Performance analysis and strategic improvement of logistics operations in a sports retail company

Abstract

This project explores the efficiency of a Transport Management System (TMS) implemented by Accenture, within a major European distribution center of a global Sports Retail Company. Its main objective is to establish the TMS’s ability to recommend the best, cost-effective shipping decisions and to compare them against those made by the Warehouse Management System (WMS). To conduct the analysis, a dedicated evaluation tool, referred to as the TPA tool, was developed. This tool enabled the simulation of ideal transport scenarios based on real operational data, carrier tariffs and shipment specifications. Using this tool, a detailed comparison was carried out to measure the alignment between actual decisions and theoretically optimal ones. The results highlight a notable difference in performance between the two systems, with the TMS consistently providing more accurate and efficient transport proposals. Most discrepancies found in the WMS operations were linked to specific, recurring decision-making errors, which were identified and classified through structured analysis. The project concludes that aligning WMS operations more closely with TMS logic could unlock significant efficiency improvements. It also emphasizes the value of internally developed analytical tools to uncover process inefficiencies and support strategic decisionmaking. Finally, the findings support the recommendation to scale this methodology to other distribution centers within the Company for broader operational impact. In addition to the operational insights, the project provides a solid foundation for future monitoring, cost control and performance benchmarking. The methodology and tool developed could serve as a replicable model for other logistics environments aiming to improve planning accuracy, reduce transport costs and support more data-driven decisionmaking practices across the supply chain.