Arvato's new warehouse in Guangzhou

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions has expanded its network in China with two new locations in Shanghai and Guangzhou. The supply chain and e-commerce service provider now has a total of six distribution centres with almost 40,000 sqm of storage space in China.

"Within the past few months, we have added two key sites to our footprint in line with our strategic goal to grow our Asian business together with our international customers," says Raoul Kuetemeier, head of Asia at Arvato Supply Chain Solutions.

The Shanghai warehouse, opened last month, employs 20 staff who handle a volume of 400 pallets inbound and outbound every day.

The new Guangzhou facility processes up to 100 pallets inbound and outbound daily. "While Guangzhou is not our largest warehouse in China, it is the first to house our new IT system: offering an almost paperless cloud-based Warehouse Management System with networked mobile devices," Kuetemeier explains.

It boasts pick-by-voice systems, text recognition, RF handhelds, ring scanners and portable label printing equipment - all part of an automation of processes and sites "as an essential part of the digitisation strategy of Arvato Supply Chain Solutions", he adds.

"Our overall aim is to provide innovative services to our clients in Asia and with this go-live, we have a great showcase of our capabilities and, more importantly, a satisfied customer. We are well positioned for further growth."