To propel its new 4000-pallet movable racking cold store depot to the next level, Ceres Fruit Growers not only installed FarSoft’s ViTrax system, but also commissioned new mobile technology to optimise storage.

Forklifts, fitted with Appsource’s rugged tablets and mobile execution software, scan each pallet into a specific location in the cold store. As loading instructions are received, the stock controller allocates certain pallets to specific containers/loads and activates them for picking. The beauty of it is that multiple loads can be picked simultaneously. Also, when a reach truck is busy in a particular row, the system will indicate all pallets that can be picked in that row (for all activated containers/loads). Not only does this ensure optimised picking, but it also facilitates efficiency in the number of moves between racks.

The forklift driver moving pallets to the staging area will be notified on the tablet in which of the 24 gravity-feed staging racks a particular pallet should be placed so that each load’s pallets are together and ready for consignment. Another benefit is that tasks can be set up for forklifts to work together or for one forklift to work on a dedicated task.

All in all it means that with this solution operational moves are significantly fewer and forklifts can be applied more efficiently with control and oversight from the stock controller. That improves stock control tremendously, as well as preventing old stock from remaining in the store.

There are two highlights of this system. Firstly, because ViTrax’s stock loading system is used, the client can receive electronic loading instructions directly into ViTrax for the first time. Secondly, ViTrax now allows them to do a picking list per pallet barcode, which wasn’t possible before. Apart from improved accuracy, the picking list also is synced to the forklift.

Luckily, thanks to FarSoft’s long standing relationship with Appsource, it could partner with the mobile scanning space leaders. Appsource’s hardware and FTE software on the tablets integrated swiftly and seamlessly with ViTrax.

It’s a no-brainer that this solution creates so much value for cold stores in improved efficiencies, realising more grower income and better financial performance.

Caption: Douglas Calitz (CFG) with FarSoft’s Hanneke Alberts and Etienne van Zyl.