At the cutting edge

Witron has unveiled its Order Fulfillment System (OFS), an eCommerce picking solution for the non-food sector.

The intralogistics systems powering the eCommerce and multichannel sector have to cope with new challenges to provide an integrated logistics approach with high optimisation potential across the entire supply chain, says the company.

The OFS solution generates many benefits for the customer, catering for new and future market requirements but based on proven solutions. Witron’s motto is “innovation through tradition”.

The OFS combines existing automated Witron modules – OPS (order picking system) which specialises in the efficient handling of a large number of articles; and CPS (car picking system) which handles large-volume articles. 

Witron owner Walter Winkler explains: “Using system-controlled order picking, efficient order consolidation from all logistics areas, integrated packing lines, and fully-developed IT for order consolidation, means we can ensure the end customer receives only one dispatch carton.”

As efficient returns handling is essential for successful eCommerce logistics.  Witron offers DPS (dynamic picking system). This is designed to provide  error-free delivery, on the same day or latest on the next day, and in as few packages as possible.

Due to its modular design and its flexibility, OFS also supports start-up companies in the online trade across all stages of their business development.

Winkler says no retailer can afford to ignore eCommerce and as operations gain in scale, automated handling and picking bring greater efficiencies.

“It has become evident that it is impossible to optimise profitability with manually operated logistics only,” explains Winkler. “We think that flexible and automated systems are perfectly suited to clearly increase the profitability of enterprises within eCommerce business.”

Drive Darkstore System

As well as non-food eCommerce, Witron has developed solutions for Food Multi Channel (FMC). The system supports different online distribution channels within food retail and can be used in dry goods assortment as well as in the fresh food and frozen goods area.

The Drive Darkstore System (DDS) is an automated solution for highly dynamic distribution points (Drive, Darkstore, pick-up point) for pick-up by customer or home delivery of online ordered food. Drives, Darkstores, and pick-up points are enjoying great popularity in some European countries and North America.

Another module of Witron’s product range in the fresh food area is the patented Box Order System (BOS). This solution can also be used for handling beverage crates. A special feature of this is the store-friendly picking of totes / tote stacks which is achieved dynamically by the newly developed Box Picking Machine.

The advantage of this is that it can handle more than single crates. There can be numerous load carriers for one store order – meaning full tote stacks, partial stacks, or single stacks – can be retrieved in a flexible way from the storage racking. During the transportation to the next order picking position, they are consolidated into store-friendly units without any errors.

Achieving consistent growth

The systems integrator also announced an annual revenue increase of some 10%. With revenue of 265 million Euros, Witron expects to achieve a similar increase next year.

Witron currently employs some 2,200 people. The subsidiary FAS, that produces all mechanics systems with high flexibility and dynamics for Witron, employs more than 300 people. At the end of 2013, FAS almost tripled its production capability and now has an overall production area of 48,000 sq m.

Subsidiary WIOSS – responsible for service and operator models for all systems – saw service revenue grow to 25% of the company’s total, as customers increasingly trust their system’s operation to Witron.

Witron CEO Helmut Prieschenk concluded: “We grow into all directions: In revenue, in employees, in new industry sectors, and in new countries. We are already designing warehousing concepts based on these new products and systems. E-Commerce and Multi Channel logistics will of course bear many challenges for us as logistics experts but we are willing and prepared to face these challenges.”