Global Shipping & Logistics drives Middle East growth with Manhattan Associates

Manhattan Associates, the global supply chain optimisation company, has announced that Global Shipping & Logistics (GSL), one of the Middle Easts leading logistics service providers, has made key improvements in the service it provides to customers following a recent upgrade it has completed of Manhattan ILS: Integrated Logistics Solutions, built on Microsoft.NET. 

As a result of the upgrade, GSL reported inventory accuracy levels of 99.8 percent, improvements in pick time and an almost total eradication of errors in the picking process.

GSL is a division of UAE based Al Shirawi Group Oasis Investment Company, which employs over 6,000 people across the Middle East. GSL currently operates two warehouses in the Dubai Investment Park: a 61,000 square foot cold store and a 98,000 square foot temperature controlled facility, with two more warehouses due to open in March 2009 and a further three planned for the end of 2009. GSL serves customers with businesses that operate throughout the Middle East; many of these are local distributors/producers of global brands such as Baskin Robbins, Kraft, Ovaltine and Toblerone.

The company has been using Manhattan Associates software to manage both warehouses since they were commissioned in 2006, and took the decision to upgrade to a more recent version of Manhattan ILS in order to take advantage of its advanced features. Twenty of GSLs customers are already using Manhattans Trading Partner Management module to track their orders, and GSL can accurately measure the use and cost of manpower through the integration of the solutions Labour Management and Billing Management capabilities. Furthermore, performance dashboards provide GSLs managers with a view of the entire operation in real time.

The decision to upgrade was a major step for us, explained Arun Kumar. We were running both distribution centres at full capacity so we could not afford any downtime. At first there was some reluctance to take the risk of a software upgrade, but Manhattan introduced us to other customers who convinced us that all would be well and they were right.  The entire upgrade was completed in less than two months, with support throughout from Manhattans consultants. We now have a system that is faster, more efficient and allows us to offer an improved service to our customers.
 
GSL is a great success story, commented Jan-Paul Boos, senior director at Manhattan Associates.  The company is constantly working to ensure its distribution centres provide the best possible logistics services, and its rapid growth is testament to GSLs commitment to this strategy. As we work with the company to get the next five warehouses up and running, we look forward to continuing to play a key role in supporting GSLs Middle East expansion.
 

About Global Shipping & Logistics

Global Shipping & Logistics (GSL), Dubai, is part of the UAE based Oasis Investment Company (the holding company of Al Shirawi Group of Companies), which employs over 6,000 people across the Middle East. GSL offers logistics services from its multi-million dollar warehousing complex to over 50 companies including local representatives of brands such as Kraft, Baskin Robbins, Ovaltine and Toblerone.  It provides a controlled warehouse infrastructure, with temperature ranges from -25 Celsius to ambient and dry storage. GSL has been active in the freight service provider sector in Dubai since its incorporation in 1975 and offers customers a range of freight management and local warehouse & distribution solutions.

About Manhattan Associates, Inc.

Manhattan Associates continues to deliver on its 18-year heritage of providing global supply chain excellence to more than 1,200 customers worldwide that consider supply chain optimisation core to their strategic market leadership. The companys supply chain innovations include: Manhattan SCOPE, a portfolio of software solutions and technology that leverages a Supply Chain Process Platform to help organisations optimise their supply chains from planning through execution; Manhattan ILS, a portfolio of distribution management and transportation management solutions built on Microsoft.NET technology; and Manhattan Carrier, a suite of supply chain solutions specifically addressing the needs of the motor carrier industry.