Managers at the West Coast Distribution Center recently provided U.S. States Army Installation Management Command Commander LTG Kenneth Dahl a behind-the-scenes look at how the Exchange’s logistics network is transforming to welcome home 13 million Veterans with a lifetime online shopping benefit, starting on Veterans Day.
Dahl’s visit in August marked the first time the member of the Exchange’s Board of Directors toured a U.S.-based Exchange distribution center. Managers gave Dahl an operations overview of the central California DC, including receiving, storage, order selection, flow, transportation, shipping and e-commerce.
Being ‘at the epicenter’
As the Exchange prepares for launching the Veterans online benefit, fulfilling e-commerce orders efficiently and accurately takes on even greater importance.
“It’s exciting to be here at the epicenter of all you are doing to welcome home Veterans online,” Dahl said. “Veterans have a desire and propensity for continued service to the nation. Keeping them tightly connected with the military after they transition is critical, and I view the Veterans online benefit as an important ingredient in sustaining that connection.”
Updated warehouse management and transportation management software, reallocated space for e-commerce order fulfillment and revamped duties for associates are among the changes the Exchange’s distribution centers are undergoing to prepare for increased online traffic.
Keeping a ‘connection’
Dahl praised the Exchange for offering Veterans what other retailers can’t—a connection to their military family.
“Veterans will want to shop with you online,” he said. “They will like the connection to the military—Soldier for Life, Airman for Life. They will recognize that by shopping with the Exchange, they are putting money back into Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs in local communities.
“It’s very important we sustain our connection with Veterans, and Veterans online is an exciting new way to do that.”
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