Nordic Nest was established in 2002, initially under a different name, and has since been offering beautiful Scandinavian home decor through its online store.
The company is located just outside Kalmar in Sweden and currently operates a 32,000 square meter warehouse, which is continuously being developed and expanded. The development and expansion of the warehouse have occurred in several phases, and today the third and final phase of the large warehouse is complete.
"We moved in but quickly outgrew the warehouse as our sales and growth increased rapidly. Over there, you can see what used to be the outer wall of phase one, and over there, phase three is fully built," explains Johan Torudd, Operations Development Lead at Nordic Nest, as we walk around the warehouse. He points and continues: "Here, we have implemented an AutoStore, and now we are preparing for the next step in our automation journey with Bitlog."
The warehouse, which also features a padel court, an AutoStore with 60,000 (!) plastic bins, and an additional two-story automation station, can accommodate more than 40,000 unique items. Everything from candles and coasters to large sofas and dining tables is stored here.
"Before Bitlog, we were working with a pretty inflexible system for our warehouse, which meant we had to deal with lots of manual processes and steps."Johan Torudd, Operations Development Lead, Nordic Nest |
Installation
LocationKalmar, Sweden |
In this videoJohan Torudd Hampus Bergdahl |
Before implementing Bitlog, Nordic Nest relied on a warehouse management module within their business system. It worked adequately until it no longer met their needs, as they outgrew its available functionality.
"Before Bitlog, we were working with a pretty inflexible system for our warehouse, which meant we had to deal with lots of manual processes and steps," explains Johan.
Hampus Bergdahl, Warehouse & Logistics Developer, agrees and adds:
"It required a lot of manual intervention, both for picking initiation and storage. We also faced significant capacity issues—we couldn't handle the order volumes we had, leading to very long wait times."
Nordic Nest found the manual processes challenging and believed that the picking, packing, and return tasks took far too long. The module they used in their business system severely limited their ability to automate these manual processes, which hindered growth.
Nordic Nest chose Bitlog for several reasons, but they emphasize that the system's user-friendliness is crucial for them. Since their business is seasonal and new staff are added during various periods each year, it's essential that the system is easy to learn and allows for independent work.
"It's incredibly easy for us to train new colleagues and get them operational," Hampus says.
During a regular shift, the warehouse is staffed by about 100-130 people, but during peak sales periods, the workforce can increase to 200-250 people. Therefore, it was vital for Nordic Nest to select a WMS that is straightforward to understand and use.
"Bitlog is already significantly contributing to our automation journey, which began just over a year ago with the implementation of an AutoStore. Bitlog played a crucial role in supporting that integration," says Johan.
Hampus adds:
"Together with Bitlog, we developed a workflow and integration that suits our operations."
The synergy and integration between Bitlog and AutoStore are perceived as seamless, greatly enhancing Nordic Nest's order picking and supporting all core warehouse processes. We have now also launched additional automation projects together, including two-story pack automation using Bitlog's software, conveyor belts, and consolidation areas.
Another reason Nordic Nest chose Bitlog was the shorter lead time from signing the contract to having the WMS operational compared to many of our competitors.
Johan explains: "We chose Bitlog because the lead time from signing the contract to having the WMS operational was significantly shorter than with other providers."
At Bitlog, we are extremely proud of this. Our knowledgeable staff has extensive experience and plans and works carefully and methodically to get your WMS up and running on schedule. We are always present when our customers go live, ready to answer questions and make necessary adjustments immediately.
A third factor Johan mentions is the crucial functionality of Bitlog's Suggest Inbound module. This module supports, simplifies, and saves time during inbound deliveries by suggesting which products should be stored in specific locations (pick, buffer, cross-dock, etc.) and in what quantities.
Hampus explains as we tour the warehouse that inbound deliveries used to be a significant challenge, requiring a lot of time and effort. With Suggest Inbound in place, they can now allocate that time and workforce to developing internal processes and driving the company forward.
Image: Nordic Nests large warehouse in Kalmar.
By implementing Bitlog WMS, Nordic Nest can now broaden their perspective and take a more comprehensive approach to warehouse operations. The obstacles posed by the previous warehouse management module are now a thing of the past, allowing them to concentrate on activities and initiatives that provide real business value. Bitlog WMS has become a true catalyst for their warehouse automation and will continue to play that role in the future.
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"Bitlog becomes an essential component in integrating our entire warehouse operations." Johan Torudd, Operations Development Lead, Nordic Nest |
"Looking ahead, we have additional automation projects where Bitlog will play a crucial role in integrating our entire warehouse operations," Johan explains and continues: "In many ways, Bitlog becomes the hub that enables automation and, in the long run, further enhances efficiency."
The solution implemented at Nordic Nest goes far beyond tablets and mobile devices. What Nordic Nest is building is a warehouse for the future, featuring large, efficient automation solutions with both AutoStore and other automation technologies.
"Without Bitlog, I don't think we would have reached where we are today. We had significant capacity issues with our previous system. Bitlog has helped us elevate this to a new level. We can continue to operate at the same level despite increased order pressure," adds Hampus.
Johan concludes:
"With Bitlog, we have entirely new opportunities for further development and to meet the growth we envisioned back then and have experienced in recent years."