Keith Elkington Transport (KE) is a family-run logistics provider with a rich history and a razor-sharp focus: delivering reliable, time-critical solutions to the commercial catering industry.
With more than 35 years of experience, KE has built a name that clients trust… not just for moving goods, but for understanding the specialist needs of commercial kitchens, catering equipment suppliers, and foodservice professionals.
Operating from five strategic sites, KE balances a wide geographic footprint with the responsiveness of a hands-on, service-led business. It’s this blend of personal service and professional reach that has made them a standout name in their field.
But growth brings complexity. As their network expanded and customer expectations sharpened, KE recognised a need to modernise their warehouse operations. Systems that once worked perfectly were now struggling to scale, especially as the business moved into larger volumes, more SKUs, and tighter fulfilment windows.
To protect their high service standards (while unlocking the next phase of operational efficiency) KE set out to find a warehouse management system (WMS) that matched their ambition.
Challenges in Multi-Site Logistics
As KE scaled, they encountered growing pains familiar to any expanding logistics firm… but made more urgent by the specialised nature of their sector.
Lack of unified visibility
With five sites handling inbound, outbound, and cross-docking operations, visibility was becoming fragmented. Teams operated well locally, but without a centralised system, stock tracking across locations relied on shared spreadsheets, phone calls, and manual updates.
This limited oversight made it difficult to answer client queries quickly, plan resource allocation accurately, or catch inconsistencies before they became problems.
Serialisation requirements growing
Many of KE’s customers (particularly those in high-value equipment supply) required precise tracking down to the individual item. Serial numbers had to be captured, recorded, and referenced during shipping, returns, and servicing.
Without built-in serialisation, these tasks added administrative burden, increasing the chance of error and slowing fulfilment.
Manual processes creating bottlenecks
From goods-in to dispatch, staff were entering data manually… often duplicating work between paper notes, spreadsheets, and disconnected systems. Barcode scanning existed in isolated use cases, but without system-wide automation, data integrity and speed were both at risk.
Leadership knew this wasn’t sustainable. To maintain the personal service their clients expected (and to support further expansion) KE needed a digital foundation that unified all sites, simplified key processes, and provided end-to-end accountability.
Guiding KE to WMS Transformation
The search for a solution led KE to Clarus WMS… a cloud-based platform purpose-built to support multi-site logistics operations without sacrificing flexibility or control.
Clarus understood the stakes: KE didn’t just need a better system; they needed one that respected their service-first culture while enabling their teams to work faster, smarter, and more accurately.
Why Clarus WMS?
- Multi-site visibility: The system gives KE real-time tracking across all five warehouses, with centralised dashboards and localised control.
- Built-in serialisation: Every product — particularly high-value catering units — can be tracked by serial number from arrival to delivery, ensuring traceability and simplifying warranty or return workflows.
- Barcode scanning across workflows: Goods-in, pick, pack, and dispatch operations now run on handheld scanning, feeding instant updates to the system for live accuracy.
- Smart customer portal: Clients can see what’s in stock, what’s on the move, and when to expect delivery — without chasing updates or waiting on manual reports.
- Fully cloud-based: With remote access, fast setup, and no local servers to manage, the platform is scalable, secure, and future-ready.
From first conversation to system blueprint, Clarus worked alongside KE to ensure the system fit their real-world operations not the other way around.
Implementing the Solution
KE’s transformation is being delivered in structured phases, aligned with their operational tempo and site-specific needs.
Mapping and designing multi-site logic
The first phase focused on accurately reflecting each of KE’s five sites within the system… including warehouse zones, stock ownership, serial requirements, and cross-site transfer rules.
Clarus configured custom workflows to match KE’s day-to-day operations, ensuring that processes weren’t disrupted, just digitised.
Barcode scanning and real-time updates
Scanning was deployed across key activities (from receiving to dispatch) using mobile devices and intuitive screens. The system automatically logs each action, updating stock levels in real time and triggering relevant serialisation checks.
This shift immediately improved data accuracy, simplified handovers between teams, and reduced the cognitive load on warehouse staff.
Portal rollout and customer empowerment
With Clarus WMS’s smart portal, KE’s clients now have self-serve access to live stock data, movement history, and delivery statuses. This has reduced inbound enquiries and allowed the KE customer service team to focus on proactive support.
Staff training and smooth adoption
A major part of the implementation focused on staff empowerment. Through role-specific training, live demos, and on-site support, KE’s teams gained the confidence to embrace new tech and saw immediate benefits in how their work flowed.
Results Expected: WMS Fit for Growth
Although still in its rollout phase, KE is already experiencing measurable improvements and a clearer path to growth.
- Unified warehouse control: All five sites now operate under a single system, enabling centralised oversight and decentralised efficiency.
- Complete serialisation: Every item is accounted for from start to finish — streamlining traceability, simplifying returns, and enhancing client trust.
- Operational speed: Barcode scanning has cut down errors and sped up order processing, while reducing rework and improving pick accuracy.
- Improved customer experience: The portal delivers live updates without added labour, boosting client satisfaction and reducing support tickets.
- Future-ready platform: Cloud hosting ensures scalability without IT headaches, setting KE up for further site expansion or service diversification.
Client Reflections and Lessons Learned
For Keith Elkington Transport, this WMS implementation is more than a technology project — it’s a strategic investment in the future of service-led logistics.
By modernising their warehouse operations while preserving their family-business values, KE is proving that scale and personal service don’t have to be opposites.
Staff have embraced the clarity, speed, and reliability of the new system. Processes that once required multiple checks and admin-heavy workarounds are now seamless, system-guided, and easier to train across teams.
The project has also prompted internal alignment with warehousing, customer service, and leadership now working from the same real-time data.
Your Path to WMS Success
Keith Elkington Transport is demonstrating what happens when logistics experience meets modern capability. With cloud-based control, full serialisation, and live client visibility, they’re delivering on their promises with even more precision.
If you’re growing fast and want to maintain the service standards your customers love, it might be time to rethink what your warehouse can do.
Discover how Clarus WMS can help you scale your operations without compromising your values.