Consumer Goods

Helping You Get the Products to the People

Click here to view the introduction of Softeon's consumer goods solution »

Softeon's solutions consistently deliver deep functionality, and particularly cater to the high degree of operational efficiencies needed for large distribution landscapes used in the consumer goods vertical, which typically handles thousands of SKU's/substitute SKU's, product versions, compliance with the FDA (i.e., cosmetics or health care products), and label compliance for various customers (Sears, JC Penney, Wal-Mart, etc.). Receiving, order processing and distribution operations are highly complex, with thousands of pallets being received and hundreds of pallets or cases being picked, either through MHE (Material Handling Equipment), non-MHE-managed pick routes, or a combination of both. Transportation planning is also complex, with constraints such as customer shipping preferences (same day air, UPS ground or LTL/TL-preferred carriers, etc.), order consolidation, distributed order management, routing to customer hubs/DCs or direct stores delivery.

Softeon solutions have a tremendous flexibility, arising from years of implementation in such landscapes. They handle varied order processing methods - Pick by order, Batching or consolidation of orders based on different criteria (resulting in the most optimum wave planning for picking), integration with Small Parcel Shipments, external LTL/TL systems of carriers, etc.

Due to the advanced Java/J2EE, web-based architecture (which is also SOA compliant), the solution's web services support and enable ease of integration to ERP systems running at the enterprise level of the Distribution Center. The services also help in integration with various equipment for multi-tasking/task interleaving and real-time connectivity to equipment such as conveyors, sorters, Pick-to-Light/Put-to-Light, Cubiscan, weighing systems, etc. Also due to sophisticated task management, the system easily optimizes and handles tasks in various zones like VNA (Very Narrow Aisles, where special trucks handle high-reach pallet storage locations) and at the same time working in unison with replenishment operators and P&D zones to make available the pallets at the right time, and by the most efficient travel paths. Built-in features enable easy generation of customer specific compliance labels, while the ad-hoc query generator allows generation of ad-hoc reports/queries and information retrieval. Portal capabilities allow real-time visibility to the customers on a "need-to-know" basis defined by the security policies of the Distribution Center. Different pick techniques (piece pick, batch/cluster pick, case pick) are supported with ease, using both voice and RF (and RFID) technologies, which drives a tremendous level of productivity and efficiencies on the floor.