At Macmillan Distribution, warehouse change is a significant operational and strategic undertaking.
The business supports Macmillan Publishers and approximately 40 other publishers, managing large-scale operations including around 70 million books at its Swansea site. Any transformation programme therefore needs to balance continuity of service with long-term improvement.
Technology Director Mark Walker, who has been with the business for over three decades, emphasises the importance of collaboration in delivering change: “This is about long-term partnership and working together to get the right outcomes.”
Evolving a Complex Warehouse Environment
Prior to the transformation programme, Macmillan Distribution operated a well-established but complex warehouse environment, including a legacy warehouse management system, conveyor systems, and ERP integration.
While this setup had supported the business effectively over time, it had become increasingly challenging to evolve at the pace required. As with many long-running systems, ongoing development and upgrades required careful management, and future change was becoming more difficult to implement.
At the same time, the business recognised the need to modernise its broader technology landscape in a controlled and phased way, with the warehouse forming a critical foundation for that journey.
In Mark’s words: “It was costly to develop. It was getting harder and harder to upgrade it and to change it. We just needed to move to the 21st century.”
A Structured Approach to Transformation
Macmillan Distribution undertook a detailed and methodical selection process for a new warehouse management system, reviewing multiple providers and defining several hundred requirements to ensure the right long-term fit.
Following the selection of Blue Yonder WMS, the business identified the need for additional independent expertise to support delivery, provide technical assurance, and strengthen programme governance.
ModernLogic was engaged to fulfil this role, bringing both independent technical knowledge and project support capability.
Building a Collaborative Working Model
Initially focused on technical oversight and project support, ModernLogic’s role evolved as the programme progressed.
As is typical in complex transformation programmes, requirements developed further during delivery, particularly as operational detail was worked through. In response, Macmillan Distribution and ModernLogic worked collaboratively to adapt roles and responsibilities, ensuring the right balance between internal ownership and external support.
This flexible approach allowed the programme to respond to changing needs while maintaining alignment with operational priorities.
Supporting Delivery Through Challenges
The programme was delivered during a period that included external disruption, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as delays linked to third-party dependencies.
Throughout this period, maintaining operational continuity remained a priority. As the programme approached go-live, additional assurance and validation were introduced to confirm readiness across testing, processes, and operations.
ModernLogic contributed to this phase by supporting validation activities and providing additional resource at key moments, helping the business move forward with confidence.
“We engaged ModernLogic to validate our testing, and our entire go live process,” says Mark. “Culminating in a full live “day in the life” with ModernLogic supporting on site.”
The result was a successful transition into the live environment, with minimal disruption to customers—an important measure of success for a distribution operation of this scale.
From Programme Delivery to Ongoing Partnership
Following go-live, the relationship has continued as part of an ongoing support and improvement model.
Macmillan Distribution works with ModernLogic on operational support, issue resolution, and further enhancements, complementing internal capability with external expertise where needed.
This ongoing collaboration reflects a shared understanding of the systems and processes involved, and supports continuous improvement as the business evolves.
“With ModernLogic, you’ve got relationships,” says Mark. “You can build those relationships… The technical expertise is first rate and they always approach it with a can-do attitude.”
Positioned for Future Change
The transformation has strengthened the warehouse platform and provided greater flexibility for future development.
With a more modern and adaptable foundation in place, Macmillan Distribution is better positioned to pursue wider technology changes and respond to evolving business needs.
“Strategically we are in a better place now” says Mark. “Much more in control of our own destiny.”
As Mark Walker summarises, the programme has created a stronger platform for the future while reinforcing the value of a collaborative, partnership-based approach.
