Ahlsell transforms customer service and product delivery with flexible warehousing model

Industry

Construction tools and materials

Challenge

Ahlsell was looking to improve supply chain operations and logistics but had limited space at its central warehouse in Sweden

Solution

Iron Mountain® warehousing allows more goods to be stored for longer periods than before, guaranteeing service levels and deliveries

Value

• Guaranteed storage for 3,400 pallets
• More efficient operations with less handling
• Easier to achieve next workday delivery target
• Improved stock control and purchasing

Nordic market leader

Ahlsell excels in supply chain management and logistics. As the Nordic region’s leading distributor of installation products, tools, and supplies for trade professionals, it has some 7,500 employees, 300-plus stores, a well-developed e-commerce platform, and three central warehouses in Sweden, Norway and Finland.

“Our warehouses combined store around 118,000 products and deliver next working day to 100,000 customers, which includes Ahlsell stores, specialized building, electrical and plumbing centers, and directly to select consumers,” says Hanna Larsson, Supply Chain Developer at Ahlsell.

Maintaining high standards

Ushered in by the pandemic, tough supply chain challenges like port closures and container shortages had a profound impact on the company’s warehouse in Hallsberg, Sweden.

“It became harder to maintain our usual high standards and service levels,” adds Larsson. “We needed more storage space to stock more goods and keep up with demand. In the short term it wasn’t possible to build that extra capacity ourselves. We quickly had to find a dependable warehousing partner.”