Harmonising logistics
Thomann strikes the right note with Transporeon and Peripass Solutions
The company
For over 70 years, the Thomann family has been a cornerstone of the music industry. In 1954, Hans Thomann Sr. quit his job as a traveling musician to set up his own music business from the family farm in Germany. From these humble beginnings, Thomann has grown into one of the world's largest mail-order music equipment companies, serving both B2B and B2C customers across the continent and beyond.
Today, Thomann operates Europe’s largest music warehouse, managing an inventory of over 115.000 SKUs, ranging from small accessories to large instruments like pianos. This diversity demands tailored logistics solutions to ensure efficient handling and delivery. By leveraging Transporeon’s advanced technology and automation, Thomann has optimized its processes to provide fast delivery, precise order fulfillment, and an exceptional customer experience.
By combining innovative technology with deep industry knowledge, they continue to set the standard in retail music equipment delivery.
The challenge
Managing transport logistics and goods-in processes at their Treppendorf warehouse was at times inefficient and complex.
Managing transport logistics and goods-in processes at their Treppendorf warehouse was at times inefficient and complex. The facility, spread across multiple buildings, lacks a dedicated trailer yard, has few waiting zones, and multiple entry points, creating logistical bottlenecks.
Operations relied entirely on manual processes for dock assignments, resulting in erratic workflows at peak times and limited transparency about incoming goods or unloading schedules.
Thomann’s customer base is used to excellent, fast service - for goods already available in the warehouse, but also for items just arriving in goods inbound. A quick outbound shipment of e.g. incoming, long-awaited products, such as limited edition guitars, is based on fast and well-orchestrated inbound execution and warehouse processing. However, disorganized inbound workflows and poor communication between parties led to delays, unpredictable workloads, and long waiting times for drivers and therefore customers. These inefficiencies not only slowed operations but also increased costs and reduced productivity.
The solution
After evaluating various vendors, Thomann chose to collaborate with Transporeon to effectively address their logistical challenges.
By implementing Retail Time Slot Management retailers are able to book delivery slots online, streamlining truck arrivals. This reduces waiting times for trucks, improves planning and optimises resource utilisation by leveraging the transparency on the upcoming workload, leading to more efficient operations.
To tackle remaining inefficiencies such as yet unplanned deliveries (e.g. air-freight with interlinked connecting transports, or smaller volume ad-hoc deliveries) and the complexities of the warehouse layout, the company implemented Peripass Yard Management. This solution enhances on-site operations by digitizing driver check-ins and embedding gate assignments in warehouse strategy and capacity management. This seamless integration ensures fast access to unloading zones, improving coordination between yard and warehouse processes.
Together, these systems have minimised delays, enhanced transparency, and optimised workflows. The combination of time slot booking and yard management has significantly increased efficiency while reducing operational costs.
The results
Implementing Transporeon’s Retail Time Slot Management and Peripass Yard Management solutions has transformed Thomann’s logistics processes, by reducing delays, cutting costs, and boosting productivity.
Key Benefits:
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Smoother operations: A steady flow of incoming trucks has eliminated traffic congestion caused by previously often simultaneous arrivals, ensuring efficient operations.
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Time savings: Manual coordination with suppliers, carriers and truck drivers has been minimized, reducing workload and stress for the yard management team as well as teams in the ensuing goods inbound processes.
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Improved planning: Standardized unloading processes and flexible truck-to-gate assignments align with warehouse strategies, enabling better resource utilization.
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Transparency and insights: The systems provide real-time visibility and performance measurement tools, enhancing decision-making.
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Improved customer service: Enhanced punctuality and efficiency have improved service quality, reduced complaints, and ensured smoother deliveries.
- Seamless implementation: The onboarding process exceeded expectations thanks to excellent support from the project team.
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