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By Jeremy Hudson, June 12, 2018

Labor Management of the Future

Labor management software is on the move. What has long been considered the step-child of the bigger and more robust WMS software is about to steal the spotlight and become the long-awaited tool the supply chain industry needs. Known for its performance score reporting and incentive benefits today, labor management software, or LMS, has slowly been building its repertoire of capabilities throughout the past 15 years. In those years, we’ve seen functionality like planning and balancing begin to grow. We’ve seen systematic observations and coaching appear, and in the latest releases, we’re beginning to see the makings of an entirely mobile platform. Slowly but steadily, labor management has begun to grow from it’s original purpose of engineered labor standards to become an overall labor management solution.

There is substantially more logic and capability in today’s software than there was 15 years ago, but what’s next on the horizon? Labor management is on the verge of becoming a system capable of learning and adjusting from the data it collects. The software will soon be capable of not only understanding the rates at which work is occurring, but also at what rate the work will need to occur tomorrow. It’s not far from the day that it becomes a tool capable of precise predictions of both consumer and employee habits that will be capable of anticipating not only what is required, but also what is capable. I predict that this change in labor management software will be the greatest and most impactful change to supply chain software in the last 30 years.

In ten years, employees will no longer be directed by a supervisor. There will not be an interactive queue of work, where users are manually assigned to tasks considered a priority. Blending current retail scheduling software solutions and warehouse labor management solutions in the near future, employees will be directed entirely by software. In 10 years, a warehouse employee will receive a text message 12 hours before the start of their shift, directing them to one of the five warehouses, at which they’ve been trained to work, in their general vicinity based on work demand. Upon arrival and clock in, the warehouse employee will be directed by software to their workstation based on their training, previous performance and experience level. The employee will be provided an expected performance for the day and receive reminders throughout the day as to whether their pace is currently meeting expectations. During a shift, an employee will be redirected to other stations in the fulfillment center to meet increased workloads. Upon clock out, labor management software will send the employee a text message informing them of their performance and calculated incentive earned by exceptional performance for the shift.

Since inception, labor management has been the speedometer of the warehouse management and execution systems. Labor management is about to become the driver. This is no longer a question of when, but who? There is no software company more capable than JDA Software. Currently, JDA offers supply chain software that predicts buying habits, predicts influences to market demand, schedules employees, measures employees and manages the receiving, storage and fulfillment categories of supply chain. It’s exciting to think that the logic invested in these already market leading solutions are about to become the basis for a software that directs and manages the human elements of supply chain fulfillment. Step aside supply chain software, it’s labor management’s time to shine!

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Jeremy Hudson

Vice President of Client Services

Jeremy’s focus is on the products and services clients need to stay competitive. Open Sky Group’s mission is to deliver technology-enabled solutions that allow our customers to achieve more while having the flexibility to adapt to change. Jeremy lives the core values and mission by bringing the best experience possible to our clients. He is an essential member of implementation teams, working alongside clients, and encouraging them to use innovation and best practices instead of customizations for success.

Jason Yantiss

Vice President of Client Services

Jason provides leadership to a variety of teams focused on implementation and integration. With 27+ years of experience holding operational and technical management roles in transportation, billing, and warehousing across a vast array of industry verticals, Jason is adept at driving multiple complex projects, understanding customer needs at all levels of the operation and providing viable solutions. Jason’s resume of 150+ implementation projects include Warehouse, Labor, Transportation, Yard Management and multiple AR/AP Freight Pay and Customer Billing systems. 

Eric McPherson

Vice President of Client Services

Mac works to oversee implementation and integration projects. A former Marine officer and military police officer, he brings over 27 years of supply chain experience, including 11 years at Blue Yonder in both delivery and service sales. Mac is a dedicated, team-oriented professional with a background in business management, professional services, customer service, and supply chain technology. His specialties include sales support, supply chain execution systems, project management, fulfillment operations, distribution operations, and GSA contracts.

Shannon Caflisch

Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Shannon is responsible for the strategy and management of all sales, business development, and marketing programs. With over 25 years of sales experience and 15 years focused in the supply chain space, Shannon focuses on building strong relationships with clients and partners and strives to deliver the right software solutions to help conquer supply chain challenges. Shannon believes in learning by listening to understand clients’ goals, struggles, and what is important to their business to build lasting, successful relationships.

Alan Prillaman

Senior Vice President of Client Services

As Senior VP of Client Services, Alan oversees all consulting services and account management at Open Sky Group. Possessing over 30 years of combined industry and consulting experience, Alan leverages his unique background in IT, logistics, quality management systems, manufacturing and distribution operations, and facility and strategic account management to provide clients with creative resolutions to complex challenges. His core philosophy and passion are to deliver tangible value for and establish long-term trusted partnerships with our clients.

Mike Noble

Senior Vice President of Technology

As Senior Vice President of Technology, Mike leads Open Sky Group’s Managed Services, Software Services, Infrastructure Services, and Information Technology teams bringing 35+ years of experience in Supply Chain Execution and Information Technology. Mike and his teams ensure we maintain the highest levels of customer service in a secure and reliable environment, constantly reviewing and evaluating new technologies, their appropriateness and applicability so we can safely and securely transact our own business – and help our clients accomplish the same.

Chad Kramlich

CEO

Joining Open Sky Group in 2015, Chad, served as Chief Revenue Officer for three years prior to his appointment to CEO in 2022. With over 25 years of experience delivering results for high-growth software and consulting organizations, Chad is leveraging his background in building efficient and effective implementation teams, establishing high-impact services operations, achieving revenue growth, and deepening executive-level client relations to help propel Open Sky Group into a very successful future.