Bon-Ton Stores Gets Quick Help with Logistics System
Shipper Commonwealth's transportation automation powers Bon-Ton's expanded logistics network in record time
By Editorial Staff
January 16, 2007 - Richmond VA: The Shippers Commonwealth integrated transportation automation program was successfully launched on schedule for Bon-Ton Stores Inc. logistics network. This major conversion supported Bon-Ton's corporate expansion due to the recent acquisition of Northern Department Store Group (NDSG) from Saks Inc.
Headquartered in York PA, The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 282 department stores in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains. Bon-Ton's recent acquisition of the Northern Department Store Group from Saks Inc. creates the one of the largest department store retailers in the United States, with estimated annual net sales of $3.4 billion. Bon-Ton recently expanded further with acquisition of five store locations from Belk Inc.
The program represents an industry milestone in wide-scale logistics system integration, conducted in record time (4 months) to meet the rapid expansion needs of the Bon-Ton enterprise.
With the acquisition by Bon-Ton of NDSG in the first quarter of 2006, Bon-Ton more than doubled its sales and store count, going from two distribution centers in Pennsylvania and Ohio to over eight facilities throughout the East and Midwest United States. To rapidly integrate the new diverse operations, and realize economies of scale, Bon-Ton engaged ShipComm to design, develop and deploy an integrated logistics network to power the supply chain as its "nerve center."
"We needed a robust and fully integrated supply chain solution to power our growth, and we needed it in less than four months," said Robert Hook, divisional vice president for Bon-Ton. "We went to Shippers Commonwealth as a trusted, proven and responsive resource of logistics experts for the solution. They delivered in record time, exceeding our expectations."
ShipComm rapidly responded to the challenge in developing its new Web Gateway solution to seamlessly link the ShipComm TMS with existing and new warehouse management systems of the combined Bon-Ton companies (using a legacy Catalyst WMS.) This linked the comprehensive e-commerce and electronic data interchange (EDI) programs with trading partners, and provided complete integration to the Bon-Ton vendor compliance system. It also integrated with new purchasing software, as well as the company's back-office accounting systems.
At the same time, ShipComm rolled outs its automated Freight Payment System solution for Bon-Ton to further advance the ShipComm TMS, powering the expanding Bon-Ton Central Load Control Center for the enterprise in Whitehall, Pa. Additionally, ShipComm designed a new Web-based, state-of-the-art Cost Allocation Post-Processor (CAPP) to handle the sophisticated freight costing needs of the expanded Bon-Ton retail chain.
"We are pleased to report that the new program for Bon-Ton successfully went live on schedule in Q4 2006 with a record design, development, and deployment cycle of only three months, aided by the seamless multi-vendor collaborative effort of the Bon-Ton logistics and IT management teams," said Robert Shagawat, president and CEO of ShipComm.
ShipComm is now working with Bon-Ton on the next generation of logistics automation expansion programs, including enhanced version of the Shipment Intelligence Center from ShipComm, dock door scheduling and a new Web-based yard management and visibility program being planned.
Related Links
The Bon-Ton Stores
Shippers Commonwealth
|
