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HL Display is a global provider of in-store communication and merchandising solutions. The company offers a wide range of products and services, including display systems, signage, shelving, and visual merchandising, to help retailers create attractive and effective in-store environments that drive sales and enhance the customer experience.

Ida Modigh, the Logistic Manager at HL, explains that they currently are using Ongoing WMS in their 3 biggest warehouses in Europe, integrated with their ERP system and used on PCs, handheld computers, and scanners. Ongoing WMS is used for all types of warehouse management tasks, such as picking and packing orders, stock movement, goods receiving, picking and receiving of production orders, and stock-taking.

"We first noticed that our inbound team rapidly became much more efficient. In addition, our team has themselves expressed what a great tool they find Ongoing WMS to be", she says. Ida also adds: "We have now gained a much better workflow and significantly increased our productivity. Ongoing is a software system that is easy to work with and understand, fast to learn, flexible, and possible to adapt to the business."

Read the full article among our customer references.

In an age where sustainable business practices are becoming the norm rather than the exception, companies like ReuseIT Sweden AB are setting the bar high. With a business model centered around buying and selling both new and used IT equipment, ReuseIT commits to quality and environmental responsibility. Headquartered in Gothenburg and Växjö, Sweden, the company serves clients across the Nordic countries and Europe. In an interview with Pierre Bågenholm, Operations Manager at ReuseIT, we got to discover how Ongoing WMS has enhanced their operations while aligning with their core values.

Key Factors for Choosing Ongoing WMS

When initially asked why ReuseIT opted for Ongoing WMS, Pierre Bågenholm was quick to mention the system's robust reliability. "We needed a system that guarantees zero downtime and can accommodate a wide range of web solutions," he explained. "Accessibility to support was also crucial; we've even received assistance on Sundays from our Ongoing representative. The system's scalability was another key factor in our decision, making Ongoing the obvious choice."

Seamless Integration and Enhanced Efficiency

Ongoing WMS is not just a stand-alone solution for ReuseIT. It's fully integrated with the Fortnox Business System and nShift's Delivery Management, offering comprehensive order and inventory management capabilities. "We've also linked it to our custom production system through Ongoing's versatile API connections," Bågenholm added. This level of integration ensures that all aspects of the business operate smoothly and efficiently, fulfilling ReuseIT’s commitment to quality and environmental stewardship.

One of the most compelling benefits of implementing Ongoing WMS has been the significant time savings. "We have gained full control over our entire inventory, resulting in a 3-4 hour reduction in daily handling time for orders and inventory management," Bågenholm elaborated. The system’s customizable and user-friendly interfaces have also made a positive impact, offering clear insights into material inflows and outflows, thereby simplifying day-to-day operations.

Effective Collaboration and Mutual Respect

Discussing the collaboration with Ongoing and specifically his customer representative, Gustav Pettersson, he is more than pleased. "Our collaboration with our dedicated software developer and contact at Ongoing has been extremely effective, characterized by quick responses and action times," Bågenholm praised. "Whenever possible, new, customized features have been implemented to our great satisfaction," he added, underscoring the adaptability and customer-focused approach of Ongoing.

Gustav also weighed in on the collaboration, saying, "ReuseIT is one of the largest clients I've personally onboarded, so there's a sense of pride I carry with me because of that. I've been working with them from the start, and they were one of my very first clients when I began working at Ongoing two years ago." He further elaborated on the partnership, adding, "I really enjoy working with Pierre. He's super friendly and a fun guy to talk to. He's one of those clients where you feel like you're building a relationship, rather than just ticking off tasks and answering questions."

A Testament to Sustainable Innovation

In closing, Pierre Bågenholm wholeheartedly endorsed Ongoing WMS, stating, "We highly recommend Ongoing WMS to anyone seeking a robust, flexible, and user-friendly Warehouse Management System for their business."

In all, the union of Ongoing WMS and ReuseIT serves as a prime example of how technology can be harnessed to not just increase efficiency but to also champion sustainability—a cornerstone of ReuseIT’s business philosophy.

In the dynamic world of e-commerce and logistics, companies often find themselves at crossroads, choosing between systems and strategies to deliver optimal services. Leading the pack in Finland is 3PLogistiikka with their CEO Jussi Örn in charge. In a recent interview, he shared insights into their journey and the key role Ongoing WMS plays in their operations.

