Smoothen the Order Picking Process Through NetSuite

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In running a warehouse, every second counts. But if your order picking process is slowed down by inefficiencies and errors, it could seriously hurt your business.  

What if you could streamline this critical task, enhance productivity, and eliminate mistakes? If you're seeking a solution to transform your operations, this case study could be the game-changer you need. Let’s explore how.

Client Portfolio

One of our clients is a wholesale distribution and e-commerce company that operates multiple large warehouses. They utilize NetSuite and SuiteCommerce Advanced (SCA) to manage their business operations. As a long-time user of these platforms, they sought to improve their order picking process within their warehouses. They understood the need for a tech-driven warehouse solution.  

Problem Statement

The client faced significant challenges in their manual order picking process. They used to print all the Sales Orders from NetSuite and pick up the items from the warehouse. This method proved to be inefficient and prone to errors. Specifically, they encountered issues such as: 

    • Slow order processing that negatively impacted productivity.
    • Lack of an error-detection mechanism.
    • Having multiple items in a single sales order made it challenging to split the order. This prevented multiple employees from fulfilling it simultaneously.
    • Coordinating the picking process became nearly impossible, as a single employee couldn’t manage all orders. This leads to confusion and reduced productivity.
    • The sales orders involved various items in different bins, making the order collection a tedious and time-consuming task.
    • Vagueness in the availability of orders, leading to mismatches and missed orders.

    These challenges prompted the client to seek a NetSuite customization solution that could streamline their order picking process. 

    They wanted to customize NetSuite to design, develop, and integrate a single sales order picking feature. They required a browser-independent and responsive solution. 

    They wanted a web application that is on par with the NetSuite guidelines. It had to completely sync with NetSuite so that it can fetch and post data. 

What we Suggested

Our experts recommended developing a custom web application to streamline their process. This web app would enable users to scan sales orders and directly fetch the relevant data from NetSuite. 

Designed for flexibility, the application is accessible on mobile phones, laptops, desktops, and tablets, ensuring that warehouse staff can use it on any device. With a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI), the app guides employees through the order picking process. This in turn enhances both accuracy and efficiency. 

Our team created a custom menu on NetSuite to open the web app. The access to the app is exclusively for users with a Warehouse Administrator role. 

Two Key Screens Developed

Screen 1: 

This screen allows users to scan sales orders. 

Screen 2: 

This screen displays the details of the scanned sales orders, including the SO number, items, bins, quantity, item images, descriptions, item selection checkboxes, and real-time picking status. 

For large sales orders exceeding 100 items, the customization splits the order among multiple employees. This makes it easier to pick the orders. For example, an employee handling 100 items can enter or pick only 60 during a single entry. 

If a sales order contains more than 100 items, the system permits multiple users to work on the same order. In effect, we are automating partial fulfillment of a single sales order.  

The customization also rearranges items in sales orders based on bin locations. Therefore, the employees don’t need to move around the warehouse unnecessarily. 

Additionally, the app tracks employee activity, recording the number of orders each staff member picks. This helps manage and monitor individual performance. 

Customer Success

The implementation of the custom web application significantly improved the client’s order picking process. The new system allowed for: 

 • Scanning of sales orders and retrieval of SO data from NetSuite. 

• Automated splitting of large sales orders, enabling multiple employees to work on the same order simultaneously. 

• Real-time tracking of the order picking status, reducing errors and increasing visibility. 

• Improved coordination among warehouse staff, leading to enhanced productivity. 

    • Achieved full automation of the order picking process, eliminating manual tasks. 
    • Reduced paperwork, leading to increased efficiency. 
    • Significantly increased productivity and return on investment (ROI). 
    • Minimized errors in item fulfillment, resulting in better inventory management. 
    • Enhanced visibility, allowing for better tracking and management. 

Way Forward

This successful NetSuite Customization has not only streamlined the order picking process for the client but has also set a new standard for efficiency in their warehouse operations. As a result, the client can now focus on further optimizing their business processes with confidence in their enhanced order fulfillment system. 

If you’re looking to improve your warehouse operations or facing similar challenges, Jobin & Jismi’s expert team is here to help. Contact us today to explore how our tailored NetSuite solutions can transform your business.