Completed WMS projects
HHLA Rhenus Logistics GmbH
Selecting a Warehouse Management System
Branch
- Logistic service provider industry
- Freight forwarding industry
The team warehouse logistics was asked by HHLA Rhenus Logistics GmbH (HHLA Rhenus) to select a warehouse management system (WMS) for the planned new logistic center Altenwerder (LCA) in Hamburg. HHLA Rhenus is a joint venture of Hamburger Hafen und Lagerhaus AG and Rhenus AG & Co. KG with three loading sites at the port of Hamburg including a connection to hinterland traffics and an intermodal transport network.
Reason and goal
The reason for the acquisition of a new WMS is the initial equipment of the LCA.
HHLA Rhenus Logistics is currently operating a 20 year old WMS which it had developed itself. Since the old system will not be used in the LCA due to a difficult maintenance and extension, a new, proven WMS should be chosen which in the medium run will replace the old system also at all other locations.
Requirement specification
At first, the requirements on the WMS were determined. A typical characteristic of the logistics service business is the short-term conclusion of service agreements. Since the LCA was still in the planning phase at this time there were no storage customers and thus no specific requirements or business processes. A main task therefore was the definition of typical or possible customer requirements which served as basis for the target concept which was formally put down in a requirements specification.
International Market Survey WMS
The requirements specification served as basis for the software requirement profile which was evaluated together with representatives of HHLA Rhenus. Potential WMS suppliers were identified by means of the Market Survey Warehouse Management Systems, which was developed by Fraunhofer IML. This survey gives an extensive overview over the WMS market with more than 70 WMS and over 3.500 single aspects.
The evaluated data identified 10 potential WMS suppliers who meet the requirements.
Call for tender
After the first contact with the suppliers and under consideration of further criteria like time, number of staff, company size and company structure 4 suppliers were asked to submit a detailed offer.
The team warehouse logistics prepared the tender documents and coordinated the feedback, giving special attention to the completeness and comparability of the offers. Owing to a specified offer structure incoming offers could be compared easily and efficiently. In addition to hard criteria as the range of functions also soft criteria like the market position, the implementation risk or follow-up costs were considered.
Result
The result was a detailed evaluation of the offers of potential WMS suppliers who
- meet the requirements specifications
- are able to realise the logistic concept also with regard to information technology
- meet the requirements of HHLA Rhenus with regard to their company structure
