In the year 2000, Valin‘s warehouse was run by a small team facing significant challenges in tracking inventory. Our company was rapidly growing, and we needed a solution to help streamline warehouse operations and improve inventory tracking.
Valin serves large customers across a wide range of industries, including semiconductor, refining, biopharmaceutical, food and beverage, and transportation, and it’s crucial for us to have essential parts in stock and ready to ship at a moment’s notice.
To ensure success and meet growing demands, we needed a system that could elevate our operations to the next level.
Striving for Excellence
At Valin, our mission — and that of our employees — is to continually strive for excellence in everything we do. Our warehouse operations were no exception. To meet the growing demands of our customers, we set out to find the ideal warehouse management solution. Valin’s operations director considered various companies, including PathGuide Technologies’ Latitude Warehouse Management System (WMS).
PathGuide’s Vice President of Software Engineering, Greg Laycock, led the initial engagement. The team analyzed Valin’s operations and demonstrated how Latitude WMS could be customized to meet their needs. Valin saw that Latitude WMS would help achieve their business goals and ensure user adoption thanks to its usability, value, and structured approach to core functions like receiving, put away, picking, and shipping.
One area that Valin was particularly impressed with during the software demonstration was Latitude’s slotting feature. This factored an item’s “velocity class,” or the frequency in which an item is sold, to optimize warehouse space and accessibility of items that sell most frequently. Valin saw how PathGuide’s Latitude WMS could seamlessly manage incoming items and immediate picking for large orders, saving valuable time and improving productivity.
A Leader Emerges from the Pack
Valin selected PathGuide because Latitude WMS met its top customer needs. The new system promised structure, traceability, and rapid employee onboarding. The upfront cost was justified by long-term benefits such as reduced errors and improved efficiency. Latitude’s simplicity was another key differentiator.
“Latitude WMS is user-friendly and easy to use,” said Pete Antunes, IT EC systems analyst at Valin. “People want to work with something simple that they can trust will work. Latitude delivers these capabilities. It’s incredibly reliable and streamlined.”
Going Live Without a Hitch
In late 2000, the two companies moved forward with a mutually beneficial implementation strategy, including warehouse access regulation, handheld computers for scanning and parts traceability, and standardized put-away, picking, and shipping processes.
Valin launched Latitude during a go-live weekend with PathGuide onsite, achieving successful integration with Epicor’s P21 ERP software for effective inventory and order management. The system’s nightly jobs ensured that all product data from P21 was updated, including receiving, purchase orders, and sales. In addition, inventory checks provided detailed reports on inventory discrepancies between P21 and Latitude, enabling warehouse managers to take corrective actions.
PathGuide’s proactive approach helped Valin avoid reactive management while also improving overall accuracy and throughput. The integration allowed for efficient cycle counts and updates, ensuring correct inventory levels and preventing issues with order fulfillment.
Unlocking New Levels of Efficiency and Simplicity
Over the course of its two-decade relationship with PathGuide and Latitude WMS, Valin has reaped numerous benefits.
The WMS streamlined operations, making it easier to manage time and resources effectively. Experienced managers could remotely assist other warehouse locations – from California to Texas – ensuring fast, efficient problem-solving.
“Having a warehouse management system helps you manage your time and that of your team better,” Antunes said. “Without it, you don’t have the data available to make informed decisions.”
Antunes emphasized the importance of standardizing processes across multiple warehouse branches to avoid inefficiencies. With Latitude, each branch operates the same. Its simplicity and user-friendly interface afford staff an easy-to-adopt solution for onboarding new employees with minimal training.
“With Latitude, new hires can become operational within an hour. They’re productive on day one,” Antunes said. “That’s a significant advantage.”
Comprehensive, Adaptable Solution
Latitude has played a key role in supporting the company’s business growth, providing reliability and agility while enabling Valin to keep its warehouses operating smoothly and soundly.
“PathGuide offers a comprehensive, adaptable solution with proven procedures,” Antunes said. “Latitude lets us be more agile and delivers the results we are looking for. From the very beginning, our team has been highly satisfied with its performance. It’s been instrumental in helping us improve our operations – and its ability to scale with us as we grow has been fundamental to our business success.”