Örn introduces the operational scope of 3PLogistiikka, highlighting, "We are strong in fulfillment services for import, commerce, and eCommerce. 3PLogistiikka houses warehouse facilities in 9 locations and in total, we employ more than 100 warehouse workers in Finland and Estonia." The company has established itself as the fastest-growing logistics operator in its sector in Finland, leveraging strategic acquisitions and a focus on optimizing the complete supply chain through data sharing with their customers – the goods owners.

WMS Selection and Implementation

Choosing a powerful, reliable, and integrative warehouse management system was essential in enhancing 3PLogistiikkas’s operational capabilities. Örn outlines the decision-making process, explaining, "3PLogistiikka has former experience with numerous warehouse management systems and chose Ongoing WMS after a broad comparison between different systems. Of the compared systems, Ongoing had the best ecosystem of ready-made integrations and being a reliable true cloud-based software."

The implementation of Ongoing WMS within 3PLogistiikka was comprehensive, encompassing various operational facets. Örn details how the system is used today, "Ongoing is used at workstations, handheld devices, and tablets. 3PLogistiikka is currently investing in picking automation which is integrated with Ongoing." This facilitates a seamless, efficient, and technologically harmonized workflow throughout their warehouses.

Highlighting the tangible benefits, Jussi provides insights into the system's capabilities, saying, "The biggest benefit with Ongoing WMS on the warehouse floor is the great compatibility with different devices. Handling eCom campaigns with Ongoing order tools improves warehouse efficiency significantly."

The Collaborative Backbone for Success

The success story is not just about technology; it is significantly about the people behind the scenes. Örn acknowledges the positive and constructive alliance. He states, "Co-operation with a dedicated Customer-responsible Software Engineer at Ongoing is fast and straightforward."

Daniel Svensson, 3PLogistiikkas’s first point of contact at Ongoing and personal software engineer, recounts his experiences: "Working with 3PLogistiikka has been nothing short of smooth. They always come with very concrete requests where they have already done much of the groundwork beforehand. Then, it's mostly just about executing what they have asked for without any fuss."

Juhani Kammonen, IT Manager at 3PLogistiikka, has predominantly been working closely with the engineers at Ongoing. Daniel continues with an example of the smooth collaboration, "For instance, when a goods owner requests additional services for their transport bookings, Juhani promptly contacts Ongoing. By then, he has already identified the relevant service in the API and provides clear guidance on when to apply or not apply the service."

Mattias Johnson later took over as 3PLogistiikka's contact at Ongoing. Sharing his perspective, Mattias says, "By the time I came onboard, 3PLogistiikka had a complete and operative system in place. Today, they occasionally request minor adjustments, from revamping reports to tailoring settings. My interactions, especially with Juhani, have always been constructive and efficient. He is easy to work with, competent, and always a bliss to chat with."

Embracing Modern Innovations

3PLogistiikka's decision to integrate Ongoing WMS into their operations underscores their commitment to continuous improvement and adaptability. The platform, while advanced, is just one of the tools they've adopted in their quest to provide consistent, high-quality service. By embracing the capabilities of Ongoing WMS, 3PLogistiikka ensures they stay attuned to the evolving needs of their clients and the industry at large, a testament to their thoughtful approach and dedication to delivering quality in our ever-evolving digital age.

We are proud to announce that Ongoing has been honored with the DI Gasell Award for 2023, making this the fifth time the company has earned this thought-after distinction. Since our establishment in 2008, we have been granted the DI Gasell in 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2020 which further solidified our position as a top-tier business in Sweden.

The DI Gasell Award is presented by Dagens Industri, Sweden's leading financial newspaper, and highlights the country's fastest-growing and most financially strong enterprises. Given that only a few hundred companies earn this distinction each year, the DI Gasell is a testament to exceptional achievement in the Swedish business world.

The consistent recognition of Ongoing underlines our relentless commitment, passion, and excellence. This repeated win not only serves as a reflection of our company's growth and strong financial standing, but more importantly, the dedication and exceptional contributions of our team members.

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, businesses thrive on their operational efficiency. ZOO.se, an omni-retail brand under Pet Pawr Group AB, stands as a testament to this, boasting physical and online stores as well as veterinary clinics throughout the Nordics. Charting their growth from a startup with a rudimentary warehouse management system to an industry front-runner, ZOO.se illustrates the rewards of technological adaptation.

The Genesis of ZOO 2.0

Jost Beermann, the Warehouse Manager at ZOO.se, reflects on the times before their digital transformation, "In our early years, our operations were closely tied to our ERP system. This model, although initially effective, began showing its limitations as we expanded," he recounts. “This setup performed well when the company was much smaller, but we eventually outgrew it as we expanded and recognized the need for a dedicated WMS.”

