The Body Shop enhances operational efficiency with Traka

The Body Shop's asset management challenge

The Body Shop, a global leader in ethical and sustainable beauty products, recognizes the importance of responsible resource management, business practices, and asset security.

The Body Shop faced challenges in managing assets and ensuring operational efficiency at its main distribution center in Littlehampton, United Kingdom.

With a constant need to keep up with high demands and evolving technology, manual control of assets became inefficient and time-consuming. The distribution center needed a solution to streamline operations, enhance security, and improve accountability.

“Our distribution center operates 24 / 7 to keep up with high demands. It is constantly evolving, driving new standards in design and use of technology to ensure our products reach our stores to meet our loyal customer demands,” a Shift Manager stated.

Traka RFID locker solutions at The Body Shop's distribution center

To address the challenge of asset management and operational efficiency, The Body Shop installed bespoke Traka RFID locker solutions at its main distribution center.

Three large-scale intelligent locker systems were strategically placed to manage different devices used in the facility.

Traka's multi-bay cradle locker solution managed 30 VoCollect voice-picking devices and Bluetooth headsets, all charged and ready to operate.

The specialist Asset Master Locker range housed 40 Falcon handheld scanners with charging and battery points located.

The third and final system presents secure storage for an equipment kit specifically designed for the forklift truck drivers, with each locker compartment containing a Falcon scanner, radio, and printer.

Each locker solution was equipped with RFID asset detection and TrakaWEB software, providing instant audit control capability and enabling managers to track the removal and return of physical devices from the lockers.

The Shift Manager responsible for the project said:

“To operate at maximum capacity, we need to make it as simple and as quick as possible for authorized colleagues to not only gain access to the devices they need but also ensure they are operational and in good working order.”

Enhancing operational efficiency at The Body Shop

The implementation of Traka systems at The Body Shop's distribution center resulted in significant improvements in operational efficiency.

Staff productivity increased as they no longer needed to travel to a central location or queue to access equipment, leading to smoother shift transitions and reduced downtime.

Traka's seamless integration with The Body Shop’s existing access control system, Paxton Net 2, minimized facility disruption during installation.

Traka also ensured that access to assets was granted only to authorized personnel based on their job specifications, with staff only able to take one device or kit at a time.

The strategic placement of locker systems in specific work areas optimized accessibility and saved vital time for staff and management.

The Shift Manager concluded that:

“With the introduction of Traka, we have eliminated manual control, plus we have a complete audit on all devices that we can access from anywhere.

We have already noted increased accountability, traceability, and fault logging, all coming together to reduce lost time and enhance operational efficiency.”

Lee Payne, Traka's Business Development Manager added:

“The introduction of Traka systems to a global distribution center such as The Body Shop demonstrates how simple process enhancements can make a significant difference.

From the initial brief through to implementation, we worked closely with the team to identify the exact requirements for each site and the accessibility needs for staff.

We understood the need for curfew notifications, fault logging, and careful authorized access control.

We planned with the team to separate out the systems into specific work areas and use the Traka orange to help the locker systems stand out, all to ensure vital time could be saved for staff and management.

The result is a smoother, more efficient operation throughout the supply chain, helping The Body Shop continue its mission of delivering its best-loved ethical beauty products."

Overall, Traka's solutions contributed to a smoother and more efficient operation throughout The Body Shop's supply chain, aligning with its mission of delivering ethical beauty products efficiently and responsibly.