Smart warehouse management with real-time data
It was the logistics development manager who asked how much available space there was in the warehouse. Andreas Persson had recently transitioned from his role as a supervisor to a logistics developer at PostNord TPL, Region South. He immediately understood that there was a greater need than just answering the question about the number of free square meters.
It was over 12 years ago that Andreas started at PostNord TPL. He began in production and then progressed to become a group leader. After a break for studies, he returned to TPL, this time as a supervisor. For the last two years, he has worked as a logistics developer and really enjoys the role.
– I’ve always thought that PostNord TPL is a great and exciting workplace, ever since I started twelve years ago. I began studying and didn’t quite feel like the studies were taking me in the right direction, so I returned to TPL and ended up in the right place in a new role, as a supervisor, Andreas says.
It was when the logistics development manager asked about the number of available square meters that Andreas's experience in production, as a supervisor, along with his studies in computer engineering, made him realize that there was a need that went beyond just the question of free space.
– When you’ve worked in production and seen the real conditions, challenges, and especially the opportunities, the picture becomes quickly clear. Knowing how many free square meters we have doesn’t tell us how our space is allocated, and we had a need to be up-to-date with exactly how our spaces are allocated, with what type of items, and who the product owners are.
Once the project got rolling, things moved quickly. Initially, they focused on the visualization logic. Andreas mapped the distribution of allocated space in a template that the logistics developers themselves built. But it didn’t stop there. All parameters were considered, and within just a few months, they had a complete tool that could be easily implemented into the WMS system and applied to the unit.
– The template pulls the inventory list directly from the WMS system and can be updated in real time. The logic we have on our warehouse locations greatly facilitated the work of developing the system, and it’s not complicated data at its core.
Andreas explains that the visualization of space distribution simplifies several parts of the logistics flow, such as during inventorying customer volumes.
– You can easily locate pallets so they consolidate on the same space, saving a lot of time. It also helps that you don’t just find out how the space is allocated, but also which items are involved. This tool not only gives us better control over warehouse spaces but also provides us with the opportunity to constantly improve and optimize our work to meet future challenges, Andreas concludes.