Genuine Parts Company enhances warehouse operations with Manhattan Associates

Genuine Parts Company (GPC), a service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions, has announced the go-live of its implementation of the Manhattan Active Warehouse Management System at its Brisbane distribution centre.

The platform was developed by supply chain software specialists Manhattan Associates.

The new system supersedes several legacy systems and manual processes, with a unified, cloud-native platform designed to improve visibility, efficiency and scalability across its network.

One of the largest automotive and industrial parts distributors in APAC, GPC operates a complex supply chain spanning multiple workflows, systems and locations. The implementation of Manhattan Active Warehouse Management will optimise warehouse operations with real-time visibility, intelligent automation and a versionless architecture that eliminates costly upgrades.

In the lead-up to the go-live, the program involved extensive testing and preparation to ensure operational readiness. More than 1,400 user acceptance testing scenarios were completed, alongside full-scale operational rehearsals, simulating real-world conditions across stores, inbound containers and local deliveries. Additionally, over 300 team members were trained through more than 850 sessions.

The platform introduces system-directed workflows across inbound, inventory and outbound operations, including automated allocation, intelligent replenishment and optimised picking processes.

These capabilities are expected to improve inventory accuracy, increase labour productivity and support faster, more reliable fulfilment to stores. GPC will also be one of the first organisations in Australia to go live with Honeywell Voice for Manhattan Active (HVMA), avoice-directed warehouse workflows solution.

“The partnership with Manhattan Associates has been critical in delivering a transformation of this scale. From the outset, we looked for a partner who understood the complexity of our network and could help us bring multiple operations together into a single, consistent way of working,” said Jon Longbottom, chief supply chain officer at GPC.

“Manhattan has worked alongside our team at every stage, helping us design enhanced processes that are not only more efficient, but also scalable as our business continues to grow.

“With the new system, we are well positioned to enhance operational performance across our network while continuing to evolve our supply chain capabilities to meet changing customer and market demands."

“Organisations like GPC are operating at a level of complexity where different independent systems were no longer sustainable,” said Raghav Sibal, vice president APAC at Manhattan Associates.

“This implementation is a strong example of what can be achieved when you bring together technology, process and people into a single operating model. We are proud to support GPC as they move into this next phase of their transformation.

"The Brisbane go-live is a key step in GPC’s broader strategy to simplify and unify its supply chain operations, supporting improved service outcomes while creating a more scalable foundation for future growth.”