The Co-operative Group to support 1200 warehouse users on Zetes voice solution by mid 200915/01/2009Brussels, 15th January 2009 - Zetes, a leading European supplier of solutions for the automatic identification of goods and people confirms that The Co-operative Group, the UK’s largest mutual retailer and its fifth largest food retailer, is expanding its use of voice picking technology. Zetes’ British subsidiary is a long standing supplier to Co-op and its voice solution will soon be supporting 1200 warehouse users across six Distribution Centres (DCs) serving over 4,400 retail stores. The Co-operative Group first implemented a voice picking system in its West Thurrock DC in 2006. Since then, Zetes has implemented voice at three more Co-operative sites with plans to extend usage to a further two Distribution Centres by mid 2009 – at the Thetford, Norfolk DC and a new site, due to be opening at Birtley, Gateshead, which will replace two older Distribution Centres. Voice was selected as the right technology to enable faster picking because of the speed and complexity of their warehouse operation and high numbers of product lines stocked. To date, Co-op has seen much higher than anticipated returns with pick errors down by up to 70% and picking rates improved beyond original business case estimations. Operational and management performance targets are also being continually improved upon beyond expectations. Zetes was selected as The Co-operative’s preferred voice solution partner because of its reputation as the auto ID system integrator with the most extensive voice expertise and pan-European experience. “Zetes not only matched our requirements regarding availability, cost and other critical criteria, they also understood our issues from the beginning and we were impressed by their pro-active approach,” says Tim Edwards, Retail Logistics Business Projects Manager at The Co-operative. The Group is using Vocollect Talkman hardware and VoiceDirect Software, implemented by Zetes, with a direct integration into Manhattan’s PKMS WMS solution. The voice system is used for all picking and marshalling activities across multiple warehouse environments including ambient, produce, chilled and frozen areas. “We are very pleased that such a highly reputed organisation as The Co-operative Group recognises the added value of our experience and ability to deliver large projects to major European retailers. This project was an important roll-out which perfectly illustrates the advantages a company can get from using a voice solution – in particular that voice solutions are adaptable for use within most warehouse environments. Pickers working in frozen areas will be very appreciative of the positive benefits of using a voice interface,” says Alain Wirtz, CEO of Zetes. In addition the voice system has proved very popular with The Co-operative’s multilingual workforce who found it both easy to begin using and convenient to work in their native tongues. “Voice technology allows us to ensure our customers receive a timely and accurate service, and that’s what is most important to the business,” says Tim Edwards, Retail Logistics Business Projects Manager. - ENDS – For further information please contact: - Zetes Corporate – Sarah Dheedene – T +32 473 55 21 58 – E sarah.dheedene@zetes.com
- NewsEngine PR – Eef De Vos – T +32 3 260 96 46 – E eef.devos@newsenginepr.com
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