Hayneedle Finds The Key To Growth With Manhattan Associates
Atlanta, GA (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Online specialty retailer Hayneedle, Inc. began in 2002 after three friends purchased the rights to Hammocks.com and started selling hammocks online. By 2009, Hayneedle had grown to more than 200 Internet specialty stores selling everything from hammocks to cribs, beds and clocks. With such a wide range of product categories, an organized and optimized distribution process became the top priority for the company. At the time, Hayneedle worked with three distribution centers (DCs) — two in Nashville and one in Omaha, Nebraska — all managed by third party logistics (3PL) providers. In addition, Hayneedle relied on a significant amount of drop-ship business, where orders are fulfilled directly by the supplier.
"We had almost 650,000 square feet of distribution space scattered all over the country and we decided to consolidate in one location, where we could best serve our customers and reduce shipping costs," said Tom Clement, vice president, supply chain and logistics, Hayneedle, Inc. "As we moved toward a centralized DC, we determined that the software in place was not scalable for us in terms of growth, nor was it flexible operationally. So while searching for a new facility, we also evaluated best-of-breed software, and ultimately selected Manhattan Associates."
The company implemented Manhattan Associates' (Nasdaq:MANH) Warehouse Management (WMS) solution to optimize every component — space, people, inventory and equipment — within its new distribution center in Cincinnati, OH.
"We needed a system that was easy to learn, as we want our associates empowered to push us to improve," said Clement. "Our people have been very happy and have learned the system quickly -- WMS helps us determine all the variables so we can make the best decision on inventory and shipping."
Since implementing the new solutions from Manhattan Associates, Hayneedle has seen several major improvements in its processes. The existing WMS was out of sync with inventory levels, and the Manhattan WMS maintains an accurate real-time picture at all times, removing redundancy and order confusion. Shipping service levels and accuracy have been improved, along with a reduction of total labor and transportation costs.
"In addition to Manhattan's Warehouse Management solution, we also implemented the Distributed Order Management solution, knowing that as we grow and bring new facilities online, we'll be able to do so seamlessly."
Continuing to grow as a consumer brand, Hayneedle is using Manhattan solutions to better control their business and serve customers across a wide range of products suited for the home – from the bedroom to the basement to the backyard. Most importantly, the company now has the systems and processes in place for future growth in the direct-to-consumer space.
Manhattan's Distributed Order Management, the anchor solution within the Order Lifecycle Management suite of the Manhattan SCOPE® solution portfolio, is designed to simplify fulfillment processes by providing a global view of inventory — at the supplier, in transit or in the distribution center. Manhattan's WMS is part of the Distribution Management solution suite.
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About Manhattan Associates, Inc.
Manhattan Associates continues to deliver on its 21-year heritage of providing global supply chain excellence to more than 1,200 customers worldwide that consider supply chain optimization core to their strategic market leadership. The company's supply chain innovations include: Manhattan SCOPE®, a portfolio of software solutions and technology that leverages a Supply Chain Process Platform to help organizations optimize their supply chains from planning through execution; Manhattan SCALE™, 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. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.
SOURCE: Manhattan Associates