chain from receipting goods to loading outwards, says the company.

BancTec has also installed a Bluetooth wireless printing solution on the manned picking machines at EWM's 100,000 sq ft distribution centre. This links the on-board printer to the picking terminal, eliminating the weakest link - the cabling.

Until recently, the retailer had outsourced stocktaking activities for all of its high street stores. Stocktaking typically takes place three or four times each year, at all stores simultaneously. Although relatively effective, the process was time consuming, relied upon staff that were not necessarily familiar with the retailer's specific products and, perhaps most importantly of all, involved considerable cost.

BancTec had previously worked closely with the retailer to develop, supply and install a sophisticated warehouse based data capture and handling system, for order processing. As stock at each high store needs replenishing, orders are sent electronically direct from the store to a central distribution warehouse. From here they are captured using purpose written BancTec software and downloaded as a 'pick list' to one of over 2,000 networked Denso BHT Series barcode scanning terminals.

A pick list, or a sequence of lists, are automatically uploaded to each scanner, where the details appear on a small LCD screen. Warehouse staff then simply scan each item on the pick list, with software in the scanner confirming that the item and list match correctly; an error message is displayed in the event of a mismatch. When the pick list is complete, the operator simply replaces the scanner in the appropriate cradle and the information is automatically uploaded to the central database and a dispatch note generated in the warehouse to accompany the goods.

The success with which this contract was competed by BancTec prompted the retailer to commission the company to review the stock taking process, in order both to reduce costs and increase overall efficiency.

Using compatible technology and a similar data acquisition methodology to that used for the order processing system, BancTec subsequently developed a second system.

During the stock take, in-store staff simply scan every item in an assigned part of the store. Once scanning is complete and the scanner returned to its communications cradle, data is transmitted via a modem link to the central system, which then compares this to its records, with any discrepancies being highlighted and retransmitted back to the specific store for a further check. For each of these two projects, the key objectives have been to improve the operating efficiency and competitiveness of the retail operation, through faster and more resilient data processing, better use of information and, ultimately, cost savings. The latter project, for example, is expected to produce a payback in under twelve months.

Since its inception in 1975, Snowdonia Windows has grown to become one of the largest companies in the PVC windows market. Like many long-established companies, Snowdonia Windows recently found itself faced with the challenge of implementing an IT system to replace its outgrowing manual stock control procedures.

Snowdonia Windows' 65 staff serve the areas of North Wales, Cheshire and Lancashire, and are responsible for some 20,000 installations. Serving this many demands impeccable control of logistical systems. This includes knowing which types of products are in stock, which are destined for installation, and which need to be ordered. Originally, the company used a paper-based system to keep track of all this. However, with business continuing to increase, the restrictions of a paper-based system were all too prevalent - very labour intensive system, paper can be lost, it takes so much longer to handle activity this way. The paper operation is a frustratingly inefficient method of stock management.

When Snowdonia went searching to replace the paper based system there were a number of requirements:

a) A system that could manage all stock, be it coming into the factory, going out, or new orders.
b) Required something simple.
c) Did not want to be a slave to the technology - it had to work for the company, and it needed to be cost-effective.

It only took 20 days to adapt BancTec's solution to meet Snowdonia Windows' specification and to provide an entire stock management system using hand-held terminals which capture stock data which then updates the PC hosted application. The system is designed to manage the location and usage of stock materials in the warehouse and stock room, as well as taking into consideration any necessary communication with other departments. Part of the development included building an interface with Snowdonia's accounting system, which can be used to retrieve details of stock provided by suppliers, eliminating the need for staff to key anything in.

BancTec's solution was also customised to handle stock-takes for Snowdonia. The work that would normally go into keeping a manual record of stock, recounting and logging details has now been omitted. BancTec's solution now gives Snowdonia Windows up to date stock control and allows the company to manage its stock more profitably.

Benefits

Snowdonia's day-to-day operations have become far easier. Auto-ID stock control takes a great deal less time than previously, and staff are able to work on other things. In turn, this has been to the benefit of the service Snowdonia offers its clients. They now know exactly where they are with the status of orders, and what items are in stock. Ultimately, it has given Snowdonia better control.

Serco Ryan, the leading supplier of managed stock systems, which forms an integral part of the essential components supply chain for many industry sectors, including manufacturing, construction, automotive, and electronics. Serco Ryan implemented BancTec's mobile stock taking solution that links a hand held scanner to a mobile phone. Serco Ryan staff use the mobile solution on customer visits to scan goods bins to determine the level of replenishment required. Since the implementation began, Serco Ryan has run a paperless system, trebled the possible number of customer visits per day, and has significantly improved customer service levels.

Serco Ryan piloted the system and was convinced of its value after just one week. Prior to using Auto ID, the company used very unwieldy barcode scanners that proved unpractical - so much so that some of their staff would have preferred to revert back to traditional methods. From here, the data gathered would need to be keyed into the information processing system, which was a drain on valuable human resource.

BancTec was recommended to Serco Ryan by their parent company, The Wyko Group, and what started as a simple barcode structure developed, by BancTec, into a very sophisticated system using the latest mobile phone technology. Now, when the hand held device is aimed at the bin it takes an immediate reading, and the information is automatically sent to the central computer system, which instantly records the exact amount of replenishment required. Previously, Serco Ryan staff would drive to customer offices, deliver the goods, then record replenishment requirements for product supply and then return to the local branch.

Serco Ryan was pleased to find a company, BancTec, which was prepared to assess their needs and work with them without any fuss. Serco Ryan is a very customer-centric company and the new system allows them to project that.