How LK Packaging Consolidated Eight Warehouse Systems into One Cloud-Based Platform

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Eight legacy warehouse management systems consolidated into one cloud-based Tecsys WMS instance

LK Packaging eliminated a planned on-premise data center investment by moving to the cloud

years of technology partnership with Tecsys spanning multiple platform generations

Overview

LK® Packaging, formerly Elkay Plastics, supplies films, bags, containers and custom packaging solutions to customers in food processing, food retail, food service, industrial and healthcare markets. Rapid growth from new, consultative service lines pushed the company to modernize a technology stack built on more than a decade of hard-coded, on-premise customizations. Moving to Tecsys' cloud-based Elite™ platform gave LK Packaging a single, standardized foundation across its warehouse network and freed its IT team to focus on strategy instead of maintenance.

“The immediate and most important performance indicator was that we didn't have any customers complaining. From day one, our business was up and running. We were moving product out the door and from our customers' perspectives it was business as usual.”

Mark Prochaska
Chief Information Officer, LK Packaging

The vision

LK Packaging's growth was increasingly driven by new, consultative service lines that required more flexibility than its existing technology could provide. After more than a decade of hard-coded customizations built around its on-premise ERP and warehouse systems, the company needed a platform that could keep pace with evolving customer demands and market conditions, and that could take regular SaaS updates and new features without another round of custom rework.

“Flexibility is a core value because the industry and our customers are constantly evolving. We needed smart technology solutions that can rapidly adapt to changing needs at a moment's notice.”
— Mark Prochaska, Chief Information Officer, LK Packaging

Why Tecsys

Prochaska and lead process development engineer Charles Procsal have worked with Tecsys’ Elite™ technologies for more than a decade across multiple roles, giving LK Packaging a long-standing, trusted relationship to build its cloud transformation around.

“Working with Tecsys means being on the forefront of supply chain technology. The capabilities they have developed over the years truly make them stand out as a leader in the industry. Tecsys innovates based on where its customers need to go.”
— Charles Procsal, Lead Process Development Engineer, LK Packaging

The solution

LK Packaging built its cloud foundation on Tecsys’ Distribution ERP and Tecsys WMS, replacing an on-premise ERP that had served as the central hub for its connected systems. Moving that hub to the cloud opened the door to migrating the rest of the technology stack, including consolidating eight separate legacy warehouse management systems into a single Tecsys WMS instance spanning every location. The move also shifted LK Packaging from a capital expenditures model to an operating expenditures model, eliminating a planned on-premise data center investment in favor of predictable, subscription-based cloud costs.

Results

One warehouse system, company-wide

Every site now shares a common set of workflows, giving warehouse associates a shared language for training and issue resolution, and giving leadership consistent data for tracking KPIs and comparing performance site to site.

Faster response to custom requests

With Itopia®, LK Packaging now configures new workflows itself instead of waiting on custom development, cutting the turnaround time on requests like custom, co-branded product labeling with scannable barcodes.

Sharper financial accuracy

Automated freight cost calculations and rebate rounding to the hundredth of a cent have reduced pricing discrepancies and strengthened the billing accuracy customers depend on.

A CIO freed for strategy

Cloud transformation eliminated many of the tactical supply chain challenges Prochaska previously managed day to day, freeing him to focus on setting strategic direction and preparing for future growth.

Looking ahead

LK Packaging is building on its cloud foundation with a goal to transact 90% of orders via EDI within the next 18 months, removing manual touchpoints and improving transactional accuracy.

The company is also planning real-time customer visibility into order status across manufacturing, warehousing and shipping, and closer integration with supplier systems for upstream visibility into supplier activity.

Discover how Tecsys helps distributors modernize supply chain and warehouse operations for scalable, cloud-based growth.

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