As the leading global security services provider, Securitas promises its customers better security through the latest technology. Now, they also want to deliver on this mission internally. How? By ensuring that not a single piece of uniform worn by its security officers can drop off the radar. So, to replace tedious order processes made over the phone or via email, we teamed up with Securitas’ logistics partner Bleckmann to create an end-to-end supply chain platform. The result? An intuitive and highly efficient internal e-commerce platform for security officers.
Securitas is a worldwide pioneer in the knowledge of surveillance and security. In Belgium alone, some 6,600 officers are responsible for the security of office buildings and events. They are all decked out in a neat uniform, which stands for confidence and security. But it was a logistical nightmare, as the type of uniform varies according to the location or nature of the assignment.
Until recently, delivering uniforms to all security officers was a complicated and long-winded process, involving a lot of phone calls and emails.
The solution? An internal webshop. After all, employees are also consumers who expect user-friendly and efficient digital tools to work with. Ordering new work clothes should be as simple as shopping on Zalando, bol.com, or any other e-commerce platform, don't you agree?
But the convenience of ordering is one thing. They also had to take into account two more challenges:
That's why all used items must also return to their depot, both for security and recycling reasons.
To create this end-to-end supply chain solution, we collaborated with Bleckmann, a world leader in omnichannel distribution for lifestyle and fashion. Based on their input, we translated dozens of possible scenarios into a user-friendly internal webshop.
The flow goes like this: If a security officer places an order, the platform forwards this information to Bleckmann. They attach a unique RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) chip to every piece of clothing. By matching it subsequently with the right SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) code, the platform knows exactly which pair of trousers and shirt have been sent to the officer. When the officer then returns worn pieces of clothing, the platform automatically knows which article of clothing has been returned, based on the unique RFID.
Of course, the whole project didn’t just happen overnight. The functional analysis to elaborate on the complex flow of orders, returns, and exchanges resulted in a fifty-page document with no fewer than 24 flows on the platform. Based on this document, it was quite obvious that a lot of custom development would be required. What Securitas needed was far from a traditional webshop. Therefore, we made the technical choice for Symfony, an open-ended PHP framework that allowed us to build the internal webshop just the way we wanted it to work. Because of its flexible nature, we could deviate from a specific way of working. While many frameworks force a developer in a specific direction, Symfony gives the freedom to develop essentially any feature in an elegant way.
Choosing for Symfony and the technical freedom the framework offers, allowed us to tackle the following challenges:
“By automating and streamlining a process including multiple scenarios, we gave back Securitas an unobstructed view on all pieces in their internal market.”
Koen Vinken
Software Engineer
By eliminating the blind spots in the process, we have given Securitas full control of the entire life cycle of all their uniforms, overseeing the entire shipment, exchange, and recycling process of every stitch of clothing. What's more? Over 6,600 security officers can now shop safe, smooth, and secure thanks to their own unique login.
Looking for a digital solution for your logistic challenge? Don't hesitate to contact us!