Download PDF

Honeywell > Case Studies > Kruitbosch Halves its Error Rate, Speeds Up Orders and Increases Productivity by 30% with Honeywell’s Vocollect Voice Solutions

Kruitbosch Halves its Error Rate, Speeds Up Orders and Increases Productivity by 30% with Honeywell’s Vocollect Voice Solutions

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

Applicable Industries

Consumer Goods
Retail

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation
Warehouse & Inventory Management

Use Cases

Inventory Management
Predictive Replenishment
Warehouse Automation

Services

System Integration
Training

The Challenge

The pressure on suppliers for fast and accurate customer service is constantly increasing. An order placed today means delivery for tomorrow. Such delivery terms can have major consequences for suppliers. This was indeed the case for Kruitbosch, a leading bicycle supplier in The Netherlands and Belgium. As well as supplying the well-known bicycle brand ‘Cortina’, Kruitbosch also supplies bicycle parts and accessories to store and direct-to-consumer. In order to improve their service levels, they opted for a VocollectTM voice solution for their picking process.

About The Customer

Kruitbosch is a leading bicycle supplier in The Netherlands and Belgium, known for its well-known bicycle brand ‘Cortina’. The company also supplies bicycle parts and accessories to both stores and direct-to-consumer markets. With a strong reputation in the cycling industry, Kruitbosch has been committed to providing high-quality products and exceptional customer service. The company operates in a highly competitive market where fast and accurate order fulfillment is crucial. To maintain its competitive edge and meet the growing demands of its customers, Kruitbosch continuously seeks innovative solutions to enhance its operational efficiency and service levels.

The Solution

Kruitbosch implemented Honeywell’s Vocollect Voice Solutions to streamline their picking process. Before the introduction of Vocollect voice, employees had to pick, audit, pack, and prepare orders for dispatch. The new system eliminated the need for auditing, reducing error rates to less than 0.05%. Additionally, the packing and dispatch preparation processes were merged into a single step, cutting down the number of processes from four to two. Vocollect voice also enabled workers to pick up to 16 concurrent orders, a significant improvement from the previous system where they could only pick a maximum of three at a time. This change led to a 30% increase in overall employee productivity, allowing more tasks to be completed with the same number of people. To ensure a smooth transition, Kruitbosch involved its employees early in the implementation process. Small working groups were formed to decide on voice commands and other system features, which helped employees feel more comfortable and positive about the new system.

Operational Impact

Employee productivity increased by 30%, allowing more tasks to be completed with the same number of people.
The need for auditing was eliminated, reducing error rates to less than 0.05%.
The packing and dispatch preparation processes were merged into a single step, reducing the number of processes from four to two.

Quantitative Benefit

Error rates reduced to less than 0.05%.
Employee productivity increased by 30%.
Workers can now pick up to 16 concurrent orders, compared to a maximum of three with the previous system.