Cippone & Di Bitetto is a company that specialises in food and beverage distribution for the HORECA sector (hotels, restaurants, and cafés) in southern Italy. In addition to distribution, the company also provides in-outlet training at HORECA points of sale, and offers a wide range of products, including beer, wine, spirits, foods, soft drinks, water and much more.
The logistics activities at Cippone & Di Bitetto are distinct: picking takes place overnight in order to guarantee delivery within twelve hours of the order. Customers can place orders until 8:00 p.m., with delivery the following morning. During the daytime hours, on the other hand, the company focuses on receiving incoming goods, unloading deliveries from suppliers, and organising the warehouse, ensuring that the picking stations are always well-stocked.
In order to maximise space and improve night time picking efficiency, Cippone & Di Bitetto opted for the Modula Lift system. This solution allowed for the recovery of about 400 linear metres of storage space, and 40 full-height racks. The Modula units are primarily used to store class B and C items, or rather products with lower sales volumes and stock levels. The Modula system’s flexibility allows for the storage of both individual units and full packages, in order to meet various picking requirements.
The Modula system has been completely integrated with the Cippone & Di Bitetto WMS, which connects to their ERP: Bollicine. This streamlined workflow allows the WMS to manage the picking and refilling operations automatically, guiding the operators accordingly. Using the Modula laser pointer, the operators can locate the items to be picked with absolute precision, reducing picking errors to nearly zero.
Results and advantages:
- Space: The Modula system has allowed for significant space recovery, improving space management.
- Precision: Automation and laser-guided picking have drastically reduced errors, rendering the process extremely precise.
- Efficiency: Thanks to the overnight configuration, the company is able to ensure fast deliveries, completing picking operations overnight to be ready for distribution in the early morning hours.
- Storage flexibility: The possibility of storing both individual units and packages allows various market needs to be met with ease.
Looking ahead, Cippone & Di Bitetto plans to further invest in automation, with the installation of a Modula Climate Control system for specific temperature-sensitive food items.
At Cippone & Di Bitetto, the integration of the Modula Lift has improved the company’s warehouse’s efficiency, precision, and sustainability, thus highlighting how Modula technology is capable of meeting the unique demands of the HORECA sector
The decision to opt for Modula solutions
In order to further optimise its picking and warehouse management processes, Cippone & Di Bitetto decided to adopt Modula’s vertical automatic warehouse solutions to meet specific needs and boost productivity. This decision was motivated by various factors:
- Tray sizes: Modula warehouses offer custom tray sizes, making them ideal for storing Cippone & Di Bitetto’s products, which range from small items to large formats. Customisation ensures organised storage and quick product access, thus improving picking accuracy.
- Space optimisation: The installation of Modula warehouses has allowed the company to reclaim over 400 linear meters and 40 full-height bays, freeing up valuable operational areas. This optimisation has allowed for an increase in storage capacity, without requiring any structural expansion, thus reducing cost per square metre, and streamlining the workflow.
- Management of low-turnover products: Cippone & Di Bitetto uses Modula warehouses to store class B and C items, which have low turnover rates and limited package quantities. This approach allows for resources to be allocated strategically, keeping high-turnover products easily accessible, and preventing overcrowding in the warehouse.
Integration and advantages
The Modula solutions were able to be seamlessly integrated within the Cippone & Di Bitetto warehouse management system (WMS), ensuring smooth alignment with the existing workflows. Thanks to the direct connection with the WMS, the operators receive guidance at each stage, from automatic tray retrieval to the precise association of each product with its location. The system not only simplifies the picking operations, but also the management of returns, guaranteeing a seamless workflow.
Cippone & Di Bitetto has obtained numerous concrete advantages from its Modula automatic warehouses, including:
- Elimination of mistaken product errors: The automated tray presentation and laser-guided item selection have completely eliminated errors, thus improving service quality and reliability.
- Greater efficiency and precision: Picking operations are now faster and more accurate, reducing wait times and increasing the company’s responsiveness to urgent orders.
- Space optimisation: The introduction of Modula warehouses has maximised space utilisation in the warehouse, creating room for new product lines and future growth.
In light of these impressive results, Cippone & Di Bitetto plans to further enhance its warehouse with additional Modula solutions. Future projects under consideration include the creation of a fully automated area, and the introduction of a temperature-controlled Modula unit specifically designed for handling food items. The company’s satisfaction with the support provided by Modula, both during implementation and post-sales, has also reinforced the value of the choice it made.