Unlocking insights through data
David McLaughlin
Digital Transformation Consultant
CASE STUDY

Warehouse Order Processing Transformation

Rebuilders Automotive Supply: From Paper to Digital Excellence

100%
Paper Elimination
98%
Inventory Accuracy Achieved
35%
Throughput Improvement
90%
Error Reduction

People • Process • Technology • Innovation

Successful transformation requires alignment across four critical dimensions

📄

The Challenge

Before transformation, RAS's warehouse order processing operations were entirely manual. Every aspect—from pick, pack, and ship workflows to order tracking and invoicing—relied on paper forms and human data entry. Orders were written in triplicate, physically routed between departments, and updated verbally or via email. The compounding effects were tangible: lost sales opportunities, invoice inaccuracies, and unpredictable inventory swings that distorted financial reporting.

Manual Paper Processes

Orders written in triplicate, physically routed between departments with verbal and email updates.

Non-Transactional Inventory

Inventory was largely estimated, leading to systemic challenges across all departments.

Inaccurate Counts

Poor inventory accuracy caused frequent order delays and reduced sales conversion rates.

Production Constraints

Manual paperwork forced teams to halt picking early to allow time for order entry completion.

Lost Sales Opportunities

Inefficient processes directly resulted in missed sales and poor customer satisfaction.

Financial Reporting Issues

Unpredictable inventory swings and invoice inaccuracies distorted financial reporting.

👨‍💼

CIO Leadership & Role

Complete Ground-Up Digital Transformation

As CIO, I led the complete digital transformation of the warehouse order processing system—from concept and architecture to deployment and adoption. I personally designed and architected an iOS-based mobile application that modernized and automated every core function of order fulfillment. This was not a vendor implementation—it was a ground-up digital transformation conceived, designed, and executed under my direct leadership.

Process Analysis

Conducted comprehensive process mapping and root-cause analysis of operational inefficiencies

System Architecture

Designed complete system architecture and data integrations with sales and ERP systems

Application Development

Led development of iPad-based application ensuring usability for production staff

Inventory Innovation

Established real-time transactional inventory capabilities tied directly to sales orders

Change Management

Drove organizational change management and training for adoption across all warehouse teams

End-to-End Ownership

Maintained full lifecycle leadership from concept through deployment and continuous improvement

🚀

Transformation Strategy

The new mobile order processing system replaced all paper forms with a streamlined, data-driven platform designed to scale with growing sales volumes and improve accuracy at every step.

Mobile iOS Application

Provided warehouse staff with real-time access to sales order information, product details, and inventory status on iPads, eliminating all paper-based workflows.

Seamless ERP Integration

Connected directly to the company's sales order and invoicing systems, ensuring all data flowed automatically without manual entry or duplicate processes.

Transactional Inventory Management

Introduced real-time inventory deductions and work-in-progress tracking, creating a live, accurate view of available stock across all locations.

Smart Picking Logic

Embedded business rules for item sorting, walk sequencing, and packing order optimization to improve efficiency and reduce travel time on the warehouse floor.

Automated Reporting

Generated real-time reports, box labels, packing receipts, and under/over-packing alerts to support accuracy and accountability throughout the process.

Process Analytics

Captured granular production data that became the foundation for future sales and operations optimization initiatives.

Transformation Metrics

80% → 98%
Inventory Accuracy Improvement
35%
Warehouse Throughput Increase
90%+
Order & Invoice Error Reduction
📊

Outcomes & Results

📱

Complete Paper Elimination

Achieved 100% elimination of manual order processing documents, replacing them with digital workflows accessible from mobile devices.

Inventory Accuracy

Real-time transactional tracking increased inventory accuracy from below 80% to over 98%, virtually eliminating stockout surprises.

Efficiency Gains

Warehouse throughput improved by 35%, enabling faster order fulfillment and significantly reduced production bottlenecks.

🎯

Error Reduction

Order and invoicing errors dropped by over 90%, virtually eliminating double entry and reconciliation issues.

😊

Customer Satisfaction

On-time order completion and accuracy improvements drove measurable increases in supplier and customer satisfaction scores.

📈

Data-Driven Decisions

Detailed reporting system enabled management to analyze missed sales opportunities and optimize packing efficiency continuously.

Strategic Impact

This digital transformation fundamentally reshaped how RAS managed warehouse operations. By architecting and implementing a real-time, integrated mobile system, I eliminated manual processes, introduced operational transparency, and provided leadership with data-driven insights for continuous improvement. The application's success led to its adoption as the core platform for all warehouse functions, expanding beyond order processing into broader operational control and analytics. The long-term impact extends far beyond cost and efficiency gains—it has created a foundation for sustained scalability, operational excellence, and digital maturity across the organization.

Key Takeaways

Designed and implemented iOS-based order processing system that eliminated paper and manual errors

Increased inventory accuracy to over 98% and warehouse throughput by 35%

Reduced order and invoicing errors by more than 90%

Delivered scalable, data-centric platform that now underpins RAS's entire warehousing operation

Established a model for digital transformation demonstrating measurable ROI and operational leadership