Integrated E-Commerce Fulfillment with platbricks®
pfenning group
Integrated E-Commerce Fulfillment with Platbricks® at the pfenning group
Rising order volumes, increasing process complexity, and the need for real-time transparency present structural challenges for logistics organizations. Against this backdrop, the pfenning group has systematically refined its fulfillment processes. The goal was to establish an integrated fulfillment architecture in which warehouse management, autonomous mobile robots, and shipping management are orchestrated via a central platform and seamlessly integrated into customers’ processes.
At the heart of the solution is platbricks®, our cloud-based logistics platform. It connects operational warehouse processes, Warehouse Robotics, and shipping processing into a seamless end-to-end process—from order creation to shipping status.
Customer Benefits
Customer Quote
Our customers expect real-time inventory and delivery status updates—as well as reliable operations even during peak periods—in B2C, D2C, and digital B2B business. With platbricks®, we manage warehousing, robotics, and shipping on a single platform and directly integrate our customers’ systems as well as various e-commerce platforms. In this way, we grow alongside our customers’ digital commerce operations and take on greater responsibility within their supply chains.
Our Services
Arvato Systems designed an integrated fulfillment architecture for the pfenning group based on platbricks®, which systematically integrates warehouse management, warehouse robotics, and shipping management.
As part of the implementation and configuration of the warehouse management system, key warehouse processes were fully digitized. These include goods receipt, putaway, and retrieval—each route-optimized with dual-path routing—as well as order picking in single- and multi-order scenarios, packing, loading, and returns processing. A key element was the forklift guidance system from platbricks®, which controls put-away operations so that goods are distributed evenly across the various rows of shelves. At the same time, the system takes planned pick operations into account and schedules travel orders so that available forklift resources perform double-pass operations as frequently as possible. This reduces empty trips and ensures efficient use of available resources. A notable feature was the integration of Jungheinrich’s narrow-aisle forklift control system: The narrow-aisle forklifts feature automatic bay navigation, which is controlled directly from platbricks® via standard interfaces.
In addition, multi-stage process chains—from goods receipt to goods issue—were modeled in detail and mapped in platbricks®. Automated interfaces with individual customers enable end-to-end, digital order processing all the way to the customer. In this way, the warehouse becomes an integrated part of the customers’ supply chain. The pfenning group relies on VCE Solutions to connect with express, courier, and parcel (ECP) service providers. Shipping management—including labeling and tracking processes—is fully integrated into platbricks® and enables a seamless user experience.
The integration of autonomous mobile robots from Locus Robotics expanded the order-picking processes to include robot-assisted transport and picking operations. At the same time, Arvato Systems supported the change process with a clear focus on transparency, traceability, and employee acceptance.
About the pfenning group
The pfenning group, founded in 1899, is a medium-sized, full-service provider of supply chain solutions with 110 European locations, 1 million m² of logistics space, and 7,000 employees. In addition to state-of-the-art warehousing and transportation solutions, its portfolio also includes e-commerce and D2C fulfillment as well as a wide range of value-added services. With its sustainable multicube logistics properties, the group has also developed a multi-user concept—which has won multiple awards—currently operating at six locations.
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