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The Sound of Voice Success at Sony of Canada
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
- Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
Applicable Industries
- Consumer Goods
- Retail
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
- Predictive Maintenance
- Warehouse Automation
Services
- System Integration
- Training
The Challenge
Sony of Canada faced challenges with their paper-based and RF systems for distribution. The paper system was cumbersome and lacked a locator system, making it difficult for employees to find products quickly. RF scanning, while faster than paper, involved too many steps and errors. Employees had to input data into handheld units, view screens, and the system was often slow to respond. The rapidly changing business model, with increasing online orders and more, smaller orders, exposed these weaknesses further. The company needed a more efficient system to handle high seasonality, support changing business models, and maintain a highly satisfied customer base.
About The Customer
Sony of Canada, Ltd., established in 1955 and headquartered in Metropolitan Toronto, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, one of the largest entertainment companies in the world. Sony's portfolio includes electronics, music, movies, games, and online businesses. The company processes approximately 18,000 orders per month and is responsible for inventory and demand planning, sales order management, transportation operations, and logistics operations. With a workforce of around 1,000 employees, Sony of Canada operates two distribution centers in Whitby, Ontario, and Coquitlam, British Columbia, housing approximately 2,200 SKUs and operating five days a week.
The Solution
Sony of Canada, on the recommendation of their WMS provider RedPrairie, decided to integrate Honeywell Vocollect voice technology into their operations. They observed the technology in action at another Honeywell customer site and saw its potential for process improvements. The integration of Vocollect voice into their WMS upgrade allowed for significant efficiency gains. Initially, Vocollect voice was piloted for cluster-picking for parcel shipments due to its process fit and high number of picks. The training process was simple and short, taking as little as one hour. The technology was later expanded to the cycle counting workflow. The voice solution enabled accurate and quick order fulfillment, better management of seasonal volume hikes, and support for the company's growing e-commerce business. The consolidated picking methodology, cluster-picking, was used for processing less than master carton quantities, enhancing timeliness in supporting e-commerce.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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