COTTON TRADERS GOES LIVE WITH NEW WAREHOUSE MGT SYSTEM

SPORTS CLOTHING GIANT KICKS OFF NEW WIRELESS WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN TIME FOR SIX NATIONS RUGBY

Sports shops nationwide are stocking up with Six Nations replica rugby shirts in good time for the February 2006 tournament with the switching on of a new warehouse management system at Cotton Traders, the leading provider of quality leisure and sports wear. Cotton Traders worked with its logistics partner, Elite Forwarders and Catalyst International, a global provider of supply chain execution systems, to enhance its warehouse operations and introduce wireless technology to improve the execution of inbound, internal and outbound stock movements.

Cotton Traders recently implemented SAPs Warehouse Management System as part of a larger SAP project. Cotton Traders selected Catalyst to develop a fully integrated wireless (RF) solution to automate warehouse processes. The system supports Cotton Traders wholesale operation for supplying sports clothing stores nationwide. The solution is based on native SAPConsole and enhanced by Catalysts own SAP Transactions to manage in-bound, picking, replenishment and despatch.

The previous warehouse management system was not giving Cotton Traders real-time visibility of warehouse movements. The recently implemented RF technology significantly improves operational performance and accuracy, helping Cotton Traders to run more efficiently whilst improving customer service and in-store availability.

Catalyst deployed a fully integrated RF solution based on SAP Console Catalyst transactions and Symbol equipment. This system is operational at the Cotton Traders main distribution centre run by Elite Forwarders in Leeds, Yorkshire. 

Darren Clark, Elites Contract Manager said: As a logistics provider for Cotton Traders we are continually looking at ways that we can enhance our processes. It was key to us that we needed a SAP solution partner who understood how we work with our clients. In how theyve worked on this project, Catalysts has more than demonstrated their ability to work with us and deliver a solution that is bringing early benefits to our client.

The first stage of deployment has been very smooth and has come in on time and on budget; both were key factors in our decision to go with the Catalyst solution. said John Day, Cotton Traders IT Manager. With the Six Nation Rugby tournament in February, its vital that we have full visibility of the movement of goods in the warehouse as this will be a very busy time for us. Combined with the softwares lower cost of ownership, the real time picture of stock movements that this solution is already delivering means we expect to see a full return on investment within 12 months.

Steve Barker, VP of Sales, EMEA for Catalyst International commented: The launch of our solution at Cotton Traders is an excellent example of how our customers can get more from their SAP systems. Catalysts experience in RF technology and specialist SAP Logistics Consulting can bring about a real transformation in how the supply chain is managed. Our partnership with Cotton Traders is ongoing and we look forward to helping Cotton Traders extend the benefits of this solution to other area of the business