Scanning brings peace in the shipping barn Print
The use of scanning technologies has become an important tool for those European nurseries wishing to introduce efficiencies to their shipping and receiving departments. The following is a look at how three very different types of nursery operations have successfully implemented scanning technologies into their businesses.

The exporter’s perspective

Dealing with large volumes of in-coming and out-going plant material makes the business of exporting uniquely challenging. Many European exporters have employed scanning technology to deal with these logistical challenges for at least the past five years. “Changing to an automated system forced us to look closely at our shipping systems,” noted one prominent exporter, adding that, “from that point alone, it was a worthwhile venture. And since then, we have been continually modifying our systems to make our business as simple and efficient as possible.”

Prior to shipment, each supplier receives a fax with a unique barcode. On the day of delivery, the barcode is scanned in the delivery barn. The computer then determines which order it is and prints off a number of loop labels for all plants to be delivered on that day. Each label has a unique barcode. If a delivery of 100 trees is destined for ten different clients, then ten labels will be printed with the number of trees for each client on the label. The supplier hangs the labels on the carts and divides the delivery into groups.

Once the delivery has met quality control standards is it scanned in as being ‘in the barn’. At that point, the plants become part of the automatic inventory control, making it possible to pull up an order and create a list of plants that are still required. Once the orders are ready, they are parked until a truck comes to pick them up. As a final control, all the products in the order are scanned one more time.

Scanning also records how many carts, pallets, boxes or other packaging materials are used and transported, providing the company with inventory control, for example, of their rented Danish trolleys.

The perennial grower’s perspective

Scanning systems represent an ideal way for perennial growers to deal with the ongoing challenges presented by producing numerous varieties of plants and an ever-changing inventory due to the continual introduction of new varieties.
 
A well-known European perennial grower explained that although he had employed a UPC barcode scanning system for many years, he regularly came across plants with no barcodes in the system, prompting him to switch to a new software package using unique barcodes. He has found the new system to be particularly effective in his shipping department.  

When an order is collated, a series of labels is printed for each batch with their own barcode. The employee pulling the order then labels each batch with the correct code.  When it’s ready, the order is scanned. The entire order can then be viewed on the computer screen and any missing plants identified. These can then be color-coded as backordered, perhaps because they have not yet arrived from a supplier or possibly due to winter damage.

At least as important for this perennial grower is the verification of what he has shipped. When four or five orders are pulled at the same time, there is always the possibility of order mix-ups. Scanning just before loading clearly identifies missing flats by size and variety, a task that was virtually impossible before the introduction of this technology.

He noted the example of a truck driver who accidentally delivered an order to a large client in two different locations, a discrepancy that was immediately noted by the receiver. “We can now assure the client that everything was shipped according to the paperwork and that the mistake was made elsewhere. You have proof of what was shipped and can deal with the situation appropriately. It’s a positive feeling,” says the grower about the greatly reduced number of claims since the introduction of scanning technology.

The grower/re-wholesaler perspective

This typical grower/broker nursery company has a large customer base and an even larger selection of inventory. Scanning technology is an essential tool in the management of this very complex business. Furthermore, scanning technology is an investment that can contribute tremendously to the speed and traceability of plant movement. Following is the process employed by one such firm.

Product that is shipped to nurseries via a logistics firm is labelled by that firm with tags provided by the broker. They are scanned into inventory when it arrives at the nursery. Plants that are shipped directly to the nursery, as well as the inventory coming from their own nursery, is labelled the moment it arrives with a unique barcode that is subsequently scanned. That alone provides a lot of clarity and customer inquiries can be dealt with immediately.  

All the information provided by the scanning process is accurate to the moment it was performed. With one glance at the computer screen, the status of an order can be assessed. There is also a real time advantage in relation to transportation to and from the nursery. Real time information is used to determine which plants need to be picked up or delivered. When the trucks pick up plants, they are scanned when they arrive and the computer inventories them from the moment they are on the premises.

One or two knowledgeable people are still required at the nursery to affix barcoded labels to nursery product, and, at the same time, do quality control. Personnel with less training can do all the other work. “Therefore,” explains the broker, “as a result of scanning technologies, trained personnel have more time to do their job and I’ve been able to reduce my staff by one full-time person.”

source: “De Boomkwekerij”
 

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