Seamless Coordination and Communication Translates to Bypass Project Success

Published on: Mar 29, 2013

 

The Challenge:

A nationwide seasonal retailer approached AIT’s Retail Logistics team to quickly execute a bypass project involving 52,000 cartons from 65 containers. Within a tight 10 day window, the cargo needed to be received, sorted, segregated, scanned, palletized, shrink-wrapped and delivered as 220 shipments to locations in more than 15 states.
 

The Solution:

Bypass projects in retail are often related to seasonal merchandise that 'bypasses' a retailer's normal supply chain. Sometimes there are unusually sized goods that require special handling. In other instances, the retailer simply needs to bypass their distribution center (DC) because time is of the essence. A logistics provider like AIT has the ability to deliver quicker than most standard retail supply chains and to synchronize deliveries so merchandise arrives simultaneously at stores across the country.

The diverse skill set represented by AIT co-workers across departments, while essential, was not enough to ensure complete fulfillment of the project’s requirements. Equally important was the harmonious coordination and communication of every small detail between departments. The Retail Logistics group’s transparent integration brought together the local cartage team at AIT-Chicago, the corporate Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) staff and AIT-Detroit co-workers. Essentially functioning as an intra-company ‘superdepartment’, the fluid tracking, tracing and updating of information kept the team ahead of the curve as they united in the singular purpose to bring the assignment to a flawless conclusion.
 

The Result:

With optimal execution, intensive customer service and razor-sharp alignment of AIT’s centers of expertise throughout the network, all of the bypass project deliveries were completed as scheduled. In the end, AIT’s efforts facilitated the precisely coordinated display of time-sensitive merchandise for the retailer’s critical seasonal shopping window at their stores across the country.