Streamline Warehouse Operations with Data

Introduction: The Warehouse Data Challenge

In today’s fast-paced e-commerce landscape, warehouses are the backbone of business growth and customer satisfaction. However, managing warehouse logistics is increasingly complex, especially for fast-growing companies. Inefficiencies in staff management, order processing, and cost tracking can quickly erode profitability and hinder scalability. To stay ahead, businesses need real-time insights from their warehouse data to drive smarter decisions and maximize efficiency.

Real-World Example: GBM’s Journey with Keboola

Gene Beam, a leading e-commerce company in Central and Eastern Europe, faced the daunting task of optimizing logistics while scaling rapidly. Logistics director Alex Salai and CEO Dalvart Titzman turned to Keboola to unify their warehouse data, automate processes, and gain actionable insights. By integrating data from turnstiles, picking devices, accounting systems, and conveyor belts, GBM could track employee performance, calculate real-time costs, and improve decision-making.

Key Warehouse Data Sources

• Turnstyle Systems: Automated entry systems generate time-tracking data for payroll and workforce management.
• Picking Devices: Android devices guide staff through the picking process, capture item scans, and track task completion.
• Conveyor Systems: Data from conveyor belts helps monitor order flow and package assignment.
• Accounting & Payroll: Software integrations provide financial context, enabling accurate wage calculations and cost per order.
• Google Spreadsheets: Manage and import fixed warehouse costs for a complete cost analysis.

Integrating Data with Keboola

1. Connect All Data Sources:
2. Begin by connecting your MySQL databases (containing turnstyle, order, and packaging data) to Keboola. Use the built-in components to authenticate and synchronize data. Similarly, integrate Google Spreadsheets to import fixed costs, ensuring a holistic view of your warehouse operations.
3. Automate Data Transformation:
4. Transform complex datasets with Keboola’s transformation tools. No advanced SQL knowledge is needed—thanks to Keboola’s integration with LLMs (Large Language Models), users can prompt the system to generate the required transformations automatically. For example, you can calculate cost per package, cost per order, or department efficiency metrics with simple instructions.
5. Build Data Apps for Visualization:
6. Once your data is transformed, use Keboola’s “data apps”—Python scripts or other integrations—to visualize KPIs such as cost per package, inbound/outbound costs, and employee performance. Dashboards can be deployed directly in Keboola, enabling instant access to actionable insights for managers and staff.

Benefits of Warehouse Data Integration

• Real-Time Decision Making: Instantly access up-to-date metrics on order costs, employee efficiency, and department performance.
• Cost Transparency: Track precise costs at every stage—picking, inbound, outbound, and more—so you can identify opportunities for savings.
• Scalability: As your warehouse grows, Keboola scales with you, handling increasing data volumes and complexity without additional IT overhead.
• Empower Non-Technical Teams: Keboola’s LLM integration allows staff without coding or SQL expertise to automate data transformations and build reports.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Centralize data, streamline reporting, and ensure all stakeholders—from logistics directors to frontline staff—are working from the same source of truth.

Detailed Example: Calculating Cost per Order

GBM’s logistics team leverages Keboola to calculate the exact cost per order, breaking down the process as follows:

1. Data Collection: Collect data points for every action: when employees clock in, pick items, scan products, and move packages to conveyors.
2. Data Integration: Merge operational data from devices and systems with wage and cost data from accounting software.
3. Transformation: Use Keboola’s LLM-powered tools to calculate cost per minute of labor, total wage costs, and cost per package or order.
4. Visualization: Generate dashboards that show real-time costs, efficiency by department, and trends over time.

For example, GBM discovered that their average cost per order was €2, with inbound logistics costing €0.50, picking €1.00, and outbound another €0.50. These insights enabled targeted optimizations, such as reallocating staff or renegotiating supplier contracts.

How to Set Up Your Warehouse Data Solution in Keboola

1. Connect Your Databases:

• Go to Keboola Components and search for the MySQL data source.
• Provide your credentials: host, username, password, and database name.
• Select the required tables (turnstyle, orders, packaging).

1. Import Fixed Costs:

• Authorize access to your Google Drive.
• Select the appropriate spreadsheet for warehouse costs.

1. Configure Data Synchronization:

• Run synchronization components to import all data into Keboola.

1. Create Transformations:

• Use LLM prompts to automate calculations, such as cost per package or wage KPIs.
• No SQL expertise required—simply describe your goal in plain language.

1. Deploy Data Apps:

• Generate Python scripts via LLM for dashboards or custom calculations.
• Deploy apps directly in Keboola for real-time visualization.

Why Choose Keboola for Warehouse Data Integration?

• End-to-End Automation: Keboola automates data ingestion, transformation, and reporting, freeing your team to focus on operations.
• Security & Compliance: Enterprise-grade security ensures your sensitive data is always protected.
• Flexible Integrations: Connect virtually any data source—databases, spreadsheets, devices—without custom development.
• Rapid Time to Value: Quickly deploy solutions and see measurable improvements in weeks, not months.

Common Use Cases for Warehouse Data Integration

• Automated payroll and attendance tracking
• Real-time cost analysis per department or product line
• Performance management for warehouse teams
• Inventory optimization and demand forecasting
• Integrated reporting for finance and operations teams

Customer Success: How GBM Grew to €200M Revenue

By leveraging Keboola, GBM grew from a startup to a €200 million e-commerce business in under a decade. The key to their success was visibility—management could see, in real time, how each process performed and where improvements were needed. With actionable data, GBM optimized staffing, reduced waste, and increased profitability.

Getting Started with Keboola

1. Identify Your Key Data Sources: Audit your warehouse systems and define what data you need to integrate.
2. Set Up Keboola Integrations: Use built-in connectors for databases, spreadsheets, and devices.
3. Automate Analytics: Use LLM-powered prompts to automate reporting and KPI calculations.
4. Visualize and Act: Build dashboards and share insights with your team for continuous improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need technical expertise to use Keboola? No. Keboola’s intuitive interface and LLM integration mean anyone can automate data workflows and build reports.
• Can Keboola integrate with my existing systems? Yes. Keboola connects with most databases, spreadsheets, and APIs used in warehouse management.
• How quickly can I see results? Most customers see value within days to weeks of deploying Keboola.
• Is my data secure? Absolutely. Keboola offers enterprise-grade security and compliance features.

Conclusion: Unlock Your Warehouse’s Full Potential

Efficient warehouse operations depend on data-driven decisions. By integrating all your logistics data with Keboola, you gain clarity, speed, and control. Join leading companies like GBM and turn your warehouse into a competitive advantage. Start optimizing today!