How NP WMS and RFID transformed inventory management and maximized ROI at Vibholm
Vibholm, a fast-growing jewelry chain with 23 stores across Denmark and webshops in several countries, has recognized the need to optimize resource utilization as their key focus, in tandem with placing a strong emphasis on providing an excellent customer experience. With a well-established partnership with NaviPartner as the provider of their POS and ERP solutions, Vibholm decided to enhance warehouse efficiency through NaviPartner’s WMS and RFID technology. Following the NP WMS demonstrations and the hands-on experience of RFID technology, Vibholm identified a vast potential for streamlining and enhancing their warehouse operations.
Inventory counting time has been reduced
from 2-3 days to just
The Difference
From managing warehouses to online sales and shipping, every component functions seamlessly.
Challenges: An all-in-one WMS solution that provides precise visibility of inventory levels at any time
In light of Vibholm’s rapid expansion and the complexity of business operations, the company found it was imperative to implement a scalable warehouse management solution that seamlessly adapts its growing business. On the other hand, Vibholm’s customers expect the flexibility to shop at any time of the day and seek access to the complete assortment, whether making purchases online or in brick-and-mortar stores. Consequently, the accurate maintenance of inventory information, both online and in physical stores at any given time has become of utmost importance.
The main challenge in this project relates to the integration of all sales channels into a cohesive system, guaranteeing real-time visibility into stock levels across both retail stores and online platforms. This complex process involved numerous calculations to provide the client with an accurate overview of the stock levels for each item across all sales channels. Additionally, the client operates from a central warehouse in Denmark, overseeing distribution to other shops and online stores in several countries. To guarantee the precision of stock information, the introduction of the new WMS solution had to encompass this crucial aspect of Vibholm operations.
Keeping in mind the necessity of daily inventory tracking, our client needed a WMS solution designed to simplify their inventory counting process. The primary goal was to increase the speed and accuracy of all counting tasks, ultimately freeing employees from the tedious and time-consuming nature of these daily tasks.
Solutions: Seamless integration of POS, ERP, and WMS solutions for Vibholm’s improved inventory management
Drawing on NaviPartner’s existing customers in the jewelry industry, we seamlessly transferred our expertise and knowledge to our client’s business. Recognizing the unique nuances of each business, we have organized numerous workshops and weekly meetings in order to jointly face specific challenges and devise tailor-made solutions.
Before starting this project, Vibholm had already implemented our POS solution in their retail stores to facilitate daily sales activities. Additionally, for their webshop, they had chosen to use the Shopify solution. Building on the foundation of a longstanding partnership with NaviPartner as a provider of POS and ERP solutions, Vibholm made the strategic decision to enhance its warehouse operations through the integration of NaviPartner’s NP WMS solution. As a fundamental tool for the efficient management and tracking of items in Vibholm’s warehouses, our NP WMS solution is seamlessly integrated with the existing ERP and POS systems.
”We already had a long-standing relationship with NaviPartner as a provider of our POS and ERP solutions. After witnessing a demonstration of NaviPartner’s WMS solution, we recognized the opportunity to harness the significant potential that RFID offers in optimizing our warehouse processes.
Tenna VibholmCEO, Vibholm
Additional integrations: From warehouse management to online sales and shipping, every element operates in perfect harmony
Utilizing Shopify for online sales required the integration of this web solution with our WMS solution. Moreover, in order to address the specific shipping demands of Vibholm’s end customers, we successfully established a connection between our NP WMS solution and the reputable e-commerce shipping platform, Webshipper.
The NP WMS solution stands as a fundamental tool for overseeing Vibholm’s warehouse operations, encompassing the meticulous management and tracking of items within their warehouse infrastructure. Substantial customizations were implemented to precisely tailor the NP WMS solution to the specific needs and requirements of our client’s business. As a result, all the crucial elements for effective inventory management are now conveniently accessible on a single mobile device. Through their mobile devices, employees can effortlessly perform tasks such as receiving goods, managing inventory, conducting inventory counts, and delivering shipments to end customers.
This enables Vibholm to consolidate financial management, in-store physical sales, online transactions, shipment delivery, and inventory management within a unified system, providing access to all data in just a few clicks.
Innovative technology: Vibholm embraces RFID technology for swift and precise item counting, transforming store operations and accelerating ROI
In an effort to enhance the efficiency of item counting during both store operations and goods receipt, Vibholm opted to incorporate cutting-edge RFID technology to optimize this aspect of their business. Following a successful implementation in one store, the client decided to extend the integration of RFID technology across all their stores. The solution perfectly integrates with their existing ERP system and, being cloud-based, ensures constant access to data for ongoing analysis. The solution’s simplicity and user-friendly interface led to rapid staff adoption, and training new employees became effortlessly straightforward. Utilizing a lightweight RFID reader in conjunction with a smartphone app ensures that new colleagues can start using the system within minutes.
“It’s very simple – if you lack exact inventory data, you don’t know what items you have and where they’re located. Then you fail to get the goods out of the warehouse and onto the sales floor. This means that they are left unsold and that you lose sales. When a customer in the store requests a particular item, we need to be able to look it up in the system and see reliable inventory data right away. When we completed the first inventory count with the RFID solution, it only took one employee an hour and a half to count 95% of all the items in the store! It would have previously taken our inventory counting team 2 or 3 days; and that with a much lower precision, along with data that quickly became obsolete”, says Amalie Olsen, Store Manager at Vibholm.
Additional development: NaviPartner’s tailored order planning functionality optimizes resource utilization for Vibholm
To cater to the specific needs of our client’s business, we have developed a specialized functionality for order planning. In practical terms, this functionality allows for an internal order process: if one store possesses an item needed by another store, the second store initiates an internal order, facilitating the subsequent delivery to its location from the first store.
This functionality was developed with the aim of minimizing additional costs for a store lacking a specific item. Rather than placing an extra order with the main supplier, the store can internally request the item from another store that already has it in stock. This approach optimizes the use of existing resources and eliminates unnecessary expenses. Through the application, Vibholm employees now prioritize checking the availability of an item in other stores. Only if it’s unavailable in any other store will they proceed to order it from the main supplier.
Seamless integration, superior results: The benefits of using RFID technology and NP WMS
By implementing our NP WMS solution along with RFID technology, we have not only improved order processing but also enhanced the efficiency of daily activities, such as counting incoming orders. This ensures that our client will maintain an accurate view of the stock level for each item across all stores and warehouses. Notably, this has led to a reduction in the number of orders, as the client no longer places new orders for items that already exist in another store and are in stock.
The user-friendly nature of the solution has facilitated quick adoption by staff, and training new employees has become a seamless process. Leveraging a lightweight RFID reader in conjunction with the NP WMS application on a smartphone allows both existing and new employees to initiate their work within minutes. As an additional benefit, customers experience a smoother checkout process where goods are placed on a tablet, directly integrating with the POS system.
In Tenna’s words, “It all works fantastically well. As retailers, we always focus on ROI, and with the precision achieved in the warehouse, the solution pays off shortly after implementation in a store. Therefore, I can confidently say that now is the opportune time to leverage the advantages provided by RFID technology.”