Aromatique Sweetens Customer Satisfaction with Varsity
ShipSoft and ShipPack |
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Aromatique is the leading manufacturer of decorative fragrances, oils, room
sprays and candles for the home. Aromatique products are available in major
department stores and over 6,000 gift shops throughout the United States.
During Aromatique's peak season in August the company ships up to 1,200
cases a day.
With additional growth of the company, it became apparent during Aromatique's
1998 holiday season that there was a need for a more sophisticated parcel
shipping solution. Susan Moore, Aromatique Information Systems Director,
notes "Aromatique decided to invest in a shipping system that would
improve efficiencies, increase shipping integrity and reduce freight expense
for our customers".
The company had stringent requirements for a new shipping system. The first
requirement was seamless integration with their iSeries-based ERP system,
BPCS, which handles order entry, accounting, manufacturing, purchasing and
forecasting. Secondly, Aromatique needed a shipping system with demonstrated
reliability—current carrier compliance and rates, proven integration,
and software stability. Next, the company wanted to ensure that package
contents matched the order. And lastly, Aromatique wanted to eliminate piecemeal
shipments to the same retailer that hampered merchandising and increased
freight costs.
With these requirements in mind, Aromatique evaluated several transportation
management solutions, and visited companies with similar shipping requirements.
Ultimately, Aromatique
chose Varsity.
"We selected Varsity because of their reputation for reliability, commitment
to customer service, and experience with BPCS," Moore notes. "Varsity's
service has been remarkable. Since we implemented this system in 1999, we
have never experienced a delay due to Varsity's performance, even during
our peak season."
Aromatique chose Varsity ShipSoft to manage the selection of carriers, optimize
shipment pricing and ensure label and manifesting compliance with FedEx.
Varsity's pick/pack module, ShipPack, provides Aromatique with package accuracy
through item-level detail of parcel content, shipment order reconciliation
and parcel nesting.
One of the key factors for Aromatique's success has been the tight integration
with their BPCS ERP system on the IBM iSeries. The integration to BPCS provides
Aromatique with a seamless and accurate pick, pack, ship, and invoice process.
Aromatique's shipping process begins when the Shipping Administrator releases
an order. A paper copy of the pick list is sent to the Aromatique warehouse
where the order is "picked" from an inventory of 300 items. The
shipping station accesses the same pick list electronically through Varsity's
ShipPack. As items are scanned at the shipping station, ShipPack verifies
in BPCS that the item is on the sales order. Any picking discrepancies are
immediately identified by ShipPack so the order can be corrected before
shipping. This order verification eliminates the expense of incorrect order
fulfillment and improves customer service. ShipPack also allows Aromatique
to consolidate small packages into one container, minimizing the retailer's
freight charges and simplifying delivery and merchandise display.
Once the order is packed, ShipSoft calculates the rate, prints the label
and completes the manifest. At the end of the day, ShipSoft uploads manifest
information electronically to FedEx and shipment data is transferred to
BPCS accounting via the ShipSoft interface to trigger billing.
Aromatique's vault to the top of the decorative fragrances market has been
carefully orchestrated to deliver the highest quality products to thousands
of large and small retailers. Fast growing Aromatique has relied on Varsity's
transportation management software to respond to their retailer's needs.
"Varsity enables us to deliver service that matches the exceptional
quality of our products." comments Moore. "Thanks to Varsity,
we can ensure that our retailers receive their exact order, in one package,
when they need it, at the best price."
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