Dublin, 22 March, 2007: Pharmaceutical wholesalers, Cahill May Roberts, has made a substantial investment in a voice enabled warehouse management system from Dublin based IT company Heavey RF. 40 Vocollect Talkman T5 voice terminals and SRX Bluetooth headsets were installed across 3 sites to manage every warehouse function at Chapelizod and Rathcoole in Dublin and Castlerea in Northern Ireland and is expected to increase productivity by over 25% while bringing accuracy up to 99.99%

Heavey RF developed all the software around the various warehouse applications employed by Cahill May Roberts including goods inwards, putaway, replenishment, order picking, order checking and dispatch as well as stock taking. This is the first time a company has used voice directed technology across the board in Ireland.

“Our stock value is considerable, so in our business, margins for error are practically non-existent, and our warehouse systems must be accurate, up-to-date and reliable,” said Liam Quinn, Cahill May Roberts. “We needed a system that could be tailored to continually meet the demands of a customer base that includes 1100 pharmacy shops and 200 hospitals in Ireland. We are continually impressed with the new voice solution provided by Heavey RF.”

He added “The new voice technology will enhance the control of best before dates and batch number stock control, an area that is scrutinised by the Irish Medical Board. Users are directed through all of their responsibilities by the Vocollect voice system”

(L-R) Liam Quinn, Operations Manager Cahill May Roberts with Ciaran Lavelle, Business Account Manager Heavey RF

The Heavey RF voice system automates a formerly manual process which included barcode scanning. All aspects of warehouse management are now automated including electronic orders which are automatically converted to speech and directed to the warehouse staff via a wireless network.

“The decision was made to run the business without the use of barcode scanning which is an industry first in Ireland,” said Ciaran Lavelle, account manager Heavey RF. “This demonstrates the flexibility and versatility of the Vocollect voice system. We are excited at the opportunities that this presents to the warehouse industry”

Cahill May Roberts acts as a wholesaler, agent and distributor of OTC medicines, ethical pharmaceuticals, cosmetic and skincare products, photographic goods and veterinary products. The company is a subsidiary of Celesio who are the largest European wholesaler with 25% of the total European pharmaceutical market.