Founded over a century ago, Archbold Logistics Ltd stands as one of the UK’s most enduring logistics companies. From world wars to digital revolutions, the business has remained resilient… adapting to global disruptions, industry evolutions, and economic transformations with grit and agility.
Today, Archbold continues to deliver trusted, end-to-end logistics services across the UK. From its strategic base in Manchester, the company operates as a true “one stop shop” — providing transport, warehousing, and distribution solutions for a wide range of clients.
Yet despite their deep history, Archbold isn’t a company content to rest on legacy. They understand that staying relevant means continuously investing in tools that drive efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction.
With modern client needs growing more complex (especially in food-grade storage and just-in-time delivery) Archbold recognised a clear inflection point: their systems needed to evolve to meet 21st-century expectations.
The leadership team’s vision was clear: enhance precision, eliminate outdated workflows, and equip the warehouse team with the tools to deliver faster, smarter, and with full transparency.
Enter Clarus WMS.
Challenges of Legacy Systems
For Archbold, long-standing processes were both a strength and a constraint. While staff knew their operations intimately, the systems in place had not kept pace with the demands of food-grade compliance, live visibility, and scalable fulfilment.
Manual processes slowing operations
Warehouse teams were relying on paper-based workflows and static spreadsheets to manage critical operations… from goods in to dispatch. These manual processes limited flexibility and required constant supervision to avoid errors, especially during peak demand periods.
As volumes increased, so too did the risk of mispicks, stock inaccuracies, and delayed dispatches. Time spent double-checking entries and resolving discrepancies was time not spent on value-added activities.
Food-grade logistics without smart rotation
Serving clients in the food and beverage sector requires more than just storage… it demands accurate stock rotation, expiry date handling, and audit readiness. Archbold managed this manually, but the approach left little margin for error.
Without automated FIFO (First-In, First-Out) enforcement or systematic batch tracking, teams were burdened with the responsibility of manually ensuring compliance… a process that wasn’t sustainable at scale.
Limited visibility across warehouse and delivery
Archbold’s clients increasingly expected real-time updates, proactive status reports, and reliable service windows. But without full system visibility from goods receipt through to final delivery, delivering that level of transparency was challenging.
Disconnected systems meant that warehouse activity, transport scheduling, and customer updates often operated in silos. The leadership team knew that modern logistics demanded integration and insight — not workarounds.
Guiding Archbold to WMS Modernisation
Recognising the need for modernisation, Archbold set out to replace outdated systems with a warehouse management solution capable of supporting precision, compliance, and visibility.
Why Clarus WMS?
Clarus WMS stood out as the solution best aligned to Archbold’s values and operational goals. It offered robust functionality, intuitive user interfaces, and the flexibility to handle food-grade logistics requirements with confidence.
Key capabilities driving the decision included:
- Automated stock rotation: Built-in FIFO logic ensures that goods move in the correct sequence, critical for food and beverage clients.
- Workflow replacement: Clarus digitises previously manual processes, eliminating inefficiencies and reducing error risk across the warehouse.
- End-to-end visibility: The system provides real-time status updates from goods receipt through to final dispatch, ensuring internal and client-facing transparency.
Clarus also understood Archbold’s heritage… recognising that transformation needed to honour past strengths while preparing for future demands. The onboarding process was designed as a true partnership, bringing clarity to workflows and confidence to the team.
Implementing the Solution
The rollout of Clarus WMS at Archbold’s Manchester site was carefully structured to ensure minimal disruption and maximum adoption.
Operational mapping and configuration
The project began with detailed process mapping.. documenting current warehouse flows, client requirements, and pain points. From there, Clarus configured the system to reflect Archbold’s operational needs, including:
- FIFO enforcement rules
- Custom intake processes for food-grade goods
- Defined workflows for cross-docking and staged dispatch
This setup preserved what worked, while removing friction caused by manual tracking and duplicated effort.
Staff training and interface adoption
A key priority for Archbold was ensuring that long-serving team members felt confident using the new system. Clarus delivered hands-on training focused on intuitive role-based usage… from stock handlers to team leads.
The user interface, designed for clarity and speed, allowed for rapid uptake and real-world confidence… with early adopters championing the system across shifts.
Visibility and client communication
Clarus WMS introduced real-time tracking for inventory levels, stock movements, and outbound deliveries. This has laid the foundation for enhanced client reporting, proactive communication, and faster issue resolution.
System-generated data also now informs internal decision-making… reducing reliance on anecdotal feedback or manual reporting cycles.
Results Expected: Legacy Meets Precision
Though the WMS rollout is still underway, Archbold Logistics is already experiencing the benefits of its modernisation push.
- Faster, smarter fulfilment: Automated workflows have reduced picking and dispatch times, with fewer errors and less backtracking.
- Compliance confidence: FIFO logic and food-grade stock tracking are now embedded, ensuring regulatory compliance with less manual oversight.
- Real-time visibility: Teams and clients can now see inventory statuses and movement histories instantly — a major shift from reactive to proactive operations.
- Simplified daily tasks: What once required multiple checks and handovers is now executed through single-click confirmations and system-guided prompts.
Client Reflections and Lessons Learned
For Archbold Logistics, embracing modern tools wasn’t about leaving their legacy behind — it was about futureproofing it.
The WMS project has sparked new levels of collaboration across departments. From transport planning to customer service, teams now work from the same live data… enabling faster responses, better decisions, and a more unified service experience.
The cultural shift has been just as important as the technical one. With greater confidence in system accuracy, staff are freed from firefighting and better able to support high-value clients with care and precision.
Archbold’s leadership sees this not as a one-off upgrade, but as a foundation for ongoing innovation… a necessary step in ensuring the next 100 years are just as successful as the first.
Your Path to WMS Success
Archbold Logistics shows that legacy and innovation can go hand in hand. By replacing outdated workflows with smart, food-grade–ready systems, they’re sharpening their “one stop shop” promise and delivering more value to customers every day.
If your business is built on experience but limited by legacy systems, now is the time to take a bold step forward.
Discover how Clarus WMS can help your logistics operation evolve with confidence, clarity, and control.
