Made-to-order industry solutions

How high-tech logistics help high – tech companies keep the focus on their core competencies.

We move imagination

The customer

Microsoft, the world’s largest software producer, was founded in 1975 and today has roughly 90.000 employees around the globe. Microsoft opened its branch office in Austria in 1991. With the strength of 250 employees, the enterprise headquarter in Vienna has been working with tectraxx for its Xbox product since 2003. tectraxx is a subsidiary of the Gebruder Weiss organization, specialized in logistics concerns of the high tech industry, combining logistics solutions with highly demanding technical services.

Sought:
 
Extremely flexible logistics Provider

Microsoft Austria receives 250 to 300 Xbox 360 games consoles in order to exhibit them at various different trade fairs and events and also use them for demonstrations purpose in electronics outlets. They needed a logistics service provider who could warehouse these Xbox demo units, safely deliver the highly – sensitive goods on time to consignees throughout the entire nation and also pick them up later. Deliveries averaged 15 to 20 orders per month of two demo units each.

Microsoft needed a provider who not only offered traditional logistics functions but was also capable of advanced services such as cleaning the units once they came back or being able to independently replace defective parts.

Secured

All-in-one solution

The Xbox demo units are stored at tectraxx’s main location at Wiener Neudorf. When Microsoft receives an order, tectraxx installs the software as ordered onto the Xbox demo unit, cleans and packages the unit, and transports it to the consignee where they set up the entire console unit on site and get it running. Once the unit’s tour of duty at the site is over, tectraxx picks up the Xbox demo unit again and transports it back to the warehouse.

The head off any nasty surprises, every Xbox demo unit is fully inspected upon return. This performance test covers all components and checks for power supply, damages and intactness. Monitors and consoles are additionally checked for response times and contrast and color levels. Any spare part that might need is already inventoried right in the warehouse. In the rare cases when tectraxx encounters malfunctions they cannot rectify, they will organize the transport to the repair facility. And if problems arise when the units are out on display at an event or in one of the electronics outlets, tectraxx also ensures the defective unit is quickly replaced by a new one.

Because trust is not something gained overnight, this outsourcing relationship was developed gradually. Today, Microsoft only takes orders for its Xbox units, all other facets of the Xbox operations are outsourced to tectraxx. An all-in one solution unduplicated by any other service provider in today’s Austrian market.

The advantages     

Efficiency
Microsoft’s warehouse space, time and cost expenditures were reduced measurably.

Quality assurance
The all-in-one solution eliminates errors and speeds up response times.

Focus on main order of business
The resources of the highly – specialized engineers can remain focused on their own high-tech activities.

Transparency
Microsoft receives immediate information at any time on the status of all services including performance tests and repairs.

Flexibility
tectraxx also delivers on Saturday, Sunday and nights.