The first stage of digitalisation was to equip Alpro Pharmacy’s front-line workers with Zebra’s TC21 touch computers to replace their manual inventory management system using pen and paper. The mobile devices were introduced to assist with all inventory management tasks from receiving goods at Alpro Pharmacy’s distribution centre to picking goods for its retail stores and e-commerce orders.

This has enhanced Alpro Pharmacy’s efficiency by approximately 80% and improved its overall accuracy by reducing human errors. Digitalisation has also improved Alpro Pharmacy’s business capacity by an estimated five-fold and has helped meet increased orders with its existing workforce, resulting in an even more delightful experience for customers across both online and offline channels.

The mobile devices also come with Zebra Mobility DNA (including Enterprise Home Screen and StageNow) – a suite of enterprise solutions designed to help maximise mobile user productivity and minimize IT complexities over the lifespan of a Zebra device.

Alpro Pharmacy subsequently introduced the RFD40 UHF RFID sleds, which seamlessly transformed their existing mobile devices into an advanced RFID solution. This is used for verification purposes when loading inventories at its distribution centre onto its delivery trucks and for the confirmation of goods received at its retail stores.

By providing this level of real-time visibility, Alpro Pharmacy has greatly improved its tracking accuracy leading to much more efficient operational workflows.

“Our shift from manual methods to Zebra mobile devices has improved our order fulfilment efficiency and enhanced our business capacity dramatically,” said Wong Siew Piin, director for operations management at Alpro Pharmacy. “When we added the RFD40 sleds to the equation, it seamlessly transformed our existing mobile computers into a cost-effective RFID solution that enabled us with even greater visibility and accuracy.