Lumber Co-op Adds Voice System:

Do it Best Corp. has installed voice-directed logistics systems at four of its Retail Service Centers and will install the technology at its four other RSCs by the end of next month.

Last year, Do it Best completed a pilot of the Jennifer logistics system running on the Motorola MC9090 mobile computers at its Dixon, Il., RSC. In February, it was installed in Cape Girardeau, Mo. 

"Jennifer has already had a measurable impact on the quality of service we provide to our member-owners by improving the accuracy and efficiency of order fulfillment at our Dixon and Cape Girardeau retail service centers," said John Snider, v.p. of logistics at Do it Best. "Our move from paper-based processes to next-generation voice-directed work has significant benefits for our customers, the 4,100 member-owned Do it Best hardware stores that depend on our RSCs for timely, efficient, and accurate delivery."

Running on Motorola mobile computers, the "speech-recognition technology enables customers like Do it Best to operate more efficiently by eliminating the need to manually enter data or read instructions," said Motorola's Brian Viscount.