Infor, the industry-specific cloud software company, has announced that Zofri, Zona Franca de Iquique will implement Infor’s WMS (warehouse management system) to improve customer service, one of the most important performance indicators in the supply chain. The solution will be implemented by Cerca Technology, Infor’s partner in Latin America.
Zofri, one of the most important centres of commerce and industry in South America, has more than 2,000 companies from different countries operating in its sites, with a wide variety of items available such as electronics, automotive, textiles, and household items, among many others. Zofri and the enormous number of companies operating in its locations contribute more than 45,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.
Its operation has 5 business areas: Zofri Mall, the Wholesale Business Center, Chacalluta Industrial Park in Arica, Zofri Business Park in Alto Hospicio and the Zofri Logistics Center. Zofri Logistics offers outsourced logistics services (3PL) to customers that operate under the free trade regime and that wish to outsource these functions, taking care of the process from the arrival of the merchandise to the Port of Iquique until its dispatch to the final destination, anywhere in the world.
Zofri’s primary need for a WMS solution is to improve customer service. Previously, the real-time inventory of its clients was unknown, due to the use of multiple warehouses for the storage of merchandise. Therefore, having updated status was a task that demanded a lot of time. In addition, the process of tracking the entry and exit of goods was carried out manually, which decreased efficiency and created delays.
Zofri sought improvements in its logistics operation, and commercial repercussions were also evidenced that impacted the level of customer service. As a leading logistics operator, Zofri needed a software tool that could help it better manage the flow of goods.
“We seek to be more efficient and improve response times to our customers,” said Miguel Perret Paquien, operations manager of Zofri S.A. “We are a top-level company, and we know that Infor WMS is a solution that will live up to our expectations.”
Likewise, Felipe Alfaro Pizarro, deputy operations manager of Zofri S.A. stressed, “We had the objective of implementing a software solution that was a leader in the market and that would help us to jointly manage the warehouses, spaces and storage of the different merchandise of our customers.”
Zofri’s selection of Infor WMS was based on a thorough technical and strategic evaluation. The company was looking for a solution that was stable and scalable over time, that was a market leader and that would enable it to manage the inventories of all its warehouses. To Zofri, visualising the warehouse in 3D is a “real plus” capability of Infor WMS. This enabled stakeholders to see a prototype of how the management of orders from its warehouses would be in real-time.
“We are very pleased to partner with a logistics operator as important as Zofri, in its strategy to optimise logistics operations,” said Jose Luis Gomes, commercial manager, Cerca Technology. “Zofri has a clear focus on customer service and a very clear vision of how to optimise service and generate greater value for its customers. We will be working together to implement Infor WMS in Zofri’s operations, as part of its services and support modernisation strategies.”
Zofri’s goal is to automate its supply chain, and the selection of Infor WMS is a first step in its roadmap. In this first phase, the company will increase efficiency in its processes and improve response times to customers. Additionally, Infor WMS will help the company continue to develop its commercial competitiveness when offering services to companies in the Chilean market.
Alberto Costoya, senior channel sales manager at Infor South Latin America, said, “Infor WMS met Zofri’s requirements, as it is a world-class solution that can be applied to B2B and B2C business models. The solution combines advanced functionalities, data analytics and ease of use, which helps Zofri meet its objective of improving customer service.”
