Following a rebranding exercise, Zetes' vision technology is now called ImageID (formerly Visidot). All features and functionalities remain valid.

Saulais, the leading French producer of plants grown from seed, has extended its Visidot consignment-checking solution. The company now makes deliveries that conform 100% to orders placed and can check consignments in record time.

Saulais employs a fleet of 1300 wagons (or rolls). In busy periods, up to 470 rolls of 19 tiers of honeycombed plates (re-usable plastic containers), each containing 57 different references, are dispatched daily. Checking paper delivery notes used to involve manually ticking off merchandise. This took a long time, errors were common and following up returnable containers was unsatisfactory.

Ready in seconds

To solve these problems, Saulais invested in Visidot, which uses digital imaging technology, in 2008. This solution comprises a cabin fitted with cameras into which rolls are placed for checking before loading and dispatch.

Each tier of young plants comprising a roll is identified by 2 Datamatrix labels; the first sets out the elements identifying a product; the second contains instructions for the tier. At dispatch, rolls are placed into a cabin fitted with cameras. Within seconds, sensors detect the Datamatrix codes, regardless of where they are placed or the direction they face, including labels that are partly obscured or altered. The system compares the composition of rolls against the order form, records the instructions, takes photos and records this information on the server. Data is kept for 6 months and can be consulted in case of disputes. The delivery note and invoice are then generated automatically, completing the traceability process.

"It's impossible for a customer to receive the wrong batch, any errors must have arisen when the original order was taken."

Fast training: ½ day of theory and 1 day practical

When the system was first unveiled for operators, they acknowledged that checks would be more effective, less time consuming and easier than with paper forms. Users were trained very quickly, requiring just half a day of theoretical instruction followed by a day of practical guidance, before an operator can work unassisted.

Deliveries that conform 100% to orders

For operators, the checking stage was made much easier thanks to real time error alerting. What’s more, traceability of returned containers was much improved, saving considerably on costs. And customers now receive supplies faster, with products shipped conforming 100% to orders placed.

A solution that improves with time

In 2011, Saulais acquired a second Visidot cabin. "This meant we benefitted from improvements Zetes made to the system. Our entire checking operation, from handling to correcting preparation errors, takes less than 2 minutes per roll, whereas it used to take an average of 7 minutes," comments Mr. Maël Rétif, head of dispatch. "Today, it’s impossible for a customer to receive the wrong batch, any errors must have arisen when the original order was taken."

A great selling point

Managing instructions, which used to be very complicated for a fleet of 1300 rolls like Saulais’, is now done automatically and very smoothly. Thanks to Datamatrix codes and Visidot identification, Saulais has all the information needed to locate equipment and can even consult archived pictures to resolve disputes.

"Preventing errors, saving time, improving traceability and customer-satisfaction - for us, deploying imaging technology is a considerable advance and ensures the quality we promise in sales guarantees," concludes Mr. Saulais. "It goes without saying that new sites we open will be equipped with Zetes’ system."