The company, part of the Grimsby-based Ramsden Group, has invested a six-figure sum in two new systems specifically designed to increase efficiency and service to customers in its growing delivered wholesale business.
They are a voice directed Warehouse Management System (WSM) which uses speech recognition for accurate hands-free order picking and intelligent routing, and an Electronic Proof of Delivery (ePOD) system.
Dee Bee Wholesale
Dee Bee has been working with Sanderson, wholesale and manufacturing software specialists, on the precise specification of the new systems. The so-called voice-pick technology is being installed first at the Dee Bee depot on Leads Road, Hull, before being installed at the Grimsby depot.
Andy Taylor, the group’s trading director, said: “We have invested a considerable amount in this new IT infrastructure, a move that further demonstrates our aggressive growth strategy for the wholesale business. The voice-pick technology alone will give even greater efficiency and picking of orders and will speed up the entire process to the benefit of our retail, on-trade and food service customer bases.”
Voice directed order picking software sends picking instructions to the warehouse operatives via a wireless headset and microphone, enabling the pickers to quickly identify stock and select orders.
The ePOD system is being installed in the company’s growing fleet of vehicles delivering from both Hull and Grimsby depots and enables staff to capture customer acceptance signatures and carry out delivery amendments at the customer site.
Andy Taylor said: “This will greatly improve our operational efficiency by cutting out any delivery errors and enhancing our service to customers. We can expect a return on this investment in just a few months.”
The Dee Bee depots each stock a range of around 6,000 products and have a customer base throughout the North of the UK totalling more than 2,000, consisting mostly of retailers, pubs, restaurants and cafes.