And expand they did, with stores spanning from Gothenburg to Haparanda, and an e-commerce warehouse in Kungsängen serving Sweden, Norway, and Finland. As with every growing entity, ZOO.se reached a point where they had to find new technical solutions to meet the demand and continue their growth. It was this realization that birthed the ambitious 'ZOO 2.0' project. Andreas Harju, ZOO.se's CTO, comments, "Our growth has been significant in recent years, leading us to identify more obstacles than opportunities with our existing technical setup. ZOO 2.0 aimed to update our system landscape, ensuring our infrastructure could support our aspirations."

An Integrated and Multifaceted WMS

Their digital transition led them to Ongoing WMS, a decision both Jost Beermann and Andreas Harju firmly stand by. Choosing Ongoing WMS was no accident. "Ongoing matched our requirements impeccably and was already well-known among our warehouse personnel," Andreas points out. "Ongoing is a vital component within a suite of approximately 20 underlying systems. Its primary integrations are with our ERP and TMS." he elaborates.

Today, the use of Ongoing WMS at ZOO.se is not just about handling inventories; it's an intricate dance of optimization and real-time analytics. Jost counts the many functionalities they've employed, "From the use of hand scanners that bring both functionality and aesthetic appeal, to the detailed mapping of the warehouse with designated pick-up spots and buffer zones, Ongoing WMS has revolutionized our approach. The dashboards are particularly valuable, allowing a real-time overview of production and incoming orders. It's an incredibly adaptable system that can be tailored to a business's specific needs."

The benefits of ZOO.se's digital leap are apparent. "We now have excellent control over our workflows, inventory, and production. Moreover, our productivity has increased by around 15% compared to our previous setup," Jost reports.

Great Collaboration: The Key Pillar to Success

Jesper Jönsson, their personal software developer at Ongoing, is described by Andreas as the key factor in this success story. Both Jost and Andreas commend Jesper's instrumental role. "Jesper is phenomenal, a true professional. He brings timely, effective solutions to challenges and has an uncanny ability to anticipate what other systems interfacing with Ongoing need to do to ensure seamless integration," Jost remarks. "He also comes with good counter-proposals when we think we know what we want." Andreas adds, "His receptiveness throughout the implementation, coupled with his proactive adjustments to cater to our specifications, has ensured optimal process efficiency. Moreover, Jesper has frequently trained and mentored our staff, ensuring that we leverage the system to its fullest potential."

Jesper Jönsson reflects on the collaboration as well, "Thanks to the well-coordinated 'ZOO 2.0' project, collaboration with all the people at ZOO.se has been excellent. With Ongoing WMS, ZOO.se started with a setup that mirrored their previous working method, which they were completely comfortable with. From there, I worked alongside Andreas and Jost to harness their evident drive to introduce new features to their warehouse workflow and continuously optimize their processes."

Ongoing Reliability and Satisfaction

Reflecting on their digital journey, Jost conveys his satisfaction, "We're very pleased with the WMS. Throughout my 18-year logistics career, I've worked with various warehouse management systems and other warehouse solutions. Ongoing WMS stands out as one of the best. It's highly customizable to suit business needs."

In his closing remarks, Andreas expresses, "The partnership has surpassed our expectations. This has been evident both during the project's integration phase and in its ongoing operations, where Ongoing WMS has consistently proven itself as a robust and dependable solution."

2022 was a successful year for Ongoing despite a weak sentiment in the economy. How has the first half of 2023 been for Ongoing? 

– Yes, 2022 was a strong year for Ongoing. We gained many new customers and there was good momentum among our existing clients. In the first quarter of 2023, we observed a more cautious stance. It took longer to acquire new customers, and we felt that companies and consumers were holding onto their money more. In the second quarter of 2023, that is, from April to June, it turned around. We once again saw a significant influx of new clients, especially from Norway and Denmark. Our existing customers still seek assistance in streamlining and integrating their logistics, so things are going well.

What's your view on the market situation for the remainder of 2023?

– I am optimistic despite the uncertainty. The large number of new customers we're gaining suggests that market concerns, at least partially, have declined. Sweden's GDP is expected to be slightly negative while Norway, Denmark, and Finland's are predicted to be stagnant or slightly positive. Our main market, the Nordics, is doing fairly well despite market concerns.

If you're wrong and the market climate turns tough, how will Ongoing be affected?

