Client:
A leading reverse logistics provider for controlled substances. The client coordinates the safe return of expired pharmaceutical products through an international network of pickup drivers and a large warehouse facility in the United States.
Background:
The client was looking to overhaul their IT stack and the core business processes they support. This initiative included an ERP implementation (Netsuite), the procurement of multiple applications, the development of two custom applications, and building of many integrations. The goal of the project was to modernize their business and establish scalable practices.
Where Dispatch fits in:
Dispatch was engaged to consult on the integration strategy, consider how Workato could be leveraged to support their IT ecosystem, and ultimately deliver a solution that could support the needs of the business. The key challenge Dispatch was brought in to solve was to build a network of Workato integrations capable of supporting the data transfer needs of a busy warehouse, ultimately modernizing their warehouse processes so that the business could realize the value of their cloud-based ERP system.
Challenges & notable points:
The primary technical challenge presented was volume. 30,000 items arrived at the warehouse daily, each needing to be tracked within NetSuite as they moved from station to station, bin to bin, being routed through a series of conveyors. This volume presented challenges as data transfer needed to be fast so that updated information was available before the item reached the next station.
In addition, compliance and regulation were challenges. Controlled substances are strictly governed, and it was vital to have an IT infrastructure capable of tracking each item in the warehouse. The nature of the overhaul meant a go-live of all the new IT systems, warehouse procedures, and integrations had to be orchestrated as a single event. Even with the meticulous planning, training, and testing performed leading up to the go-live, it was vital to resolve issues and correct data quickly to meet compliance needs.
Outcomes:
Dispatch built 200+ Workato recipes connecting eight applications and worked with many business units to contribute to a successful rollout of the project. Within months, the organizational bottleneck shifted away from the technical stack and has allowed for substantial growth in the warehouse’s returns processing capacity. By leveraging the power and flexibility of Workato, Dispatch was able to deliver a suite of enterprise-grade integration solutions that enable this organization to fully realize the potential of its modernized cloud-based applications.
