Holistic and competent

Since the changeover to the new logistics system, the logistics software has supported scheduling in the planning of pick-up tours, multi-day distribution tours and return freight as well as communication with the drivers via telematics. The complete control of warehouse processes for goods receipt, storage, picking, loading and cross-docking via online communication using mobile data terminals is also handled by the system. All employees involved in the logistics process communicate online with the logistics system and are controlled via the control stations. TSG has the processes under control.

Specialty furniture transportation throughout Europe

The dispatchers transmit the freight orders to the drivers on the vehicle terminals via telematics.

Transport-Spedycja Grabowski (TSG) was founded in 1997 and grew strongly in the course of the economic rapprochement between East and West. "Grabowski" has specialized in furniture transport throughout Europe and has become one of the leading Polish freight forwarders, currently employing almost 300 people. Since its foundation, the company, which has received multiple certifications and awards, has used state-of-the-art IT solutions to meet the requirements of its customers. Particular emphasis is placed on reducing costs and relieving the burden on the employees involved in the process.

"Grabowski" is a logistics service provider for well-known European furniture manufacturers and handles the entire logistics process for the furniture manufacturers. The notified goods are collected from the production facilities in Poland and Germany and taken to the company's own distribution center. The goods are picked and loaded there and delivered to European wholesalers and retailers. From collection from the producer to delivery to the recipient, the entire process is managed in a consistent and cost-optimized manner with the help of the new logistics system.

At the Grabowski logistics center, the vehicles are loaded in varying waves. By the middle of the week, for example, the incoming goods are taken over by the company's own fleet and/or by external deliveries to the warehouse. After quantity checks and reconciliation, the goods are made available according to loading parameters recorded on the warehouse floor. The very individual but extremely efficient loading method was a special feature, but was implemented without any problems, as were all other company-specific requirements. The logistics system supports the complete handling of warehouse operations and takes into account all changes arising in day-to-day business until the vehicles are finally loaded.

"Interfaces between different software manufacturers was the day before yesterday for us. One solution for everything, that's the future."

Renata Wesołowska-Niesuchorska Director of Logistics at TSG

As soon as the incoming goods are notified at the distribution center, the scheduling, i.e. the route planning software, takes over. The final pre-advice of the end customers is also carried out automatically by the logistics system. What is special about the "Grabowski" constellation is that three teams work synchronously. Firstly, the scheduling for the pre-collection tours from the producers to the distribution center and for the distribution tours to the recipients. The focus here is exclusively on supplying the recipients. The tours to the recipient are planned by the "logistics team". All delivery times and additional conditions of the recipients are taken into account. Thirdly, Grabowski's central warehouse is located in Slubice, near Frankfurt an der Oder.

Goal: Cost-efficient return freighting

The dispatchers transmit the freight orders to the vehicle terminals via telematics. In this way, they manage the optimal utilization of the vehicles by accepting a wide range of orders from various sectors according to the original delivery routes. Once the delivery tour has been completed, the "Forwarding" scheduling area takes over control of the vehicles. The sole objective here is the cost-efficient return of the vehicles.

Wanko

The software company Wanko from Ainring was Grabowski's first choice following a tendering process. Wanko was founded in 1972 and is one of the market's longest-established providers of warehouse optimization, route planning and the entire field of information logistics. The family-run company is known for its extensive experience in the conceptual and practical implementation of individual requirements.

Orders at very short notice or even completely unforeseen orders are easily implemented thanks to the active monitoring of the drivers by the dispatchers via telematics. All results of the current route planning are available to all dispatchers. All users work on a consistent database. This enables seamless, cost-optimized vehicle deployment.

The transport software takes over as early as the notification of incoming goods at the distribution center.

The changeover to the new logistics system was carried out in a system-supported phase model. The possibility of introducing the logistics system with its three main modules, warehouse, transport and telematics, during ongoing operations made the changeover extremely labor-saving. The logistics system modules were introduced in successive, sometimes parallel process steps. The introduction went smoothly both for the employees involved and for the processes towards the customer.

Efficient interface coordinator

The last point of the logistics system implementation was the changeover in the area of invoicing. All services (handling, freight, storage charges) are invoiced on the basis of the parameters stored in the system. All service data obtained from the system control is automatically transferred to the billing system and, depending on the billing modality, is retrieved, can be viewed and revised, released for the billing run and transmitted electronically to the client.

A powerful interface configurator (master data, order data, order packages and confirmations) is integrated into the logistics system, which enables simple handling and clear communication with the customer's various systems.

"Interfaces between different software manufacturers was the day before yesterday for us. One solution for everything is the future," says Renata Wesołowska-Niesuchorska, Director of Logistics. The main task in the overall project was to control the entire, highly differentiated logistics process with a uniform logistics system in a flexible and cost-optimized manner. In addition, as part of the reorganization, further manpower was shifted from administration to productivity. For "Grabowski", the investment in a future-oriented logistics system has paid off; with "costs under control", attractive offers can continue to be made to customers.

www.ts-grabowski.com/de/www.wanko.de