Dive Brief:
- Michigan-based convenience store chain Wesco is upgrading its supply chain planning tools in a bid to simplify its operations, according to a Sept. 25 press release.
- Wesco tapped supply chain and retail planning solution provider Relex Solutions to automate its processes across different segments of the business within a single platform. Relex is set to be integrated across 55 of Wesco’s stores.
- Wesco will also adopt Relex Mobile Pro, a mobile app using artificial intelligence to enhance retail operations by automating routine tasks. The app is expected to help streamline inventory management and reduce out-of-stocks and spoilage for products such as perishable goods. Staff can access real-time product data and improve decision-making, the company said.
Dive Insight:
The Relex planning solution aims to unify Wesco’s supply chain and space planning operations, which were previously fragmented.
“Previously, Wesco managed their supply chain and space planning with multiple disconnected ERP systems. The shift to RELEX is driven by the need for a more sophisticated and robust tool that supports unified supply chain and space planning,” Relex said in the release.
Wesco mainly operates in Michigan and is open every day of the year. It owns and operates a private distribution center, a bulk fuel and propane business, as well as a private label deli and bakery operation.
Relex works with companies like Vita Coco, Lowe’s and 7-Eleven to optimize end-to-end supply chain planning. For example, Relex’s project team created a digital twin of Vita Coco’s supply chain, which helps the company determine the most profitable sourcing plan.
C-store retailers have been on board with using automation and AI-driven technologies to simplify employee and customer experiences. Even smaller operators will have to tap into these technologies to remain afloat, Mike Templeton, director of digital guest experience at Casey’s General Stores told C-Store Dive.
