Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Avanade Blog: Agility to drive costs down?

FareShare Edinburgh Goes Live; Online with Aidmatrix!

Today marks an historic day for our partner Fareshare, the UK food charity. After a ton of planning, hard work and dedication by the FareShare teams, they have completed a 2-year network-wide rollout to get each of their operations across the UK online with Aidmatrix' Online Warehouse system. This involved converting a mix of manual processes, spreadsheets, databases and more into a single, uniform system and set of processes.

The benefits: FareShare now has a consolidated view of all their warehouse inventory across each of their depots across the UK. They can now access this information and perform global reporting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so they know exactly what is in inventory and what needs ordering.
For FareShare, it is their first network-wide software implementation, their first on-line system, and it involved the support and advice of external consulting firm Accenture. FareShare is already seeing benefits from the system and anticipate many more benefits now that all their depots are online.

They also use the Aidmatrix Online Warehouse for KPI reporting to their food suppliers. FareShare and Aidmatrix are continuing to work together to develop the system so it can meet the specific requirements of the FareShare business model and network. Bottom line: FareShare will be able to serve even more people-in-need, more quickly and efficiently than ever before thereby supporting their mission to end hunger in the UK.


Aidmatrix congratulates the entire FareShare team on this accomplishment!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma delivers over 46 million pounds in 2011!

Monday, January 16th, Melis Jones, VP of Programs, and I (AgencyExpress specialist) experienced a day in the life of a food bank, hosted by our friends in Oklahoma City. From food deliveries at churches in Oklahoma City and Moore, to tours of the warehouse operation and Worm Farm, we learned about the overall operation of a food bank “Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope”.

Arriving at 6:45am, we spent the early morning hours shadowing one delivery truck making three stops in and around OKC to three faith-based food pantries, all of which had suffered damage from an F5 tornado in 1999.

Returning to the food bank mid-morning, the operations team began processing orders received through AgencyExpress/Ceres and building the routing schedules for delivery two days later. Next, a tour of the warehouse led by Steve Moran, VP – Operations, showed us numerous efficiencies, including the use of VoxWare technology to assist pickers in filling agency orders.

Out in the Worm Farm, we viewed the tilapia tank used to produce nutrients for the hydroponic farm. The Worm Farm is used primarily as an educational facility for groups of all ages, and I was invited to eat a lettuce leaf from the crop.

Later that afternoon, we joined a group of volunteers breaking down large quantities of frozen spinach into exactly 2lb. bags for agency orders; I felt like we were making an “I Love Lucy” episode alongside the Singing Spinach Volunteers which enthusiastically performed their tasks!

To complete our day, we learned about the receipt of product into food bank inventory and various initiatives managed by the Agency Relations and Programs teams. With a final “thank you” to Steve and his team, we headed back to Dallas truly inspired by what we’d seen in Oklahoma City.

If you’ve never volunteered at your local food bank, consider it. Countless hungry Americans receive food and hope from food banks such as The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma every day. Thanks again, to Steve Moran, Gina Ward, and their entire team in OKC. You are fighting hunger and feeding hope!

Charlotte Medley, Office Manager

Thursday, February 2, 2012

State of Alabama: Individual Assistance Approved for Storm Survivors in Two Counties

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday received notification that his request for federal assistance for survivors of last week’s severe weather has been approved for two counties.

Individual assistance was approved by President Barack Obama for Jefferson and Chilton Counties.

The assistance comes through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Based on individual needs, the assistance can range from funding for temporary housing to financial help with home repairs or replacements that are not covered by insurance.

“I am pleased with the President’s approval of this assistance,” Governor Bentley said. “Recovering from these storms will be a long-term process, and this individual assistance will greatly help people as they work to rebuild their homes.”

People in Jefferson and Chilton Counties who would like to apply for individual assistance can contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). People can also consult the website www.disasterassistance.gov to register for assistance.

A request for individual assistance for people in Perry County is still under review by the federal government. Until a decision is reached, state resources, volunteer organizations, and other resources are being sought to assist people in Perry County as necessary.

###
For more information, contact the Governor’s Press Office at 334-242-7150.