Projects from PureLoX
The Austrian third-party logistics provider SCHNECKENREITHER has strategically invested in digitalization, setting important milestones for the future.
The goal was to enhance the connectivity and integration of logistics processes across the entire value chain. By implementing a new warehouse management system and complementary software solutions, the company has taken a significant step toward a fully digitalized and automated process landscape.
The SCHNECKENREITHER group, an Austrian family-owned company, is a full-service provider in the fields of transport, logistics, and storage. The current numbers speak for themselves: over 60 years of industry experience, more than 550 employees, 13 locations in Austria – seven of which focus on warehouse logistics – three international locations, approximately 160 vehicles in their own fleet, and a total of more than 110,000 m² of covered warehouse space.
In addition to global and Europe-wide freight transportation services (FTL/LTL), SCHNECKENREITHER offers a wide range of services in contract logistics (3PL). The technical equipment and warehouse processes at each logistics site are tailored to the specific industry requirements of their clients. These include sensitive temperature-controlled storage for food products, seasonal tire logistics, and customized logistics solutions for branded manufacturers in sectors such as medical goods, FMCG, and food products.
The logistics centers of SCHNECKENREITHER in Austria (graphic: © PureLox SOLUTIONS).
“True to our motto, It’s not the big that eat the small, but the fast that outpace the slow, we in management had already planned for digital transformation on a larger scale,” explains Alfred Schneckenreither, managing partner of the family-owned company. “In logistics and warehousing, our goal was to implement a modern, high-performance warehouse management system. The old WMS was to be replaced seamlessly in this process. At the same time, we wanted a future-ready WMS solution that could flexibly integrate with other processes along the value chain. From the beginning, we sought an innovative provider for a comprehensive solution.”
For the SCHNECKENREITHER group, this automatically meant the holistic integration of all sites. The goal was a unified solution in which logistics sites could be flexibly integrated based on their priority or relevance. Access to individual environments had to be simple and secure. Hermann Hofstätter, managing director at SCHNECKENREITHER, actively oversees the digital transformation process: “Strategically, the new IT landscape must be fully future-proof. This objective also applies to our partnership with the software provider. We place great value on a long-term, trusted collaboration with our suppliers and service providers. Particularly with complex projects, both aspects must align: the service offering and the personal chemistry.”
At the end of 2019, the company launched a multi-stage tendering process for the overall project. However, as this critical initial phase unfolded, the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, introducing entirely new challenges to the project, including temporary border closures. Over an unforeseeable period, much of the project had to be conducted digitally and remotely. Despite these challenging conditions, management remained steadfast in pursuing its course.
With the comprehensive WMS solution, Schneckenreither efficiently manages and optimizes the storage and administration of a wide variety of products and items (graphic: © PureLox SOLUTIONS).
From the outset of planning, it was clear to the team at SCHNECKENREITHER that the selected software provider and solution partner would need to meet three key requirements. Hermann Hofstätter explains the criteria: “We can visualize it like an onion. At the core is a new warehouse management system that must independently meet the most advanced demands of warehouse logistics. Surrounding this is a layer of supplementary software modules that can digitally map and automate additional processes, fully integrated with the WMS at the core. The outermost layer consists of the provider’s comprehensive services, including pricing structure and licensing model. From the core to the outer layer, everything must align seamlessly. In simple terms, we wanted to find the perfect onion for SCHNECKENREITHER.”
The bar for selecting a project partner was set very high. It was clear that everything needed to come from a single source. The management placed special emphasis on the often-overlooked area of software implementation. Here, the service provider’s project team plays a central role, as project management typically determines whether the complex implementation process will succeed. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the approach to collaboration. As many services as possible now needed to be delivered digitally and remotely, making strong digital expertise a new requirement for the solution partner.
As part of the multi-phase selection process, SCHNECKENREITHER reviewed numerous systems and solutions. Workshops were conducted with various providers, during which the functionality and user-friendliness of the software solutions were thoroughly evaluated. Ultimately, the overall packages were assessed and compared.
