Mann Lake Case Study
Customer Company Size
Mid-size Company
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- NetSuite
- ShipHawk
Tech Stack
- ERP
- Shipping Software
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Productivity Improvements
- Cost Savings
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
- Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
Applicable Industries
- Retail
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
- Warehouse Automation
Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
Mann Lake is a leading manufacturer and supplier in the beekeeping industry. Founded in 1983 in Hackensack, Minnesota, the company serves both commercial businesses and small-scale hobbyists with the goal of keeping bees flourishing. Mann Lake has also expanded to offer supplies and products for poultry and goat farming. The company currently operates from seven locations in Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, and Oregon. With approximately 12,000 SKUs, Mann Lake's product range varies from one-pound boxes to 60-pound boxes with different dimensions. Some of their shipments qualify as HAZMAT and require special handling, instructions, and labeling.
The Challenge
Mann Lake, a leader in the beekeeping industry, faced a challenge after switching to NetSuite in 2020. The company needed a shipping solution that could integrate with its new ERP and automate its processes. Mann Lake has approximately 12,000 SKUs, with products ranging from one-pound boxes to 60-pound boxes with varying dimensions. Some shipments also qualified as HAZMAT and required special handling, instructions, and labeling. The company's previous shipping software was unable to automate these processes or integrate with NetSuite and all of its carriers. This led to a bottleneck in the order processing line. Additionally, Mann Lake was manually rate shopping between UPS, USPS, and FedEx, which was time-consuming and increased the likelihood of errors.
The Solution
Mann Lake implemented ShipHawk, a shipping solution that streamlined the fulfillment process and reduced order processing times by 50%. ShipHawk's packing algorithm calculates final packed weights and dimensions for each shipment and delivers packing and shipping rate intelligence in real time. Every order is packed in the optimal carton, automatically considering weight, dimensions, value, fragility, or special handling requirements, including hazardous materials. This solution eliminated the need for employees to spend unnecessary time trying to figure out the best box or cheapest carrier. Mann Lake has implemented ShipHawk’s shipping solution in all seven of its distribution centers.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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