Retail Software Solutions

Retail Operations Software

MJC²'s logistics and workforce planning software addresses many aspects of retail operations optimization:

• Distribution Scheduling: multi-depot, multi-temperature, integrated logistics
• Home Delivery Scheduling: vehicle routing, driver scheduling, slot optimization
• Employee Rostering: demand led rostering, task allocation, warehouse planning
• Supply Chain Optimization: global supply chain planning and real-time visibility
• Inventory Management: inventory optimization, replenishment scheduling
• Sales Forecasting: demand and capacity planning, resilience optimization

Our software solutions are ideally suited for large retail businesses including supermarkets, groceries, home delivery, fashion and apparel, newsagents, DIY, jewellery, furniture and department stores.

Retail Distribution Software

MJC²'s DISC plans and optimizes complex distribution networks in real-time. DISC accurately models the entire logistics operation, from primary collections through to final delivery, via a complex network of depots, warehouses and intermediate distribution centres.

Going beyond standard fixed-route based scheduling, it provides an integrated scheduling tool which can optimize globally while following all operational constraints and business requirements.

Implementing DISC delivers the following benefits to a retail distribution operation:

• Automatic planning and optimization of the entire network.
• Increased service levels to customers and retail outlets.
• Better resource utilisation: fleet reduction and less overtime.
• Faster response to fluctuating customer demand.

Home Delivery Software

Our real-time routing and scheduling tools are ideally suited to the dynamic nature of home delivery operations. Our DISC and REACT dynamic delivery scheduling solutions can automatically optimizing 1000's of deliveries and vehicle movements in seconds.

Integrated slot management and schedule optimization algorithms provide customers with a flexible range of delivery options while ensuring ability to deliver at a reasonable cost.

The vehicle routing algorithms can take account of operational constraints such as vehicle capacities, delivery/collection windows, warehouse/assembly/sorting constraints, customer preferences, returns, driver skills, required vehicle attributes, etc.

DISC provides an integrated toolset covering strategic and operational planning of home delivery networks:

• Delivery slot scheduling and allocation.
• Dynamic routing and planning of deliveries based on real-time customer orders.
• Integrated optimization of trunking, warehouse and sortation operations.
• Optimization of driver shift patterns based on weekly or seasonal variations.
• Strategic optimization of the network based on forecast volumes.

Employee Scheduling and Demand Led Rostering

ROCS provides job allocation, shift planning and demand led rostering functionality. ROCS is a powerful rostering and employee scheduling toolset which plans and optimizes staff work schedules based on expected or actual demands.

ROCS accurately models business rules and constraints, taking account of factors such as required employee skills/seniority, working time directive constraints, shift patterns, union agreements, holiday entitlement, overtime rules, annualised hours, etc.

The ROCS algorithms cover both long-term demand led rostering and shorter-term allocation and adjustment of shifts to employees, making it suitable for applications such as:

• Creating employee rosters and shift plans for retail outlets.
• Rostering warehouse staff, driver crews and logistics personnel.
• Optimizing the scheduling of call-centre staff based on anticipated demand.
• Scheduling merchandiser activity or inspection and quality control tasks.

Supply Chain Optimization Software

MJC²'s supply chain optimization software drives improved planning and fulfilment in the retail supply chain, leading to shorter planning cycles, faster response to demand changes and improved visibility and analytical capabilities.

REACT enables dynamic logistics planning and replanning in response real-time events, while SLIM can be used for strategic optimization such as:

• Choosing the best location for a new warehouse or distribution centre.
• Optimizing the integration of primary and secondary distribution operations.
• Balancing the assignment of resources to logistics centres.
• Negotiating supplier or employee contracts.
• Assigning product groups to warehouses.

MJC²'s synchromodal logistics and supply chain resilience solutions allow retail businesses to regain control of their supply chain, developing new strategies and contingency plans while increasing visibility.

Inventory Management Software

e-Stock optimizes the flow and balance of inventory throughout the retail supply chain. Using actual or forecast demand as input, the e-Stock algorithms optimize minimum, maximum and ideal stock levels at each node, taking account of factors such as transport constraints, warehousing/storage constraints, minimum order quantities, seasonality, regional variations, import/export restrictions, supplier production capacity, etc.

Replenishment optimization tools facilitate e-collaboration between retailers and their suppliers, automating the generation of replenishment orders along the supply chain and providing visibility over the entire network.

Our inventory management modules can be used alongside our complementary supply chain planning systems such as DISC to balance stocking levels at retail outlets and intermediate distribution centres with a view to minimising warehousing costs while maintaining high customer service levels.

Forecasting and Demand Planning

i-Data provides analysis and profiling tools to facilitate the generation of sales forecasts for retail operations. Flexible integration tools are available to extract historical data from legacy orders databases and systems.

Artificial intelligence algorithms provide the flexibility to model specific business profiles and operations, taking account of factors such as regional variances, seasonality, product groups, business trends and marketing data.