Fashion and lifestyle company s.Oliver Group invests in new service center for more logistics performance

Miebach Consulting supports s.Oliver Group in this strategic project and is responsible for the detailed planning and realization of the logistics center, including the oversight of the construction of the building, tenant fit-out, intralogistics, IT (WMS and WCS implementation) and ramp-up management. In the implementation phase Miebach will utilize state-of-the-art simulation and emulation techniques, which, among other things, significantly reduce the effort and duration of the test phases.  

"To satisfy our customers in the best possible way and gain further market share, well-organized logistics is a key success factor. Here, short routes, efficient processes and the latest technologies are needed to be fit for the future. With the new concept, we are meeting these requirements and at the same time setting the course for further growth as part of our internationalization and e-commerce strategy" said Oliver Hein, Chief Operating Officer of the s.Oliver Group.

Flexible logistics solution meets omnichannel requirements

"The s.Oliver Service Center is being built with a focus on omnichannel,“ stated Ole Grasedyck, Principal, Miebach Consulting and PMO in the service center project. „The digital transformation, changing customer wishes and, last but not least, the corona-related e-commerce acceleration require high-performance and, at the same time, extremely agile logistics in order to be able to handle changing demand volumes and order sizes quickly and efficiently across channels. The logistics center was designed accordingly."

The entire logistics processes of the B2C business will be handled by the service center in the future, including the supply of e-commerce customers, VAS activities, and subsequent returns processes. For the B2B sector, the entire reorder process as well as the supply of self-operated areas including floor-ready merchandise will be integrated into the service center.

As part of the concept planning, the optimal automation level for s.Oliver was chosen from various alternatives. Manual storage for hanging and flat goods is linked to the upstream and downstream processes via automated transports. An automatic buffer for returns enables prompt availability for goods resale, and a pocket sorter system consolidates orders according to customer specifications and evenly supplies the packing workstations.

As a result of the planned concept, this will not only ensure delivery capability, but also realize an increased level of delivery service through same-day shipping for orders placed by 3 p.m.

Holistic project and change management as essential building blocks for success  

Dennis Prandl, overall project manager and Director Global Logistics Service Center s.Oliver Group, remarked: "The relevance of the project to the company’s success and the tight timeline for implementation require a strong large-scale project organization with a large number of internal and external stakeholders and interface partners. The holistic consulting services from planning to realization as well as the comprehensive experience in intralogistics projects convinced us to choose Miebach Consulting as our consulting partner."

Accordingly, Miebach supports s.Oliver Group with its supply chain engineering expertise at all levels, with extensive experience in comparable large-scale projects in the fashion industry, and a holistic project management approach with PMO and change management organization.