Adairs deploys technology backbone in supply chain transformation

Australian homewares and decor retailer Adairs has retaken control of its supply chain, with underlying systems contributing to improvements across its stores and ecommerce fulfilment.

Image credit: Adairs

The retailer had moved from a third-party logistics (3PL) model to owning its supply chain, “taking full responsibility for costs, efficiency, and customer experience”, according to a statement by Manhattan Associates.

It is using a Manhattan Scale warehouse management system, which was deployed over a 12-month period and went live in July last year.

Adairs general manager of supply chain Justin Dowling said that bringing the supply chain in-house “was a major decision, driven by our desire for greater operational control and the ability to better serve our customers.”

“Manhattan provided the successful technology backbone for this transition, allowing us to streamline operations, improve inventory management, and scale effectively for peak demand."

The vendor said that Adairs has “delivered an additional one million units to retail stores compared to the previous year, experienced a 24 percent increase in ecommerce order fulfilment, and processed 17 percent higher inbound volume” following the supply chain transformation.

All orders, “whether from online channels, retail stores, or corporate customers”, are fulfilled from a single distribution centre, which has led to cost savings, Manhattan said.