Blue Yonder > Case Studies > L.L.Bean Improves Customer Service and Inventory Productivity

L.L.Bean Improves Customer Service and Inventory Productivity

Customer Company Size

Large Corporate

Region

America

Country

United States

Product

Blue Yonder’s merchandise financial planning
Blue Yonder’s forecasting
Blue Yonder’s replenishment capabilities

Tech Stack

Inventory Management Software
Sales Forecasting Software

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Customer Satisfaction
Productivity Improvements

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
Functional Applications - Product Data Management Systems

Applicable Industries

Retail
Apparel

Applicable Functions

Warehouse & Inventory Management
Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Inventory Management
Demand Planning & Forecasting

Services

System Integration
Software Design & Engineering Services

About The Customer

L.L.Bean is an American apparel and outdoor retailer founded by Leon Leonwood Bean. The company is known for its customer service and timely delivery of products. It employs approximately 5,000 people year-round, a number that increases to about 10,000 during its peak sales season. As the business has expanded, it has faced challenges in accurately predicting market trends and investing in the right products for the upcoming year. The company's commitment to customer service makes the speed of delivery a crucial aspect of its business model.

The Challenge

L.L.Bean, an American apparel and outdoor retailer, has been facing challenges as its business expands. The company, which employs around 5,000 people year-round and up to 10,000 during peak sales season, has been struggling to accurately predict market trends and invest in the right products for the upcoming year. Speed of delivery is a crucial aspect of L.L.Bean's business model, as the company prides itself on its customer service. Therefore, ensuring that products reach customers in a timely manner is of utmost importance.

The Solution

To address these challenges, L.L.Bean implemented Blue Yonder’s merchandise financial planning, forecasting, and replenishment capabilities. These tools allow the company to more accurately predict sales, purchase products from vendors, and allocate those products to the appropriate stores. In addition to leveraging these capabilities, L.L.Bean is actively exploring other solutions to maximize the value of the integrated Blue Yonder ecosystem. The success of this implementation goes beyond the technology itself. During the design phase, Blue Yonder consultants worked closely with L.L.Bean to consider future objectives and goals and how their next implementation can fit in with the solution that is currently being designed.

Operational Impact

L.L.Bean gained a more accurate read on the market, allowing for better investment in inventory for the upcoming year.
The company was able to automate and integrate processes, improving scalability and allowing for a focus on customer service.
Inventory productivity was increased, improving efficiency and potentially reducing costs.
Customer service levels were improved, likely leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Quantitative Benefit

L.L.Bean has grown from a single store in Freeport, Maine in 1912 to a $1.6 billion company today.
The implementation of Blue Yonder’s solutions has allowed the company to scale its operations and automate processes, freeing up resources to focus on customer service.