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Driving Cost Savings in Retail Supply Chain: A Case Study on Blokker and Flexport
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Applicable Industries
- Electronics
- Retail
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Procurement
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
- Supply Chain Visibility
The Challenge
Blokker, a popular retail brand in The Netherlands, was facing a period of falling profits due to increased competition from both online and physical retailers. This created a challenging market condition for the company, which needed to increase its margins to ensure long-term profitability. The company's supply chain and sourcing strategy were identified as key areas for improvement. Blokker expanded its supplier base to 200 suppliers, increased the order frequency, and drove cargo consolidation in the Far East. However, these changes put additional strain on the supply chain, creating issues that needed to be addressed.
About The Customer
Blokker is one of the oldest and most recognized retail brands in The Netherlands, founded in 1896. The company operates more than 350 stores and 70 franchises, offering a range of household goods from electronics to kitchen appliances. In recent years, Blokker has faced increased competition from other retailers, both online and physical, leading to a period of falling profits. To better position itself for long-term profitability, Blokker needed to increase its margins and identified its supply chain and sourcing strategy as key areas for improvement.
The Solution
Blokker partnered with Flexport to improve its Far East logistics and cut costs across the line. Flexport provided a platform where all shipment communication, data, and documents could be centralized, streamlining communications and reducing the burden of managing hundreds of emails a day. Major purchase order and shipment milestones were automatically pushed to Blokker's internal systems through electronic data interchange (EDI), enabling the company to take direct action in day-to-day workflows. Flexport's integrated platform provided full transparency into the logistics flow from origin to local warehouses, not only for standard container loads but also for more complex logistical operations. This allowed Blokker to execute sophisticated consol boxes for up to 10 suppliers, increasing order frequency and decreasing working capital position.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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