With an 80-year tradition in Europe, the Raben Group began its operations on the Polish market in 1991. It is represented by the companies Raben and Fresh Logistics. As a TSL operator, it offers a full range of logistics services. Raben’s clients in Poland include companies from the food, FMCG, and industrial sectors, as well as manufacturers of chemical products, hazardous goods, and the automotive sector. The network of terminals and distribution centers, with a total area of over 250,000 square meters, employs several thousand people.
GS1 standards are essential for achieving the goals set by the Raben Group. As an active participant in the organization, successive standards have been implemented:
1. GS1 Logistics Label. Between 2002 and 2003, the Raben Group introduced automatic data identification in the warehouse receiving process. GS1 labels, used by manufacturers to mark transport units, are scanned during unloading. In conjunction with electronic delivery notification, this has enabled the time required for receiving to be cut in half and has significantly improved data quality. Further optimization and data quality improvements were achieved by implementing RF technology in subsequent warehouse operations: during warehouse transfers and in the picking process. Warehouse operations are confirmed by scanning GS1 labels, which guarantees traceability and the ability to record changes in real time.
The next stage in adapting to growing market requirements was the implementation of the Raben Group’s own GS1 logistics label. It was first used in 2005. Currently, the company marks all units assembled in its warehouses with its own labels and SSCC codes. Every day, approximately 7,000 GS1 labels are printed across several locations in Poland. Thanks to strict adherence to standard requirements from the beginning, the Raben Group now operates with a single common GS1 label template. In subsequent stages of the supply chain, it is scanned in own warehouses, in the transport network, in the transport networks of other carriers cooperating with the Raben Group, and in the warehouses of final recipients.
2. Traceability based on GS1 solutions. The foundation for creating an effective traceability system in the Raben Group is the registration of unique and global GS1 identifiers: SSCC and GTIN. The use of Application Identifiers (AI) also enables the automatic registration of transactional data in the WMS, such as production batch numbers or expiration dates. The traceability system is strongly supported by identification via SSCC numbers during all warehouse operations and the use of unique locations for each unit in the warehouse. The result of combining GS1 standards, WMS capabilities, and RF technology is a stable and effective traceability system that guarantees immediate response in crisis situations.
3. GS1 communication standards. Integrating the TSL operator’s WMS systems with clients’ systems is a crucial issue for every logistics service contract. Close data exchange, which the Raben Group encourages its clients to adopt, brings measurable benefits to both parties. Automating data entry reduces manual work and improves data quality. An advanced data exchange system and RF technology, used in all warehouse and transshipment operations, as well as online transport statuses, provide clients with a real-time view of processes in the supply chain. An example is the availability time of goods in warehouse stock. Thanks to the scanning of GS1 labels and the use of EDI communication, the time that elapses between the physical unloading of goods and their availability for sale is reduced to a minimum.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 4/2011.