Multinational Distributor and Manufacturer Adopts Oracle Cloud Inventory and FlexiPro
BACKGROUND
Horizon Hobby is an American multinational hobby-grade RC radio control (RC) model and model train manufacturer and distributor founded in 1985 and headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Horizon Hobby products are sold in more than 50 countries. As part of an ambitious expansion plan, Horizon Hobby selected Oracle’s Cloud SCM applications to help scale operations across several US-based sites. Intellinum supported Horizon Hobby’s unique mobility requirements for its California location.
CHALLENGE
Horizon Hobby identified several key areas that were challenges in its current operations:
- The ability to scale distribution to keep up with increased demand and ambitious growth targets
- Manual processes in warehouses increased fulfillment time
- Tracking lot details for various components used in the production of RC models
- Visibility into on-hand inventory for a true view of the financial state of various sites
- A reliance on Horizon Hobby IT to constantly manage and patch current systems
OBJECTIVES
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Implement a System that Scales: Design a solution that can accommodate rapid growth and is aligned with industry best practices.
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Improve Financial Decision-Making: Provide timely and accurate reports for financial and supply chain leadership, improving visibility into inventory and costs.
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Accommodate Unique Processes: Specific processes and methods are the “secret sauce” Horizon Hobby employs to gain an edge in the market. Implementing a system that can be flexible and leverage these processes.
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Introduce Scanning Solutions: Set up and train users on how to use real-time, Oracle-integrated scanning solutions.
SOLUTION
To address Horizon Hobby’s objectives, Horizon Hobby selected Oracle Cloud SCM and Intellinum FlexiPro as a cohesive solution designed for scalability and efficiency. By integrating Oracle-based scanning solutions, Intellinum streamlined warehouse processes, reducing fulfillment times and enhancing lot tracking for RC model components. The new system provided real-time visibility into on-hand inventory, enabling accurate financial and inventory reporting for better decision-making. Additionally, the scalable design allowed Horizon Hobby to manage rapid growth without overburdening its IT department, which previously had to manage and patch systems in addition to its daily tasks. This implementation not only supported unique business processes but also positioned Horizon Hobby to achieve its ambitious growth targets while maintaining operational excellence.
RESULTS
The FlexiPro system was implemented for Horizon Hobby, and the team recognized the following:
- Automated processes that saved time for warehouse workers to perform tasks
- Quicker fulfillment times for their California site
- The implementation of a best practice to standardize and maximize efficiency
- Real-time visibility into the on-hand inventory
- A robust, scalable solution that can be rolled out to other sites
In Horizon Hobby’s own words:
“Horizon Hobby creates and distributes Radio Controlled Hobby products. It is important that our customers trust Horizon Hobby to provide the highest quality products and service every time they engage with our team. The Intellinum FlexiPro application is pre-integrated with our ERP system, meaning our team can follow the intuitive user interface to scan and record their work on a handheld device. Implementing the FlexiPro system in our process while letting us add features has standardized and unique to our business and industry. The solution works well, and we have seen a significant gain in overall operational efficiencies.” – Garrett Castro, General Manager