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Case Studies > Colony Brands gains flexibility and cost savings with BluJay

Colony Brands gains flexibility and cost savings with BluJay

Technology Category
  • Functional Applications - Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
  • Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
Applicable Industries
  • Consumer Goods
  • Retail
Applicable Functions
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
  • Fleet Management
  • Inventory Management
  • Supply Chain Visibility
Services
  • Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
  • System Integration
The Challenge
Colony Brands, the first mail-order cheese business in the U.S., faced a significant challenge in managing its shipping operations, especially during its peak season. The company, which now includes 10 brands and offers both food and non-food catalogs, needed a solution to handle over 1,500,000 shipments in an eight-week period. This peak period accounts for approximately 80% of its annual shipping volume. The challenge was to manage throughput, ensure carrier compliance, and customize labeling to streamline the shipping process during this critical time.
About The Customer
Colony Brands, Inc., founded in 1926, is the United States' first mail-order cheese business. Over the years, the company has expanded its offerings to include 10 brands, featuring both food and non-food catalogs. Initially focused on selling and shipping cheese by mail, Colony Brands has diversified its product range to include clothing, appliances, jewelry, furniture, and other general merchandise. The company is headquartered in Monroe, Wisconsin, and has a significant presence on the West Coast. With a rich history and a broad product portfolio, Colony Brands has established itself as a leader in the mail-order and specialty food gift industry.
The Solution
In 2002, Colony Brands partnered with BluJay Solutions to implement the BluJay Parcel solution. This enterprise-class multi-carrier shipping management system supports complex, high-volume, multi-locational, international, and domestic shipping. The solution was designed to provide cost control, decrease volume during early December, and eliminate shipping interruptions during the peak season. BluJay Parcel offers flexibility, allowing Colony Brands to move the product to the cloud, keep it in an internal data center, or opt for a hybrid solution. The system has helped Colony Brands reduce outbound carrier shipping costs, correctly use DIM with new rates, and leverage rate shopping. Additionally, BluJay Parcel has streamlined workflows by integrating shipping solutions with existing material handling systems and host applications, improving speed and reliability.
Operational Impact
  • Colony Brands has automated and tailored its labeling and shipping processes to fit business needs.
  • The company has managed its peak shipping period more efficiently, reducing time to ship by 25%.
  • BluJay Parcel has provided flexibility in deployment options, including cloud, internal data center, or hybrid solutions.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Reduced time to ship by 25%.

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