Thorntons replaces systems

Retailer completes first project in IT systems overhaul

Thorntons has begun a major overhaul of its IT systems with a warehouse management project that is expected to save £100,000 within months.

The confectionery retailer, working with supplier EDS, is replacing its central business systems to create a consistent technology infrastructure for sharing data across the organisation.

But the first priority was to update the company’s ageing warehouse systems ready for Christmas trading.

‘We had to make a choice between one big, central system with limited functionality in the warehouse, and a system specifically designed to do the job,’ said Greg Garside, Thorntons head of warehousing and distribution.

‘Whatever we decided to go for, with 40 per cent of our business coming in the run-up to Christmas, we couldn’t fail.’

Thorntons has completed a year-long migration of systems at its Derbyshire warehouse, using radio frequency equipment and software from vendor Manhattan Associates.

‘The ability to interface with other systems was seen as a strength,’ said Garside. ‘And we managed to maintain picking accuracy and service levels during the migration, where we had been using paper-based systems for 20 years.’

The main benefits are accurate stock selection to ensure the right products are ordered, picked and sent out to maximise sales in store, says Garside.

‘We have started to achieve bottom-line cost benefits around stock picking speeds and stock accuracy, and we are doing less problem solving as well,’ he said.

Garside says the use of performance management tools is also helping to eliminate bottlenecks from warehouse replenishment procedures serving Thorntons ’ online business and its 588 stores.