At TAG Heuer, the future begins in the warehouses

Who are you?
Guillaume Boilot, Chief Operations Officer at TAG Heuer since June 2021. My role involves overseeing the production process from start to finish. This includes managing the supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, new product development, customer service and quality control processes to ensure that the company is able to produce high-quality timepieces efficiently and effectively.

Loic Gaudio, Logistics & Stocks Manager at TAG Heuer since December 2020. I am responsible for coordinating daily warehouse activities, including receiving, storage, order fulfillment, and shipping. By analyzing data and trends, I identify opportunities for streamlining workflows, reducing costs, and maximizing warehouse space utilization.

What brought you to TAG Heuer?
Guillaume: TAG Heuer is a brand that has a long history of innovation, having developed several groundbreaking models over the years, such as the Monaco and the Carrera. The brand has also been at the forefront of developing connected watches and has a strong focus on performance and sport.
TAG Heuer started a transformation journey 4 years ago to re-position the Maison with more high-end product and more D2C centric. These elements have important impacts on our operations. One of our main challenges was to accelerate our flow and improve watches availability for our markets. It has been very exciting.

Loïc: One aspect that personally brought me to TAG Heuer was the opportunity to work on an exciting project involving the implementation of a new Warehouse Management System (WMS). This project encompassed all aspects, from conception to production, across three different industrial sites. I was drawn to the chance to combine the operational aspects of warehouse management with the strategic management and optimization of information through an innovative IT system. The prospect of being involved in such a project and contributing to the advancement of TAG Heuer's operational efficiency and effectiveness was truly enticing. It aligned perfectly with my passion for integrating technology and optimizing processes to drive success in a dynamic and competitive environment. TAG Heuer's commitment to innovation and their focus on delivering high-quality products made it an ideal fit for me to contribute my skills and expertise in this transformative project.
Another aspect that particularly attracted me was the opportunity to lead and manage the change associated with such a significant project. Being able to navigate and engage different stakeholders, communicate the benefits of the new system, and support them throughout the transition process is a challenge that I find incredibly appealing.

What solutions did you find?
Guillaume: Introducing a new Warehouse Management System (WMS) will bring several benefits and advantages to our Manufactures. Here are some key interests of implementing a new WMS:
1. Improved Inventory Management: A WMS provides real-time visibility and accurate tracking of inventory, enabling better control and optimization of stock levels.
2. Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity: A WMS streamlines warehouse operations by automating manual processes and providing optimized workflows. We will increase productivity, shorten order fulfillment cycles, and handle higher order volumes effectively.
3. Increased Order Accuracy: the new WMS will help reduce picking and shipping errors through barcode scanning, automated validations, and order verification mechanisms.
4. Real-time Visibility and Reporting: our WMS offers comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities, providing real-time insights into warehouse performance, inventory levels, order status, and operational metrics. These insights enable data-driven decision-making, helping managers identify bottlenecks, track key performance indicators, and make timely adjustments to optimize warehouse operations.
In an omnichannel context, this is crucial that the WMS is connected to other critical business systems such as our ERP or our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. This could enable seamless data flow, eliminates manual data entry, and improves overall supply chain visibility and coordination.

Loïc: In our quest for a suitable Warehouse Management System (WMS), we carefully evaluated various options and ultimately chose the Reflex WMS solution, developed by Hardis Group for its scalability, flexibility, and integration capabilities. We are confident that we have chosen a robust and future-proof solution that will streamline our warehouse operations, improve productivity, and enhance inventory management.
We are excited to embark on this journey knowing that we have a trusted solution and partner to support our ongoing success. Another compelling aspect of Reflex WMS is its widespread adoption within the LVMH Group (Dior & Hennessy). This shared usage presents an exciting opportunity for us to create synergies and exchange best practices in terms of logistics management and IT tools across the Group.

What results did you achieve?
Guillaume: In term of results and as we only start the first part of the project in our first manufacture, it is too early to confirm all our objectives. The plan is to deploy first this new tool in our 3 manufactures and after to move to our Distribution centers. In la Chaux de fonds, we start to see that habits are moving and that reactivity to our markets increases.

Loïc: We have already observed significant changes in our way of working, indicating positive outcomes. One notable improvement is the introduction of embedded logistics terminals.
These terminals have revolutionized our operations by allowing us to perform various tasks dynamically and efficiently. We have experienced a drastic reduction in the time spent on administrative tasks behind a computer, thanks to the ability to perform operations directly on the shop floor.
We are confident that as we continue to leverage the capabilities of Reflex WMS and the embedded logistics terminals, we will achieve even more significant benefits in terms of operational efficiency, process optimization, and overall warehouse performance.

What's next?
Guillaume: Next steps are clear for our Maison. After the WMS deployment in our manufactures, we will deploy this new tool in our distribution centers to continue to increase our flexibility and to work to become more omnichannel. We also clearly want to leverage WMS data to enhance customer service and satisfaction: ensure accurate and timely order fulfillment, track shipments, and provide customers with visibility into their orders.

Loïc: The implementation of a new WMS serves as a critical prerequisite for establishing automated storage systems. As we look towards the future, the introduction of robotic picking, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), and other advanced technologies becomes a viable option. This opens up new possibilities for addressing the fulfillment challenges of tomorrow and positions us at the forefront of warehouse automation.