Improving Order Accuracy at Sport Time, Nike’s Major Balkan Distributor
Some of the Technology employed
Sport Time has positioned itself as a pioneer in Eastern Europe, becoming one of the first Nike distributors to deploy a fully integrated RFID system.
Executive Summary
Sport Time, a prominent retailer in the sportswear sector, faced the challenge of optimizing its supply chain to respond more quickly to market demands.
Problem
Sport Time, Nike’s exclusive distributor in the Balkans, faced growing supply chain inefficiencies:
- Manual and error-prone post-pick control in distribution centers
- Difficulty managing high-volume, diverse inventory across 8 countries
- Slow item verification and receiving processes
- Lack of real-time visibility across retail and wholesale channels
Implemented solution
In partnership with Clustag, Sport Time deployed a comprehensive RFID solution:
- Item-level scanning using RFID stations at the post-pick stage
- Zentup middleware for automated auditing and warehouse management
- Discrepant orders rerouted to audit stations for real-time correction
- Full integration across warehouse and retail operations
- A single platform for capturing, analyzing, and optimizing RFID data
Fast results
RFID implementation quickly delivered measurable gains in speed, accuracy, and efficiency:
- Hundreds of items verified in seconds without manual barcode scans
- 100% item-level accuracy from warehouse to store
- Fewer errors, reduced labor, and faster fulfillment
- Improved staff efficiency, allowing more time for customer engagement
- Enhanced visibility and control across the entire supply chain
The Challenge
With global supply chain disruptions and high consumer demand (particularly in categories like sneakers) Sport Time needed to improve inventory visibility and order fulfillment efficiency. As Nike’s leading distributor across eight countries in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, they faced the added pressure of managing a diverse and extensive product portfolio while ensuring timely delivery and error-free operations.
Minimizing Human Error
Accelerate Without Losing Accuracy
Real-Time Inventory Visibility
Scale with Consistency
The RFID Solution
From uncertainty to total control: process automation, inventory accuracy and traceability, total visibility in real time.
Our RFID Solutions
Inbound Verification
Efficient checking of incoming goods with advanced RFID technology, which verifies thousands of tagged products at item level.
Our RFID Solutions
Post-Pick Control
Orders are packed and instantly verified with RFID for accuracy. A final scan ensures perfection, and any errors are quickly corrected for flawless delivery.
Our RFID Solutions
Outbound Verification
Ensure shipment integrity with Clustag’s automated RFID validation. Verify each item before sealing goods for flawless order accuracy.
Result
INDUSTRY
Sporting Goods
RFID SOLUTIONS
Pick & Pack (Post-pick control)
WAREHOUSE
Semi-automatic
REGION
Eastern Europe, Balkan Region
PRESENCE
13 countries, 562 stores, 3 regional distribution centres.
25%
Reduction in logistics costs. Achieved by minimizing shrinkage, stockouts, and manual errors.
35%
Boost in operational productivity. Through automation, real-time auditing, and streamlined warehouse workflows.
37%
Faster response times, enabled by complete visibility and real-time coordination across all inventory systems.
66%
Retail items tracked with complete traceability from warehouse to store.
100%
Item-level accuracy, ensured from the distribution center all the way to the point of sale.
“With RFID, we’re not just talking about process improvement, but about complete transformation. Instead of lengthy and manual receiving processes, we now have the ability to accurately verify hundreds of items in just a few seconds.”