Dior, Scandit & Hardis: Innovating Warehouse Operations

Dior has partnered with Scandit and Hardis Supply Chain to implement real-time insights and optimise workflows.

The company will be introducing automation and AI into its warehouse logistics, bringing more operational efficiency.

With the help of AI and automation, processing time will be cut, meaning faster delivery for customers and more productive workers.

Warehouse innovation

Dior is a French luxury goods company, founded in 1946 by Christian Dior. It is now multinational, with a strong presence across jewellery, cosmetics and perfumes. To ensure it remains a global success, it is partnering with Scandit and Hardis Supply Chain to transform and modernise its warehouse operations.

Scandit's smart data capture provides actionable insights for its clients, while Hardis Supply Chain has an extensive warehouse management system (WMS) which helps clients connect warehouses to supply chain ecosystems. Its cloud-based software enables supply chain transformation, boosting commercial and operational performance.

The partnership will help Dior transform and innovate its warehouse operations, using real-time insights to optimise its workflows.

“Dior’s vision demonstrates how smart data capture can revolutionise logistics,” comments Samuel Mueller, CEO & Co‑Founder of Scandit.

“Our partnership with Dior and Hardis Supply Chain is an example of how artificial intelligence and augmented reality can be combined to give frontline workers real-time insights, enhance legacy operational processes and create true supply chain innovation — all without the need for additional hardware infrastructure.” 

Technology and AI

As Dior puts an emphasis on haute couture and luxury, its client experience needs to be high quality. This, therefore, requires efficient and seamless fulfilment. Through the partnership, Dior's operational efficiency and will increase, relying on automation and digitalisation to bring its logistics to a modern and streamlined system.

Through the partnership, Scandit's MatrixScan Count will be embedded within Hardis's warehouse management software. This will ensure logistics reliability between warehouses and stores. The embedded nature of the software means there will be a connected and streamlined channel for data sharing, reducing the risk of wrong information being shared and manual errors.

As a result of this system, shipping control time is reduced by 85%. This means the company is spending less time preparing orders for shipment, meaning workers can prioritise other actions. Moreover, the less time the item spends in processing, the less opportunity for mistakes.

Through the platform, warehouse teams can simultaneously capture multiple barcodes through Dior’s Order Preparation app. This significantly increases operational efficiency, reducing time spent on the task and manual labour. As a result, orders can be processed faster and the customer spends less time waiting for their item. 

"At Hardis, we integrate innovative technologies like Scandit's to enhance both performance and user experience," adds Florent Boizard, General Manager of Hardis Supply Chain.

"The project with Dior is a perfect example of this approach: a technology partnership serving the operational excellence of a prestigious client."

Streamlining operational efficiency

The data captured by MatrixScan Count is verified within Hardis WMS, providing instant feedback on-screen using augmented reality (AR). This then directs warehouse operators with intuitive user interface movements. Moreover, MatrixScan Find is used throughout the order preparation process in the warehouse. It provides in-store price updates, meaning the correct item can be easily located using the AR overlay. 

Workers will see an increase in workflow speed and store associates will see greater accuracy, rather than relying on slow, manual work. 

The Scandit and Hardis Supply Chain systems can be deployed on handheld computers, meaning workers can scan as they go, without having to go back and forth to a static device. This will lead to further automation across workflows, increasing efficiency and speed across the warehouses. 

Using Scandit's AI-powered advanced barcode scanning, damaged, poorly printed and partially visible barcodes can still be scanned. This means less time rearranging boxes needs to be done and more boxes can be scanned. Workers will see an increase in user productivity and a streamlining of their day-to-day tasks.

This partnership will also provide an easier onboarding experience for new and temporary employees, meaning that less time is spent training seasonal staff and they can gain a seamless introduction to the workflow. The partners are planning to implement the Scandit solution across all Dior distribution centres which use Hardis WMS.