Cliff Holste, Materials Handling Editor

The News: HighJump Software announced this week its is implementing a series of mobile applications for the delivery drivers of Madison, WI-based Schoep's ice cream, an existing HighJump Warehouse Management System customer.

SCDigest Says:

This is a natural extension for many of these vendors, and the integration can provide some real benefits for customers; for example, enabling potential real-time visibility to inventory availability in the DC, as well as implementing "labor management" type applications for delivery drivers. What Do You Say? Click Here to Send Us Your Comments

Why It's Worth Noting: Through internal application development or more often acquisition, many WMS/supply chain execution vendors have extended their solutions out "into the field," using mobile applications, wireless, GPS and related capabilities to automate and integrate sales and service processes for general and direct store delivery (DSD) requirements.

This is a natural extension for many of these vendors, and the integration can provide some real benefits for customers; for example, enabling potential real-time visibility to inventory availability in the DC, as well as implementing "labor management" type applications for delivery drivers.

The beverage industry (beer, soft drinks, wine, spirits), with its many distributors, is a key sector for these types of integrated WMS/delivery solutions, but there are many others sectors where it applies, such as retail, wholesale, and consumer goods/food manufacturing.

The Story: HighJump Software announced this week that Schoep's ice cream, which sells both locally and nationally, will implement HighJump's Route Administrator, Route Assistant and Usable GPS products that came to the company through the acquisition of BelTek Systems Design.

This will enable Schoep's, which has used HighJump's WMS for a number of years, to more fully integrate its distribution operations by adding real-time transmission of orders, sales data and inventory positions.

HighJump says Schoep's route drivers will transmit orders in real-time and have access to up-to-the-minute inventory counts, enabling more efficient scheduling of warehouse workers and improved customer service levels. Additionally, the system will allow drivers to scan items instead of entering information manually and provide real-time tracking of driver location and automated order processing, leading to labor efficiencies and cost savings.

Jeremy Raether, Systems Manager for Schoep’s Ice Cream, says that the use of GPS capabilities “Will take the real-time data environment to the next level, providing us with insight into what is going on in the field as it happens, enabling us to improve our customer service in a very competitive environment.”

Have a comment on this announcement or news? Let us know your thoughts at the Feedback button below