Focus on future-proofing and functional scope
A central component of contract logistics are the twelve own warehouse locations. There, the Nosta Group provides all logistics services with individual solutions or cost-efficient multi-user operation, from storage to IT-supported order processing and order picking through to the provision of shipments.
order processing and order picking through to dispatch provision. The warehouse management system PSIwms forms the information technology core for the logistics processes at the eight warehouse locations. The logistics service provider has been relying on the IT system from the PSI Logistics Suite since 2007. "We had previously had bad experiences with small software providers and isolated solutions," explains Rainer Mönnig, IT Process Manager at the Nosta Group. "We had a lot of unnecessary interfaces and no transparency regarding inventories and processes. When choosing a new warehouse management system, investment security, future-proofing and the range of functions offered by the product standard were therefore important decision criteria."

Direct import of CSV files
In addition to its range of functions and performance, the multi-award-winning PSIwms is also geared towards customer-specific configuration. Following a training program, users can flexibly tailor PSIwms to their own requirements, largely independently. The IT system's ability to be updated and released underlines its investment and future security. This is also the case at Nosta. "With the option to configure PSIwms ourselves, we have been able to adapt it exactly to our needs over the years," says the IT process manager. Mönnig cites the option of importing CSV (comma separated value) files directly into PSIwms and using them as particularly helpful and time-saving. The service provider has come to appreciate the possibilities of in-house customizing, particularly in the processes of day-to-day business in its forklift-operated block and rack warehouses. "For capacity reasons, we may have to move clients from one location to another," says Mönnig. "With PSIwms, this is no problem. We can assign clients to locations as required, track which employee is working on which client at which location at any time and have a complete view across all locations, for example of order data and stocks for each individual client."

The multi-user and multi-site capable PSIwms is only installed once, at the Osnabrück headquarters of the Nosta Group. From there, the warehouses are managed with virtually logically separate systems. This prevents accidental manipulation of other locations. The complete view is only accessible to defined super users. This also means that each location can be shut down, maintained or its configuration changed individually. Experts emphasize that a WMS should be upgraded to the latest system release and the current status approximately every three to five years in view of the rapid technological developments. PSI Logistics has separated product standards and individual configurations in its product development. When upgrading to the latest release of PSIwms, the new functions can be used while the customer-specific customization is retained.

Cyclical upgrade: provided with new functions
With this in mind, Nosta decided to upgrade to the current version of PSIwms in 2016 and also "agreed a cyclical upgrade as an option in the maintenance contract with PSI Logistics", says Mönnig. This means that the logistics service provider receives the new functionalities and optimization options regularly every three years. With the current version, Nosta uses an extended range of standard interfaces and new functions such as the Warehouse Service Broker. "Configurable clients here, a new standard interface for the shipping system there - sometimes just little things, but they make life much easier in operations," says Mönnig.
After the upcoming upgrade, Nosta will also design the PSIwms interface itself with the PSI Click design. Several individual dialogs can be linked to form a process-oriented screen. The user sees all the desired information in this single screen and can navigate through the data with a click. The multi-site capability of PSIwms has been further expanded with the Warehouse Service Broker module. As an intermediate level below the ERP system, it coordinates and controls the WMS of several sites - regardless of which manufacturer the software solutions come from. This makes PSIwms the company-wide superordinate WMS. It clusters several physical warehouses and enables end-to-end networking and transparency with all the benefits of cross-warehouse inventory management and optimization. "A helpful tool for cross-location process control as well as for designing tailor-made logistics concepts for our customers," summarizes Mönnig.

Almost 9,000 pallets handled per month
From Osnabrück, PSIwms is used throughout the company to "control warehouse logistics in a private cloud", says Mönnig - for example, the processes at the Ladbergen warehouse location. Up to 20,000 pallet spaces as well as areas for shelving for small parts storage and VAS are available in the multi-client warehouse, which can be expanded to up to 30,000 square meters. 1,750 different items are stored there. "A spacious multi-user warehouse that is ideal for handling all common B2B and B2C business models in retail logistics, mail order and other sectors," says Mönnig. At present, almost 9,000 pallets are handled per month in Ladbergen. The integrated forklift guidance system in PSIwms ensures route-optimized transports. "For one client, we use PSIwms to manage the stocks in Ladbergen as well as in an external overflow warehouse," summarizes the IT process manager. "PSIwms allows us to coordinate the processes and available resources from Osnabrück and control stock transfers, shipping, warehouse and inventory management. Extensive management and scheduling functions optimize inventory management, and with its update and release capability, flexible system architecture and custom configuration options, PSIwms can be easily tailored to the respective requirements, changed business processes, new products and client requests. PSIwms thus supports our efficiency and flexibility at both an operational and tactical level. The decision in favor of PSIwms as a future-oriented investment has been more than confirmed."