Industry
Distributor
Challenge
The challenge at REPA was to increase picking performance and simplify the work steps. Pistol scanners were hindering the smooth workflow, so REPA was looking for a smaller, robust and convenient scanner solution.
Results
The employees at REPA are delighted with the scanning performance, battery life and ergonomics of the NIMMSTA Smart Watch. The picking performance has improved noticeably and the battery easily lasts for an 8-hour shift. System integration was simple, so that employees were able to start using the intuitive operation immediately.
Products
NIMMSTA Smart Watch
''A compact, robust hand-held scanner that is very easy to use. The price-performance ratio is excellent. The employees have been clamouring for the devices and are more than grateful for the purchase.''
About REPA
The REPA Group is Europe's leading spare parts distributor for professional kitchens, coffee and vending machines. With over 700 employees at 13 locations, REPA supplies spare parts quickly and efficiently. GEV in Bergkirchen, part of the REPA Group, stocks over 85,000 items for appliances from more than 700 manufacturers. Customers such as specialised dealers and repair service providers benefit from the fast delivery: ordered parts are available the very next day.Challenge
REPA offers an absolutely reliable spare parts service, and the logistics are crucial for fast and correct delivery to customers. Orders are processed on the same day so that the parts can leave the logistics centre as quickly as possible. At the Bergkirchen site, small parts are stored in a fully automated Autostore, which has four times the capacity of a standard warehouse. To further increase picking performance and simplify the work steps, REPA was looking for a more efficient solution than the gun scanners previously used. The aim was to find a small and robust scanner that would improve the workflow and make handling easier. After extensive research, REPA decided in favour of the NIMMSTA Smart Watch.
Solution
The NIMMSTA Smart Watch clearly came out on top in the practical test at REPA. The simple integration, intuitive handling and high wearing comfort were convincing across the board. The Smart Watch is used in three work areas: Stocking the Autostore warehouse, order picking and packing.
The NIMMSTA Smart Watch weighs just 45g, is barely noticeable and offers high scanning performance. The integrated scanner captures barcodes from a distance of up to four metres and manages up to 6,000 scan cycles or 4 scans per second. The long battery life of 8 hours enables use throughout the entire shift without having to change the battery. The modular system allows employees to customise their smartwatch for maximum wearing comfort.
REPA currently uses NIMMSTA with the basic function, which provides feedback on the successful capture of a barcode from the merchandise management system. In the future, REPA plans to switch to an extended version of NIMMSTA, which enables bidirectional communication with the merchandise management system. The freely configurable touch display will then show information such as article, storage location and quantity, and entries can be made directly via the display to further optimise work processes.
''A compact, robust hand-held scanner that is very easy to use. The price-performance ratio is excellent. The employees are delighted and grateful for this purchase.''
Gustavo Malnis, Project Manager Logistics at REPA
Results
The scanning performance, battery life and ergonomics of the NIMMSTA Smart Watch impress the employees at REPA. Since switching to the Smart Watch, the gun scanners still in use have been considered unwieldy and cumbersome. A noticeable increase in picking performance is already measurable, and the battery life easily lasts an entire 8-hour shift. System integration was extremely simple and employees were able to get started immediately without any training.
Download REPA Use Case
