Walker’s Shortbread, a family-owned heritage brand known for its high-quality shortbread since 1898, has implemented Indigo’s Warehouse Management System software to enhance stock visibility and traceability across its operations. The company, Scotland’s largest exporter of branded food, has seen significant demand and global expansion, leading to the integration of Indigo’s software to improve the management of both inbound and outbound goods.
With nearly half of its sales generated from exports and a growing emphasis on e-commerce, Walker’s Shortbread sought to optimize its supply chain to support its expanding global customer base. The investment in Indigo’s software has streamlined operations, particularly in managing inbound ingredients and packaging materials, as well as the outbound control of finished products.
John Taubman, Head of IT at Walker’s Shortbread, credited the software with sustaining the company’s growth by enhancing stock management, visibility, and traceability, especially crucial given the brand’s seasonal business model.
The Indigo system, used in conjunction with mobile devices, allows warehouse staff to efficiently manage product components upon arrival, ensuring ingredients are either allocated for immediate production or stored for future use. This process is supported by strict internal Quality Assurance procedures and ensures complete traceability of stock movements through the use of batch/lot numbers.
Additionally, the software streamlines the handling of finished goods, from production to storage and eventually shipment to customers. Indigo’s solution includes features that boost efficiency, such as direct trailer loading at production facilities, reducing dispatch times and handling overheads. This functionality not only automates the shipping process for large orders but also allows for real-time order tracking and updates.
Taubman highlighted the time savings and increased efficiency the system brings, particularly for large-scale shipments to distribution centers. Indigo’s management system also enhances traceability for finished goods, linking lot numbers to works and sales orders, enabling detailed tracking of every item shipped, whether directly to consumers or in bulk to retailers.
The adoption of Indigo’s Warehouse Management System has significantly reduced shrinkage and eliminated inefficiencies associated with the previous paper-based system. Taubman praised the move to a paperless process, which has improved accuracy in fulfilling customer orders and minimized the repackaging and shipping of surplus items.
Walker’s Shortbread’s partnership with Indigo has resulted in a more efficient, transparent, and responsive supply chain, supporting the brand’s continued growth and commitment to quality in serving its global customer base.
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