German office supplies cooperative Soennecken eG is modernizing its supply chain infrastructure by migrating its inventory management software to a cloud-based platform integrated with artificial intelligence demand forecasting, according to corporate announcements. The trade cooperative, which represents roughly 460 member companies and manages a catalog exceeding 25,000 office and home-office items, aims to phase out manual parameterization and scale up automation across its distribution network.
Cloud Migration and AI Demand Forecasting Integration
The software update transitions Soennecken from its legacy inventory system—operational for approximately 15 years—to a modern Remira cloud environment. According to the company, the new platform embeds AI models designed to handle complex demand patterns that traditional forecasting methods struggle to map accurately. These include new product introductions, startup phases, and items featuring sporadic or highly volatile sales volumes.
By deploying machine learning models, Soennecken targets up to a 15 percent improvement in forecast accuracy for difficult-to-predict stock. According to project disclosures, these precise forecasts allow the cooperative to lower safety buffer stocks while simultaneously raising product availability rates. Björn Endres, inventory management project manager at Soennecken eG, stated that the organization wanted to serve as a first mover in system development. “Our goal with the AI forecasts was not to achieve better numbers immediately, but rather better controllability in the long run,” Endres said. “This includes replacing traditional procedures and also reducing manual parameterization.”
Transition Phase and Dual-Run Operations
To ensure system stability during the rollout, Soennecken is running its classic forecasting models and the new AI-based algorithms in parallel. This overlapping phase grants warehouse and logistics staff hands-on experience with the upcoming predictive procedures before the legacy tools are permanently retired.
Concurrently, software provider Remira is executing iterative fine-tuning throughout the project lifecycle. Feedback loops from Soennecken operators feed directly into software adjustments and algorithmic refinements, tailoring the cloud platform to the cooperative’s specific fulfillment workflows.
Automation Across Dual Logistics Hubs
The updated inventory software is engineered to unburden operational staff from routine data entry, freeing human capital for high-level tasks such as managing delivery capability and processing inventory exceptions. Soennecken operates two primary logistics nodes: its main distribution center in Overath and a secondary, largely mirror-image warehouse facility in Melsdorf.
Although the addition of the Melsdorf site effectively doubled the organization’s logistics workload, the company added only a single staff member to its inventory control department. Soennecken attributes this operational efficiency to the high degree of automation embedded within its management software.
AutoStore Integration and Goods-Inward Scheduling
The inventory planning logic is directly wired into Soennecken’s automated storage infrastructure. The warehouse utilizes an AutoStore system, where automated robots handle goods stored in plastic bins stacked inside a rigid aluminum framework.
Through specialized dispatch logic, the Remira software interfaces directly with these AutoStore containers. The system evaluates precise dimensions—calculating whether an incoming order fits into a quarter, half, or full bin—and factors those physical filling capacities directly into order quantity calculations. This alignment ensures replenishment orders match actual container volume constraints.
Beyond stock calculation, Soennecken utilizes a complementary module for inbound goods optimization. The software calculates the exact processing time required per incoming truck or pallet, generating a precise delivery schedule. On a daily basis, the system detects scheduling overlaps and automatically shifts pending delivery windows within pre-set parameters and supplier conditions before delivery details are formally transmitted to vendors.
Future Roadmap
Following the completion of the parallel testing phase, Soennecken plans to systematically phase out its legacy forecasting procedures. The organization intends to manage its entire inventory workflow through the cloud application, laying the technical groundwork for fully automated, end-to-end supply chain processes.
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