**London**: Honeylove, the shapewear startup founded by EDM artist Betsie Larkin, partners with Inspectorio to modernise its supply chain. This technology upgrade enhances operational efficiency, ensuring quality control and real-time data access as the brand prepares for anticipated growth over the next decade.
Honeylove, a direct-to-consumer startup established in 2018 by EDM artist Betsie Larkin, is navigating the complexities of rapid growth within the intimate apparel sector. The brand, known for its high-quality shapewear, has amassed nearly three million customers but is facing operational challenges in its production and supply chain processes. To enhance its operational efficiency and scalability, Honeylove sought a technological partner capable of modernising its systems to better manage these challenges.
According to Russell Lyzak, Honeylove’s VP of supply chain, the company recognised the necessity of evolving their supply chain framework to support anticipated growth over the next decade. “Honeylove was looking for a way to scale in building the supply chain structure we need for the next 10 years,” Lyzak stated. The solution required the implementation of integrated systems that could enhance data accuracy and collection speeds, rather than simply increasing staff.
In their search for the right partner, Honeylove established that it required a comprehensive solution addressing current and future needs, which included social compliance, testing, and transparency alongside production quality. After thorough vetting of solution vendors, Honeylove selected Inspectorio as their optimal partner, whose AI-powered supply chain platform enabled the adoption of its Quality Risk Management and Production Management solutions. This decision came after the recognition that their previous manual system was insufficient for their needs, as it lacked the necessary transparency, quality control, and tracking capabilities.
The integration of Inspectorio’s technology has allowed Honeylove to achieve real-time visibility and access to vital data related to inspections and associated results. Lyzak elaborated, “Inspectorio provides us with visibility and fast, clean data.” This facilitates extensive oversight of various inspection types, ensuring quality is maintained from pre-production through to finished goods. Additionally, Honeylove’s previous reliance on spreadsheets and email communications for inventory tracking has been streamlined through the new connection with their financial system, significantly improving the management of supplier performance metrics.
The impact of the technology has been multi-faceted, empowering Honeylove to improve efficiency while also coping with the challenges posed by industry disruptions. Mark Bernstein, SVP of the Americas at Inspectorio, noted that the Production Management capabilities allow Honeylove to detect potential production obstacles early in the process, enabling preventative action to be taken against late or short shipments.
Enhanced supplier collaboration has also emerged as a pivotal benefit from the new system. Honeylove has centralised communications and introduced self-inspections for lower-risk suppliers, fostering stronger supplier relationships and encouraging accountability. Automating data analysis and inspection coordination has allowed the company to reallocate employee efforts to more strategic, revenue-generating initiatives, a move identified as vital for maintaining high service quality in the face of escalating customer expectations.
Lyzak advises that selecting the right technology partner hinges upon a clear understanding of the underlying problems a company aims to solve. He emphasised the importance of assessing whether the focus is on scaling growth, improving data quality, enhancing visibility, or establishing a singular source of truth for information. He recommends that companies consult existing references from firms that have previously navigated similar challenges, facilitating a smoother transition and avoiding common pitfalls.
Bernstein added that the elimination of costly manual processes is essential for retail success in the modern production chain. He stated that Inspectorio’s platform digitalises traditional methods of quality auditing and work-in-progress tracking, achieving real-time data results in a matter of weeks and providing immediate value to its users. This proactive approach to risk management within the supply chain is crucial as brands like Honeylove seek to solidify their position in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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