Ocean Spray Using RFID Analytics Tool to Reduce Out-of-Stocks

"They can log on at any time and see the latest alerts," says TR3's president, Tom Rauh. The dashboard also displays those issues that may be the most urgent. An empty shelf at a high-traffic store, for example, is costlier for Ocean Spray than in a smaller, less active store. "That allows us to prioritize or focus on the high-volume areas first," Heffron explains.

The software system also provides root cause analysis, so it can not only indicate a store may not have the product it should, but it also determines whether deliveries are arriving late to the distribution center or leaving the DC late. It can also determine if a sales forecast adjustment is needed, or if, for example, a sudden increase in consumer purchasing resulting from a heat wave is the cause for store-level out-of-stocks on cranberry juice.

With all that information already analyzed, Heffron says, "We have the ability to respond appropriately. I'm very optimistic. If this system actually delivers as promised, it will be a really phenomenal tool."

TR3's chief operating officer, Dan Gallagher, notes, "Product suppliers don't want to spend their day looking for potential problems. Today, they may have analysts poring through data, but we are turning that manual process automatic."

TR3 says Ocean Spray is one of a half dozen manufacturers involved in developing the module, which will be added to the current On Demand Solution.