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Minneapolis Public Schools Selects Shipcom for Digital Warehouse Management

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Digital Warehouse Management for School Systems

Background Summary

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) serves as a cornerstone for public education across the city, supporting tens of thousands of students and staff daily. Managing a wide range of supplies and ensuring the smooth operation of its facilities are among its top priorities.

However, by 2024, challenges in inventory tracking and warehouse organization had begun to affect efficiency across the district. To address these issues, Shipcom was tasked with modernizing MPS’s central warehouse and distribution network, utilizing the Catamaran NextGen™ Inventory Management Platform to improve real-time visibility and streamline the flow of resources to schools across the system.

Systematic Labeling & Warehouse Organization Upgrade

Challenge

  • No standardized system for tracking and managing school inventory, from daily supplies to high-value equipment.
  • Reliance on time-consuming manual processes for logging, ordering, and reporting.
  • Limited visibility into resource allocation across schools, resulting in uneven distribution of supplies.
  • Difficulties in monitoring usage and movement of materials in real time.
  • Absence of automated alerts for low stock levels or restocking needs.

Shipcom's Solution

The Shipcom Catamaran NextGen™ platform was customized and implemented to meet the unique needs of MPS:

  • Digitized and standardized inventory management with location/bin barcode labeling, item and asset tagging, and migration of legacy spreadsheets and staff knowledge into the Catamaran NextGen™ platform.
  • Enabled real-time visibility into all district supplies, IT equipment, and learning materials across the main warehouse and satellite sites through advanced inventory tracking and live counts.
  • Streamlined warehouse operations by introducing mobile workflows for receiving, putaway, picking, adjustments, and cycle counts — supported by ntuitive handheld scanners and tablets.
  • Enhanced accountability and insights with configurable admin tools, AI-driven dashboards, and a request module featuring approval workflows, ordering rules, and request tracking.
  • Redesigned and organized the warehouse layout using original blueprints, numbering and lettering aisles, shelves, and racks, and implementing aisle signage with color-coded QR codes and tape for easy navigation and efficiency.

Process & Deployment

  • Implementation of the Catamaran™ mobile and desktop applications for staff to easily access real-time inventory levels, bin locations, and resources across district sites.
  • Deployed handheld and tablet scanners with a district-wide labeling system to accurately track materials, equipment, and assets.
  • Redesigned the warehouse layout with custom aisle signs and color-coded QR stickers on racks and shelves for clear navigation and organization.
  • Trained warehouse and admin teams to efficiently operate and maintain the Catamaran™ inventory management system.

Software

Shipcom’s Catamarn NextGen™ IMS Application

Operational teams get real-time inventory insights through this intuitive app. Catamaran NextGen™ IMS automates reporting, triggers alerts, & streamlines workflows—eliminating manual tracking and ensuring critical supplies are always available. Its user-friendly interface features an Order Request Module, like an Amazon’s shopping cart, simplifying fulfillment.

End-to-end warehouse life cycle from receiving to order requests

IMS System Benefits for MPS

  • Centralized Inventory Management

    Comprehensive tracking and management of over $5 million worth of assets, ensuring that critical resources are well-maintained and available.

  • Enhanced Resource Visibility

    Real-time monitoring allows for instant visibility of items requested and used, promoting fair and efficient distribution across squads.

  • Process Simplification

    Simplified supply chain processes through an intuitive mobile UI that streamlines tracking, movement, and management with minimal input.

  • Improved Operational Efficiency

    Faster response times and effective emergency management due to streamlined communication and resource allocation.

  • AI-Driven Analytics

    Analytics with configurable dashboards and AI-powered reports transform raw data into actionable insights, for predictive decision making and smarter inventory management.

Perform inventory processes on mobile devices & tablets augmented by QR/RFID scanning.

Implementation Outcomes and KPIs

  • Drastically reduced time required for inventory checks and material management across the district.
  • Improved visibility and equitable allocation of supplies and instructional materials across schools and departments.
  • Cut down paper usage and manual entry errors, increasing data accuracy, efficiency, and staff productivity.
  • Minimized stock-outs and excess inventory, while enabling proactive identification of obsolete or unused materials.

Collaborative field deployment and real-time validation with the MPS team.

Schools Managed
0
Unique items & assets handled
0 +
Picks every month with
99.9% Pick accuracy
0 +
Worth of inventory tracked
in the past year
$ 0 M
Jamal Pearson
Warehouse & Distribution Executive

Outstanding experience from start to finish! The team at Shipcom was timely, prepared, and eager to deliver. Their professionalism and passion truly set them apart. The warehouse inventory system they installed has exceeded expectations, streamlining our operations and making our workflow more efficient than ever. Impressive service and an even better product. Our warehouse has never run smoother.

SLED (State, Local & Education)
Warehouse / Inventory Management

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