J. J. Keller Realises 10% Gain in Warehouse Picking Efficiency with Ivanti

Modernising the picking process

Legacy warehouse picking processes were hampering innovation and efficiency for safety-and-compliance expert J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. Serving customers in the transportation, environmental health and safety, and HR industries, J. J. Keller provides volumes of supplies and training materials to help customers ensure compliance and conform with industry regulations. But its reliance on older-generation mobile computers and paper picking processes was standing in the way of accelerating improvement in its warehousing and distribution processes.

To modernise its warehouse environment, J. J. Keller wanted to replace its ageing Windows-based devices and make Android its standard picking platform. The company also wanted to couple the new Android systems with voice-enabled picking capabilities to boost picking productivity while improving both employee safety and efficiency.

J. J. Keller found the ideal solution from Ivanti. Using a combination of Ivanti Velocity for a seamless web application migration to Android devices and Ivanti Velocity Voice for voice-driven picking and automation—the company reduced product picking time while further improving an already notable delivery accuracy. Furthermore, it was able to build a modern warehouse picking platform to support future growth.

“We went with Ivanti because it was a very light instal,” said Brian Pamer, business analyst, Order Management, J. J. Keller. “It runs on top of what you’re already doing, and it’s much easier to adapt to your changes.”

Empowering employees with automation

J. J. Keller prides itself on always striving for innovation. Company leadership challenges each area of the business regularly to deliver new strategies for operational improvement. Implementing voice and automation was one of these critical improvements and a pivotal way for the company to stay ahead of the industry—while improving safety and efficiency for valued employees.

By using voice capabilities, the company can reduce the need for pickers’ eyes to be on the handheld unit. This means pickers can be more aware of their environment, improving productivity and safety at the same time.

“J. J. Keller leadership really understands that our associates are assets,” said Pamer. “To make associates the most efficient they can, while also as happy as they can, is the best of both worlds. Ivanti helps us achieve that.”

Ivanti transforms the warehouse

For J. J. Keller, Ivanti provided the total solution for a voice-focused platform on Android devices and for integrating automation into the picking operation. Together, Ivanti Velocity and Ivanti Velocity Voice delivered a powerful combination that offers:

• Quick transition to voice-directed picking. Because all the voice processing is handled within the mobile device, there was no need for J. J. Keller to modify its existing SAP ITS Mobile applications or add middleware.
• Voice as an automation tool. Processes like confirming quantity of a picking order can now be done with voice, eliminating keyed data entry.
• Easy migration to Android. Combined with voice, pickers can automate or eliminate redundant steps and improve data accuracy. J. J. Keller can also interface to its existing web-based warehouse systems without having to migrate or modify the enterprise application.

“I love the voice system,” said order handler Marcia. “You only handle a package once and it’s out the door. It’s so easy, it’s like brushing your teeth.”

Order handler Macey explained, “Instead of clicking 10 times, I can just say ‘confirm for 10,000’ and now it’s done. All I have to do is label and move on.”

Realising ROI in half the time

Using the Ivanti solution, employees at J. J. Keller have reduced redundant steps dramatically and increased precautions for on-the-job safety. On the development side, migrating its SAP ITS Mobile warehouse management system to Android using Ivanti Velocity proved simple, and made it easy for J. J. Keller to achieve—and exceed—its efficiency objectives.

Specific results of the Ivanti implementation for J. J. Keller include:

• A reduction of half a second per pick. At 1,800 picks per day, that results in a 10% efficiency savings.
• Android migration and voice-enablement projects were easily deployed by J. J. Keller Order Management, minimising the dependence on IT staff.
• Training pickers, even those with no prior experience with Android devices, took just half the time required with the company’s previous legacy solution.

Now J. J. Keller is looking at how to leverage Ivanti Velocity Voice voice automation to streamline other steps in the picking workflow, such as integrating cycle counts into the picking process.

“We had an ROI goal of about six to eight months, and we realised it in half the time—an actual ROI in just three to four months,” said Pamer. “We also had a goal of improving picking proficiency by 5%. But we doubled that with an actual efficiency gain of 10%.”

_{Note: A customer’s results are specific to its total environment/experience, of which Ivanti is a part. Individual results may vary based on each customer’s unique environment.}