– Of course, we will be affected if things slow down, but many companies look to streamline and automate their operations during tougher times, especially their logistics. Ongoing WMS plays a vital role in this process and is essential both in good times and bad. We help our clients become faster, more agile, and more resilient in all situations! Even today, many WMS software solutions are locally installed, and the shift to cloud-based solutions becomes even more apparent during challenging times, which benefits us.

Ongoing's figures have looked good for a long time. Can it continue?

– Yes. Financially, Ongoing is very strong after 15 uninterrupted years of profitable growth. We are very long-term oriented, with no loans or external financiers demanding quick returns. With over 550 clients and more than 10,000 users, we have a solid foundation. We plan to continue building the company step by step, mainly in the Nordics, but increasingly on a global scale. We grow with our customers and software-developing partners. We have outstanding employees, and we will always prioritize our customers' interests.

How do different trends affect Ongoing?

– We see many trends that are affecting our business. Here is a list of the most prominent ones:

1. The overall trend, both in the Nordics and globally, is that digitalization in warehousing and logistics remains strong and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
2. As many know, we are particularly dominant in third-party logistics. This niche will continue to grow in the next 5 years in the Nordics and worldwide. We're clearly the market leader in the Nordics and we're growing internationally.
3. Another trend is that companies with their own warehouses or a "hybrid solution", which we refer to as "logistics-intensive companies", increasingly choose specialized software, i.e., a WMS, to manage their warehouse. Previously, they might have managed their warehouse using a module in their ERP system or some other more generic software.
4. We also see a clear trend where logistics-intensive companies, both small growing and large ones, find it a no-brainer to opt for cloud-based software that is quick to deploy with relatively little financial investment. Older, locally installed WMSs requiring extensive consultancy support are on the decline.
5. The trend that software should communicate seamlessly will continue. Customers should even be able to set up integrations themselves within minutes. Our clients expect Ongoing's WMS to communicate with all surrounding software, like ERP systems, webshops, shipping platforms, and various automation systems.
6. Two other trends positively affecting Ongoing are the long-term growth of e-commerce and the automation of warehouses. With the growth of e-commerce, warehouse workers now do the piece-picking that was previously done by consumers in stores. This means piece-picking becomes a larger part of warehouse work and a bigger portion of the value is added in the warehouse. Therefore, it becomes even more essential to streamline the picking processes with a combination of a powerful WMS and automation to keep costs in check.

How do you envision things a few years down the line? Where will you grow? 

– Even though we have clients in 30 countries, the Nordics are our primary focus for obvious reasons. This is where the majority of our clients are and also where we have a vast ecosystem of different software partners. Sweden and Norway are the largest, but Denmark and Finland are on the rise. Our internationalization outside the Nordics is largely driven by our clients and partners expanding globally. Many of our clients operate internationally and wish to use Ongoing WMS outside the Nordics. So, Ongoing WMS is now used worldwide. The Nordics, with its 27 million inhabitants and a well-developed business environment, is a great market for us. We share similar languages, cultures, and values. There's a sense of unity. The Nordics top the list (IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking) of the world's countries excelling in digitalizing various business operations. Denmark ranks first, followed by the USA and Sweden, and closely followed by Finland and Norway. Thus, we, our partners, and our clients are at the global forefront of digitalization.

For third-party logistics providers (3PLs), ensuring smooth operations and a transparent customer relationship is essential. With this in mind, Ongoing WMS has rolled out its latest feature – the Customer Lobby – a comprehensive dashboard tailored to the specific needs of 3PLs and their customers. From real-time error notifications to intricate statistics of order management, this tool aims to redefine how customers of 3PLs interact with and understand their supply chain processes. Here is what to expect:

• Error Tracking: The dashboard highlights orders with issues like status errors, un-pickable rankings, and understocked articles, making it easier to address them.

• Integration Health: The dashboard indicates the current status of integrations and automated emails, alerting users to any issues.

• Operational Metrics: Get a clearer picture of warehouse operations with metrics on created, picked, received, and returned orders.

• Order Status Overview: A pie chart shows current order statuses, indicating which ones are pickable, not pickable, picked, or shipped.

• Purchase Order Insights: Another pie chart provides a count of purchase orders expected to arrive today, those in progress, and those received today.

• Timeframe Views: Users can adjust the dashboard's view to see order data from 'Today', 'Last week', 'Last month', or 'Last year' for better analysis.

The lobby is available by default for goods owners with a 3PL customer login, displayed right at login or via Statistics > Customer lobby in the top menu.