The contract was awarded to PureLoX Solutions GmbH, featuring the viadat warehouse management system from viastore Software. The PureLoX team has extensive experience in implementing and customizing this proven WMS solution. Additionally, the company offers innovative, web-based software solutions that can digitally automate various processes and integrate seamlessly with the WMS. PureLoX also brings seasoned logistics consultants and project managers to the table, all highly experienced in the logistics service provider environment and well-versed in successfully managing complex projects.
The contract was awarded in March, with the project officially starting in June 2020 after finalizing the project specifications. The project manager on the PureLoX SOLUTIONS side was Georg Weier, a co-founder and authorized officer of the company who oversees implementation and service. With a track record of success in numerous national and international projects, he reflects on the project’s launch: “We carried out as many project phases as possible remotely. This included the concept phase with a digital project specification, the implementation and customization phase, and finally testing, commissioning, and go-live for the first locations. Compared to previous projects, on-site appointments were limited to essential exceptions. For us, this was no challenge, as our project and quality management are fully aligned with digital workflows.”
At the heart of the digital, automated process landscape is the new WMS. The modern software is tailored to the diverse requirements of the logistics provider and is exceptionally well-suited for managing automated warehouse systems. Its multi-warehouse capability allows it to adapt to large organizational structures, while its multi-client capability enables it to individually represent an unlimited number of customers – making it ideal for SCHNECKENREITHER. Each location will have its own strategy for warehouse processes, aligned with material flow, goods turnover, and the supply chain. This includes processes such as storage, order picking, and retrieval. Additionally, the WMS facilitates the control and monitoring of warehouse technology.
“There is a central server installation for the WMS, and all locations are integrated one by one with their own environment,” explains Georg Weier. “Secure access to the software is provided through individual accounts and web browsers. The first logistics center in Ansfelden went live in August 2020. The second location in Seiersberg near Graz was launched in December, both completely remotely. In February 2021, the third location in Wels was brought online. This site is divided into a tire logistics center and the modern logistics park ‘all wels,’ which features 23,600 pallet spaces for temperature-controlled and standard products, consolidating the central Upper Austria region. By early 2024, we will have integrated the four additional SCHNECKENREITHER logistics centers in Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Bergheim near Salzburg, and Wiener Neudorf.”
Around the WMS, three complementary software add-ons from PureLoX SOLUTIONS were gradually implemented. These solutions digitally streamline and interconnect additional processes.
The complementary solutions include the plx.billing add-on for fully automated performance billing for contract logistics customers. The software accesses all necessary data sources and generates complete invoices, taking into account all service types and customer-specific requirements.
Another key component is the plx.planning software for digital time slot management. Through a unified software platform, scheduling and managing loading times is made easy for both the in-house fleet and external transport partners. All process participants have individual access, enabling faster and simpler coordination. Errors in information transfer are now virtually eliminated.
In the future, plx.report will be used to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) at individual locations. Management can customize the dashboard and access critical information in real time, allowing for faster and more informed decision-making while continuously optimizing processes.
“The integration of our add-ons with the WMS is tried and tested,” says Georg Weier. “Moreover, our software solutions are highly flexible and connectable through modern interfaces like REST APIs. Data exchange with third-party systems, such as ERP or TMS, can be efficiently managed.”
With its digitalization initiative, which continues to be pursued with great dedication, the SCHNECKENREITHER group aims to strengthen its market position sustainably.
“Our early decision to accelerate digital transformation was absolutely the right one. Current developments confirm this,” summarizes Alfred Schneckenreither. “We have high expectations for our digitalization initiatives. Automating numerous processes will ease the workload for our staff and significantly boost efficiency.”
Hermann Hofstätter adds, “With the successful implementation of our integrated warehouse management solution at all our locations, we have achieved an important milestone. Processes in transport, warehousing, and logistics now integrate even more seamlessly and have been further optimized. We are particularly proud of the tremendous progress in digital transparency across our entire system and logistics landscape – a benefit that also extends to our customers. The go-live at each location delivered immediate, noticeable improvements. The collaboration with PureLoX Solutions was consistently positive and constructive. We look forward to continuing this partnership and are optimistic about the future of SCHNECKENREITHER!”
Image: © SCHNECKENREITHER.
Structure of the modern logistics park “all wels”, also serving as the headquarters of the corporate group (graphic: © SCHNECKENREITHER).
Learn more about our customer: www.schneckenreither.com
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