John Lewis installs voice technology

Handhelds will aid in picking stock for replenishment

Retailer John Lewis is installing radio frequency (RF) and voice-based technology to overhaul and streamline its distribution operations.

The first phase of a project to replace ageing paper-based, manually intensive systems will begin next summer, running alongside a reorganisation of John Lewis’s distribution network that will last until 2007. The new systems will be used as the basis to open 10 department stores.

Mark Denyer, John Lewis warehouse management system development manager, says the company is in the middle of system designs, having signed a contract with supplier RedPrairie to provide its DLx warehouse management technology.

‘The age of the existing system led us to evaluate replacements,’ Denyer told Computing. ‘There was concern about its supportability for the future.’

The new system will allow the company to better manage supply chain operations at its distribution centres, including replenishment, which will be handled in real-time from a single, centrally controlled system.

The handheld RF and voice-operated terminals will allow staff to select stock that needs replenishing more quickly, efficiently and accurately.

‘In terms of the handheld RF data terminals, we are removing a certain amount of printing by not printing labels,’ said Denyer.

‘Driving picking through the handhelds also means we can be more responsive to allocating tasks. The step beyond RF to voice depends very much on what you are picking – having your hands free is very useful.’

The company is also set to use RedPrairie’s workforce management software, DLx Labour, to improve staffing plans, timing of task allocation and reporting on productivity.

‘DLx Labour is a separate, add-on package that will act as an interface between the warehouse management and labour management systems,’ said Denyer.

‘From a short-term, tactical point of view it will help us allocate work on a day-to-day basis.’