Case Studies

Safco Dental Supply Company ~ www.safcodental.com

Orders called by 4, shipped by 5 to dental offices

Safco serves dental practices by supplying all of their consumables, from anesthetics to x-ray film. They have loyal but demanding customers, often ordering late in the day and needing it tomorrow. Web and call center orders update the same database and are allocated real-time. Minutes later orders print in the warehouse to be filled with products from a state-of-the-art inventory carousel system. Orders may automatically split if some items are larger case packs that ship separately from the pick-and-pack items.

Call center and web orders in a single real-time database
Real-time order allocation
Immediate order fulfillment
Pick orders in groups every 15 minutes
Carousel batches on demand

Iowa 80 Truck Accessories ~ www.iowa80.com

Multi-channel inventory and purchasing − Web, call center, and retail stores.

Iowa 80 sells everything the professional truck driver needs to make their truck safe, chromed, and lighted. Products range from customized bug−screens to chrome bumpers, exhaust systems, and visors. Directions order manager analyzes every order and allocates and routes it to the distribution center or vendors or the World's Largest Truck Stop retail store. Most items are stocked in the warehouse but larger custom items are drop shipped from the vendor.

Directions interfaces with StoreChek retail system and controls all retail replenishment.

Distribution center fills retail/web orders and store replenishment orders
Retail stores manage their replenishment from DC with category and vendor formulaes

Gourmet Center ~ www.biscoff.com

European Gourmet Cookies and chocolate gifts delivered when you want with gift messages and cards.

Everyone has tasted those crisp caramelized Biscoff cookies on an airline flight. Gourmet Center sells those and many other specialties from Belgium. Their customers send many personal and corporate gifts. Web and call center order entry supports customer friendly gift giving by capturing the recipient with the item(s). One customer database means one customer gift list is available on the web and in the call center. Gourmet gift orders are naturally grouped for fulfillment. All orders with the same product are printed together for efficient picking and shipping. Orders with special messages or gift cards also print together.

Multi-channel customer gift lists available on the web or in the call center
Batch order printing allows most efficient order groups and sequences
Custom gift messages and cards available on the web or in the call center

Wild Wings Collection ~ www.wildwings.com

Even nature can be customized with art prints and originals in custom framing.

Wild Wings markets prints and original artwork from many of the most talented nature artists in the world. Those artists have inspired many other beautiful products. Web and call center orders use the same database to allocate limited edition prints and original art work. Prints or originals can be custom framed. Many nature inspired products can be custom engraved or monogrammed. Directions communicates directly with the customizing vendor or the frame manufacturing shop.

Web and call center orders allocate prints and artwork from a single inventory database
Custom frame and engraving orders go directly to the manufacturer or vendor

Koeze Candy Company ~ www.koeze.com

Simply the best chocolate and nuts to you and your friends.

Koeze Candy Company has a highly seasonal business with two distinct marketing channels. Consumers order gifts for their friends; corporate customers order for their clients. But a major part of Koeze's business is non-profit fund raising orders. Schools and churches start ordering long before the Christmas rush. And their orders are for pallets of sweets. Directions call center order entry interfaces directly with a truck shipment estimating system so call center sales people can quote exact shipping for large orders. These large orders are printed with pallet shipment numbers for easy verification of shipment.

Multi-channel customer gift lists − available on the web or in the call center
Batch order printing allows most efficient order groups and sequences
Future shipment staging makes highly seasonal shipping easier to manage

Washington State University Creamery ~ www.wsu.edu/creamery

Cougar Gold to you and your friends.

If you have been to the Pacific Northwest, you may have had Washington State Cougar Gold Cheddar Cheese. Once you try it, you will send it to all your “cheese head” friends. Cougar Gold is aged for a year before it is ready for delivery. Directions inventory system tracks batches of cheese through the aging process until it is ready to be sold. Then it goes out the door on a first come, first served, basis. Like many other gift food companies, shipping can be highly seasonal. Orders start building from October to peak weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Directions allows gift shipments to be printed, packed, and labeled prior to the actual ship date. The shipments for a future date are palletized and on the ship date the pallet is put on the truck and a pallet barcode verifies all the shipments.

Multi-channel customer gift lists − available on the web or in the call center
Batch order printing allows most efficient order groups and sequences
Future shipment staging makes highly seasonal shipping easier to manage

Hubbard Peanut Company ~ www.hubspeanuts.com

Peanuts by the can or case

From deep in the heart of Virginia peanut country you can get the tastiest peanuts in the world. We know because our office eats several cans every month. Their customers send many personal and corporate gifts. Web and call center order entry supports customer friendly gift giving by capturing the recipient's information with the item(s). One customer database means one customer gift list is available on the web and in the call center. Gourmet gift orders are naturally grouped for fulfillment. All orders with the same product are printed together for efficient picking and shipping. Orders with special messages or gift cards also print together.

Multi-channel customer gift lists − available on the web or in the call center
Batch order printing allows most efficient order groups and sequences
Future shipment staging makes highly seasonal shipping easier to manage