UTi, a leading global supply chain management solutions company, has chosen to implement the Cquential Rapid Deployment warehouse management system at several of its own distribution centres, as well those of its customers, in South Africa, the Philippines, Thailand and India.
The company chose Cquential after a rigorous process to select a solution that was both cost-effective and quick to deploy.
“Cquential’s solution was a close fit with our requirements, and we were extremely comfortable with its architecture and deployment model,” says Jacques Retief, global vice-president: Contract Logistics & Distribution IT at UTi. “We also saw that they could be a strategic partner for us given their client focus and desire to expand internationally, our need for a solution that would support our expansion into key emerging markets and our desire to replace several legacy warehouse management systems with a single platform.”
Developed in South Africa by a team of supply chain experts, Cquential was designed as a specialist warehouse management system delivered via the cloud. The cloud model means that the system is able to be deployed rapidly, making best-of-breed technology available without high upfront capital costs–a benefit that, Retief says, UTi found commercially attractive.
“We are obviously delighted that an international company of UTi’s stature has chosen to partner with us – initially in key developing markets in Asia – but with the prospect of expanding our relationship to further territories. Skilled labour is both plentiful and affordable in these emerging economies, so the fact that our solution can still deliver value shows the power of both the technology and the cloud model,” says Cquential CEO, Steve Mallaby. “With Cquential, companies can benefit from top-rate warehouse management software regardless of location.”
Mallaby says that Cquential integrates well into the leading enterprise resource planning systems. Thus, aside from improving operational efficiencies within the warehouse environment, it also contributes to enhanced financial and management reporting and planning.
Cquential is deployed in some of SA’s leading retail, manufacturing and pharmaceutical enterprises. Mallaby says the business benefits highlighted by these major companies include: reduction in the need for manual labour enabling greater staff productivity even where volumes have doubled. “Clients also report dramatically improved stock accuracy and enhanced customer service with significant reduction in order turnaround times.”
He adds that UTi’s US and European operations have shown keen interest in implementing the Cquential warehouse management system.