Siman, the oldest and most important department store in Central America, has experienced significant improvements in its logistics productivity, which translates into tangible benefits for its customers.  

This company, with more than a century of experience and presence in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, has shown improvements in its logistics operation, mainly in receipt and dispatch processes, as well as increased inventory visibility thanks to the implementation of Infor’s WMS system. These factors helped it to have an efficient operation focused on adding value to its supply chain.  

The technological transformation of its distribution centers was motivated by the boom in e-commerce and the sustained growth of the company, which today has more than 26 stores open among its different lines of business.

Technological Transformation: Prepared for the Future of Logistics

The decision to migrate from a warehouse management system acquired in 2002 to Infor’s WMS was based on criteria of flexibility and responsiveness to logistics challenges. The tool that had once been a boon had become a barrier to growth. The company needed an agile and advanced solution not only to keep pace with the market but also to set the pace.  

The choice of Infor was supported by two key factors, the first being the success of similar implementations. Second, the software proved to be a flexible solution, capable of responding to and supporting the logistical challenges they were about to face.  

Alejandro Choussy, Regional Logistics Manager, mentioned that one of Infor’s distinguishing factors compared to other tools was its cloud architecture as a multitenant solution. He also valued the integration capacity, adaptability to the retail sector’s processes, elimination of the use of paper, and an increase in operators’ productivity.  

The team highlighted, as part of the improvements after the implementation of Infor WMS, a 19% increase in receipt productivity, positively impacting the direct cross-docking processes, key to ensuring the replenishment of stores; as well as a more agile dispatch process and with greater use of the available fleet, which led to a 9% increase in the productivity of the load. In addition, they highlight having achieved a shorter learning curve and higher productivity indicators even in periods of low demand.  

As part of the usability of the tool, they highlight the flexibility in layout management, the availability of functions typical of high-level logistics practices, the ability to integrate with external systems, and the visibility and traceability of inventory, which has allowed them to increase the level of reliability of the inventory.  

The implementation project, carried out in collaboration with the Cerca Technology team, stood out for its transparency and flexibility. The partnership between Siman, Infor, and Cerca Technology has proven to be a significant step towards the company’s operational excellence.  

Siman’s transformation is a testament to its ability to adapt and advance in an ever-changing business environment. The investment in cutting-edge technology has not only boosted the efficiency of its operations but also laid the foundation for a strong and scalable logistics future in Central America.

«Cerca worked closely with our company to ensure that the solution matched the business and implementation needs. Cerca’s clear and disciplined methodology allowed us to meet deadlines as well as reduce problems in the implementation process.» Armando Molina, Logistics Project Manager.

CeDi’s operators continue to learn how to use Infor’s WMS, and have already experienced the benefits of its versatility to avoid errors in operations, have more efficient processes and be more productive.

«In the future, the implementation of the tool will be extended to other countries, in addition to Nicaragua and El Salvador, we plan to incorporate the Labor Management module in order to further increase productivity and incorporate bonus and compensation programs that incentivize the fulfillment of achievements in our team.» Alejandro Choussy, Regional Logistics Manager.

Quote Cerca Technology

«The interest and willingness of the Siman team to improve their supply chain has allowed us to move forward in a short period of time in the best way in two of their main operations, Nicaragua and Salvador. Their dedication to optimizing logistics operations is admirable and has been a key factor in the success of this project. We are confident that the improvements we have implemented will not only drive efficiencies in the short term but will lay the foundation for sustainable growth and a lasting competitive advantage in the marketplace.» Julian Lasso, Professional Services Manager NOLA.