About Guideline
Guideline Flyfish is a Scandinavian brand in the world of fly fishing, founded in 1993, and is well-loved for designing and developing its own fly fishing gear. The brand went international in 2001 and now happily serves over 400 retailers in 35 countries. Guideline is all about sustainability, using eco-friendly materials and production techniques, and supporting ethical working conditions. With a passionate drive, the brand cherishes its Scandinavian roots, teamwork, and a strong connection to nature, all with the aim of inspiring others to enjoy the joys of fly fishing.
"Before, someone had to go to the warehousewith paper and pen to check what needed restocking and run between aisles. That could take two days. Now, we get suggestions and can restock in 30 minutes, and everything that needs to be picked in the coming days is ready."Mathias Gårdlund, Supply Chain Manager, Guideline |
Guideline, a top-notch fly fishing gear manufacturer, was gearing up for a big makeover of their logistics and warehouse processes. In the past, they relied on an ERP module and manual paper lists, and didn't have a dedicated warehouse management system (WMS), which led to inefficiencies and a dependency on individuals. Mathias Gårdlund, the supply chain manager at Guideline, played a key role in successfully implementing the WMS project. After thorough research and mapping, they chose Bitlog WMS.
"We got some great recommendations to check out Bitlog WMS," he shares, adding, "Our team is lean, and my colleagues and I have wide-ranging responsibilities. We realized we needed a WMS to eliminate many manual processes."
When Guideline decided to upgrade their ERP system, e-commerce platform, and purchasing system, they recognized the need for a robust WMS to streamline warehouse management. After evaluating several options, Guideline chose Bitlog WMS, not only for its user-friendliness but also due to recommendations from partners and customers. Plus, the project felt well-planned, and Bitlog's project leaders inspired confidence.
The main challenge was moving from the old-school pen and paper method to a digital system with as few manual steps as possible.
"Back in the day, when we needed to prepare pre-orders, we'd print out papers, and if a delivery came in, we'd have to toss those papers and print new ones," Mathias shares with a chuckle.
Thanks to Bitlog WMS, Guideline smoothly transitioned from handling everything manually to a new digital way of managing the warehouse. Everything from picking orders to inventory checks and deliveries became more organized and tailored to how they wanted to work.
Bitlog WMS is a super user-friendly, cloud-based system that lets Guideline work with dynamic picking, batch picking, and automated restocking tasks, which has really cut down on manual handling and boosted the order picking process.
"Before, our warehouse staff had to deal with a lot of admin work in a clunky module. Now, everything flows so smoothly, and nothing gets held up because something's missing. I think that's a huge strength and brings a lot of clarity to our organization," Mathias shares.
Since Guideline's products and offers are seasonal, they do a lot of pre-orders. This means they need to handle large volumes, which puts demands on warehouse management and the systems used to efficiently manage and track many packages per shipment.
"We have customers placing several big pre-orders, which can mean 60-70 packages per shipment," Mathias explains.
He goes on to talk about how automated restocking tasks make planning easier:
"With Bitlog WMS, we've automated restocking tasks so we can replenish items 10 days before they need to be shipped. This way, we don't have to run around with a truck and lift things down in the middle of the day. Before, someone would almost have to go out with paper and pen to check what needed restocking and run between aisles. That could take two days. Now, we get suggestions and can restock in 30 minutes, and everything that needs to be picked in the coming days is ready."
The system's user-friendliness and quick onboarding of seasonal staff were ultimately crucial:
"We bring in a lot of young people to our warehouse, often on short notice during certain periods. It can't be a burden to bring in a new person and train them. That's why the user-friendliness of Bitlog WMS is so important. We notice a big difference in how quickly we can get people up and running."
The implementation of Bitlog WMS has brought about a fantastic improvement in Guideline's warehouse and logistics processes.
Here are some clear highlights:
New team members can start picking orders after just a quick introduction to Bitlog WMS
Inventory checks are now a breeze with clear location and balance information for all products
Restocking tasks can be done in just 30 minutes instead of 2 days, which is a whopping 99% improvement!
Effortlessly handles large pre-orders of up to 60-70 packages without any paperwork
Bitlog's consultants and project leaders receive top marks for their implementation and support
"We bring in a lot of young people to our warehouse, often on short notice during certain periods. It can't be a burden to bring in a new person and train them. That's why the user-friendliness of Bitlog WMS is so important. We notice a big difference in how quickly we can get people up and running."Mathias Gårdlund, Supply Chain Manager, Guideline |
Moreover, the automated processes have reduced order handling time and increased operational efficiency. When asked why Mathias recommends Bitlog WMS to others, he highlights the seasonal staff, who he now sees as a significant asset rather than a challenge:
"I recommend Bitlog WMS for its user-friendliness, as I mentioned before. It's a major strength that shouldn't be underestimated. We often bring in young staff on short notice, and we notice a big difference in how quickly we can get them started. This is a significant advantage."