A leading nationwide calendar publisher has sustainably optimized its logistical processes with a modular, intuitively operable tool for shipping processing. The HEIDLER Strichcode shipping system (HVS32) reduces manual work steps to a minimum and, through intelligent interfaces, e.g. to the merchandise management system or to warehouse management, provides data for increased efficiency and optimal distribution.
KORSCH Verlag, based in Bavaria, is one of Germany’s leading calendar publishers. Founded in 1951 by Adolf Korsch, the company specialized in high-quality calendars, greeting cards, Advent calendars and gift books from the very beginning. Today, around 120 employees are involved in editing, production, sales and administration. While the management, product management, sales and accounting are located at the headquarters in Gilching, order processing and the publisher’s own delivery department are located in Aichach. Following a general renovation and expansion of its buildings in 2014, the publishing house has around 10,000 square meters of site space.
Exceptional finishing techniques and selected paper grades, along with innovative concepts, are the pillars of KORSCH Verlag’s entrepreneurial success. A strong sales force and the publisher’s own delivery service ensure fast service and customer-oriented business processing. The reliable delivery of stationery products is supported by modular software for shipping logistics that reduces manual work steps and transparently displays the current status of freight and shipping completion in just a few clicks. “We have been using HVS32 from Heidler Strichcode since the 1980s,” reports Axel Wieschebrock, operations manager at KORSCH Verlag. “We started with the version under MS-DOS. Since then, we have remained loyal to the system. And the system to us.” Before the publishing house implemented the IT-supported shipping system, everything was done by hand on paper. “You can’t even imagine that today.”
Software tailored to requirements
The HVS32 software solution from Heidler Strichcode consists of a basic module and many extension and carrier modules. Using a barcode scanner, the system registers the delivery note number, electronically weighs the package and prints labels with all carrier-relevant information. “The tool has grown with us and still fully meets our requirements today – and not just because of the price/performance ratio,” says Wieschebrock. “It’s demand-driven, with no big bells and whistles, and its modularity means it’s always a perfect fit.” Thanks to the HVS32, the publishing company can provide its carriers and parcel service providers with the appropriate labels and track the data for its merchandise management system.
With the use of Heidler’s shipping system, scanner guns, electronic scales and label printers, manually filling out shipping labels and other paperwork such as waybills or lists is a thing of the past. In addition, carrier-specific data is automatically prepared and sent. The professional linking of order, delivery bill or package data with the shipping information thus forms a seamless communication chain right through to the recipient’s visualized signature.
The standard functions of the HVS32 include the filling in and printing of shipping labels, the creation of posting lists, the free choice of rates and the calculation of freight costs. A free choice of carriers and the integration of various merchandise management/warehouse management systems are also part of HVS32.
The right label on the right package
After years(decades)of use, the plant manager draws a positive balance. “We are very satisfied with the tool, both from the commercial side and from the point of view of our eight users, who describe the system as self-explanatory,” says Wieschebrock. The employees only have to scan the barcode of the delivery note number, and then the label is printed out directly at the packer’s workstation. As a result, we have virtually no incorrect deliveries. The right label ends up on the right package because the packer does everything directly on site,” explains Wieschebrock.
New modules can be implemented quickly and easily (e.g. for user management, dangerous goods handling or multi-depot capability), so that all new challenges have been mastered at Korsch Verlag. The intuitive usability and the transparency that the tool creates are the highlights of the solution for the operations manager. “Via the archive, you can see exactly what has gone out to a particular postal code, for example.” Such and other evaluation options ensure control while supporting efficient processes. Information on which carrier is currently where with which package can be called up with just a few clicks, as can data on fee and weight statistics, customer statistics, shipping lists, transit times and other various predefined statistics. Wieschebrock sums up with satisfaction: “For decades, the team at Heidler Strichcode has provided us with reliable, competent and helpful support. We are sure that the HVS32 will also meet future requirements.”