Whirlpool beating the odds of the recession

The Wall Street Journal had an interesting article recently about a supply chain logistics makeover that is saving Whirlpool about $100 million a year in operational efficiency, reducing its annual inventory by $250 million and getting product to retailers in 48 to 72 hours versus five to 10 days previously.

The article describes how investing now in technologies to streamline warehouse distribution functions will better position a company to scoop up both market share and profits as the economy rebounds.

(“Whirlpool Cleans Up its Delivery Act,” WSJ, Sept. 23, 2009). I must warn you—this is one of those articles you must subscribe to in order to enjoy the whole article. Let me spare you a few bucks and just give you the highlights…

The recession is clearly forcing firms to improve their efficiency. But Whirlpool is successfully beating the odds using mobile technology to improve several key areas of its distribution system:

• Replaced 41 outdated sites with 10 huge regional distribution centers that used high-tech warehouse management systems and upgraded vehicles that could handle a variety of products
• Improved coordination between ordering and delivery functions
• Intelligent merchandise sorting (slower moving goods at the center of the building; faster moving goods closer to the loading docks)
• Mobile supply chain software that allows drivers to pick up jobs from a computer screen mounted inside their trucks

Distribution efficiency doesn’t have to be a four-year, $600 million effort like Whirlpool’s. Talk to a supply chain mobility expert at Stratix today and find out what technologies can effectively help you beat the odds.

Mobile solutions and the "wannabe" mobile worker

Even though the recession is forcing technology investments to the back seat, enterprise mobility is still a top focus with more than 35% of today’s companies identifying it as a critical or high priority in the coming year. We’re talking about not only the conventional field service or logistics mobility workers, but also the growing “mobile wannabes.”

Check out what Forrester Research blogger Michele Pelino has to say about this growing segment, which includes sales, administrative and finance professionals typically away from their desks often enough to warrant access to business-oriented applications on their personal mobile devices. Wannabes contribute to the productivity perks of enterprise mobility by keeping tasks such as expense approvals and calendaring moving along.

What’s your strategy for the wannabe mobile workforce?