Cloud-based omnichannel fulfilment software provider Deposco is modernising the UK Open University’s warehouse management system (WMS) to serve more than 200,000 students worldwide.

The Open University faced the challenge of replacing its legacy fulfilment systems with technology capable of supporting its dynamic needs, including improved warehouse performance metrics, product traceability across the supply chain, and efficient handling of peak demand periods.

After undertaking a framework agreement process involving requests for proposals (RFPs), the Open University selected US firm Deposco as the best fit to a rigorous set of functional, technical and value-for-money metrics.

The Open University is the largest academic institution in the UK, and a specialist in flexible distance learning.

Through the implementation of Deposco’s warehouse management software (deposco.com/applications/warehouse-management), the university aims to improve operations and gain real-time visibility into performance metrics that can be driven through an enhanced reporting capability.

“The partnership with Deposco represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide exceptional educational resources to our students, regardless of their location,” said Seth Townley, director at the Open University. “Investing in Deposco’s WMS will allow us to streamline our processes, ensuring that students receive their course materials promptly and efficiently, which is vital for distance learning.”

Deposco’s WMS enables the university to manage the distribution of over 1.6 million inserts for core modules and support educational initiatives beyond traditional coursework, such as providing materials for prison education programmes and collaborations with the BBC for projects related to Blue Planet (www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008044n), for example.

This implementation marks the beginning of a robust partnership to foster innovation in educational logistics. With plans for international expansion, the university will rely on Deposco’s WMS technology to meet the growing demand for its courses across Europe and beyond.

“We are proud to partner with the Open University in their journey to modernise and expand their educational reach,” said Will Lovatt, general manager of Deposco (www.deposco.com) in Europe. “Our technology is designed to adapt to the evolving needs of dynamic organisations like the Open University, ensuring they can efficiently manage and expand their operations to meet students’ needs wherever they may be.”

The programme of change also leverages Deposco’s supply chain planning (SCP) capabilities, enhancing the university’s ability to forecast student demand and efficiently prepare and distribute course materials.

Since it began in 1969, the Open University (www.open.ac.uk) has taught more than 2.3 million students worldwide and currently has over 208,000 students.

Deposco’s Bright Suite omnichannel fulfilment supply-chain applications enable companies to scale their warehouse management and order management operations.