By Channel / Function

Omnichannel

Effective omnichannel fulfillment requires a flexible system to fulfill orders from a variety of sources seamlessly. Our team delivers the technology and guidance to create a smooth customer experience regardless of how they order. We help clients solve challenges, including:

Ecommerce

With low units per order, high volumes of parcels, and ‘endless aisles’ of SKUs, eCommerce distribution is fundamentally unique from traditional distribution channels. It is also a virtual necessity to execute well in today’s competitive commercial climate. DLN partners with both digitally native brands and established retail and wholesale companies looking to add or expand eComm capabilities to existing operations deal with challenges that include:

Wholesale & B2B

Perhaps no industry faces intense dual pressures like Wholesale / B2B. When supplying the products that are the lifeblood of another business, service reliability and capabilities are at an absolute premium. At the same time, wholesale customers are extremely cost conscious, as their profits are directly impacted by their cost of goods. Some of the pressures and challenges placed on the wholesale industry include:

Retail

While the percentage of retail sales that comes from eCommerce sales continues to climb, over 70% of sales still come from brick-and-mortar stores. With waning brand loyalty, intense competition and omnichannel requirements on the rise, effectively and efficiently serving retail stores is crucial to retailers trying to compete for sales. DLN excels and helping address common retail channel challenges such as:

Micro-Fulfillment

Micro fulfillment centers (MFCs) can be an effective strategy to meet customer demand for faster delivery without burdening retail store associates and customers with picking and shipping eComm orders. MFCs are small, automated distribution nodes that allow companies to cost-effectively get inventory and efficient, accurate order fulfillment resources closer to customers by expanding their number of shipping points.

The early days of MFC adoption have been rife with challenges as technology companies have been quick to push generic widgets as solutions to companies eager to be on the bleeding edge of technology. The results have been predictably underwhelming. DLN’s approach to micro fulfillment is different.

We begin with a strategic analysis of the entire distribution network, including existing DCs, customer demand and available delivery network and methods. We then look at all available alternatives to satisfy our client’s fulfillment and delivery objectives. MFCs are just one alternative type of eComm fulfillment node. Others include traditional DCs, regional fulfillment centers (RFCs), dark stores, and ship-from-store. For most clients, the optimal answer is a blend of several types of nodes, taking into account the unique characteristics of the geographic areas in which they do business.

Warehousing

Storage of finished goods that are destined to be shipped at off-site warehouses is considered a necessary evil in the supply chains, and frequently overlooked by manufacturing sites focused on manufacturing processes. However, increases in the costs of construction, high volume, and advances in dense storage technology have made warehousing an opportunity area for many companies.  DLN can help identify potential improvements in process efficiency, speed and density, whether or not the facility has any less-than-pallet workflows. Opportunity areas frequently include:

Cross Docking

Taking advantage of opportunities to ship products immediately upon receipt is highly beneficial to overall distribution efficiency. Cross-docked products do not need to be put away, stored or picked, saving significant amounts of labor and storage space. Whether your business is not currently cross docking or has facilities dedicated 100% to it, DLN has capabilities to maximize your cross-dock opportunity

Manufacturing

Material handling and storage are frequently overlooked parts of manufacturing operations, as engineers and managers tend to focus resources on the processes critical to producing goods. This can leave unknown or uninvested opportunities that would also help manufacturing processes, including better utilizing valuable space and labor. Material handling challenges within manufacturing operations frequently include: