MDS, France's leading book distributor, relies on the SCALLOG robotic solution to serve its BtoB customers as quickly and cost-effectively as possible!

 

MDS, a subsidiary of Media Participations, is preparing for the back-to-school season and the holiday season by optimizing its logistics to serve its 15,000 BtoB customers. With a catalog of over 60,000 items, including 3,000 to 4,000 new releases every year, the company distributes to booksellers, cultural superstores, mass retailers and e-commerce companies such as Amazon. Thanks to its 35,000 m² automated warehouse in Dourdan, equipped with SCALLOG's "Goods to Person" robotic solution, MDS ships over 70 million books every year, ensuring rapid deliveries within 24/48 hours. The gains include high productivity, high storage density and a significant reduction in the drudgery of logistics tasks, all with moderate investment.


 

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Dourdan – an automated distribution hub in keeping
with MDS's aim

MDS is owned by the Média-Participations Group and is a major player in the book distribution sector. Well-known across the press, audiovisual and publishing sectors, the Média-Participations Group recently merged with La Matinière-Le Seuil.

The MDS distribution centre in Dourdan covers some 35,000 m² and has 32 km of shelf storage.

The company currently has more than 15,000 clients – everything from bookstores, supermarkets and e-commerce sites (such as Amazon and Fnac.com) – to major cultural centres and tourist sites.

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Stations

8

Mobile Shelves

Mobile shelves

555

Mobile Shelves

Robots

55

Goods to Man – equal to current book distribution challenges

To optimise order preparation costs while at the same time increasing productivity and reliability, more than 60% of what MDS does is being mechanised.

  • optimize order picking costs
  • gain in productivity
  • increase reliability in production.

Indeed, without any kind of robotic assistance, a typical operative walks an average of 10 km per day.

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Benefits of our solution

X 3

multiplied productivity

+ 30 %

additional storage space

< 2 years

a guaranteed return on investment

People and books: central to the drive to automate low-turnover order preparation

The project took place in four key stages:

  • First of all, process definitionand picking and resupply in connection with the workflow automation system,
  • Secondly, creation of the software interfaces
    using Scallog's expertise in this area,
  • Then installation of stations, of the robot
    pathways and the mobile shelf units.
  • Finally, creation of the surface area, installation of equipment, interfacing of the solutions and implementation of the processes. 

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Initial gains – from increased operational performance to fewer arduous tasks.

  • Storage space saved – Across the whole mechanised Scallog area, more than 10,000 products are now stored over a small area.

  • Gain in operational performance: Productivity is multiplied by 2.5.

  • Improved working conditions – Operatives no longer need to work their way through the aisles and undertake numerous arduous manual tasks.


« Scallog has distinguished itself by its responsiveness, availability, proximity and above all its agility, at the service of our development »

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Our clients since 2013

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Our two Scallog solutions

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Flexypick
Flexytote
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Download our case study on the contribution of Scallog robots in optimizing MDS

Do you want to improve the productivity of your order pickers while protecting them properly? Discover the many advantages of automating your order picking processes.

Download the business case

 

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