Miniclipper adds fourth warehouse to THOMAX platform

Miniclipper Logistics has brought a fourth warehouse onto the THOMAX warehouse management system, meaning four of the UK third-party logistics provider's six sites now run on the same platform.

The latest site to switch is the Dunstable EAV warehouse, extending a rollout that already covers Burton-on-Trent, Cherrycourt Way and Hibay in Leighton Buzzard. The remaining two sites are due to move onto the system as Miniclipper completes a single warehouse management platform across its estate.

The rollout has coincided with higher throughput in Miniclipper's fulfilment operations, particularly as it expands further into eCommerce work. At peak times, the Burton-on-Trent operation now processes an order roughly every five seconds, while also having up to a month's forward visibility of orders.

That extra visibility has changed planning in a business built around next-day delivery and tight service measures. Miniclipper wanted a warehouse management system that could support eCommerce fulfilment and kitting, connect with customers' ERP systems, and be deployed through configuration rather than bespoke development.

Founded in 1971 as a one-man-and-a-van operation, Miniclipper has grown into a third-generation family business with around 60 trucks and 230 employees. Over time, it has shifted from general haulage into pallet networks, warehousing and a greater focus on eCommerce fulfilment.

The rollout has been phased site by site, with staff from THOMAX present during each go-live. The companies said the first warehouse went live less than four months after the contract was signed.

Operational shift

The change reflects a broader operational transition at Miniclipper as customer demand shifts towards more complex fulfilment work. For logistics providers, the ability to handle rapid order flows, short delivery windows and direct system links with clients has become more important as online retail volumes increase.

Peter Masters, Managing Director of Miniclipper Logistics, said: "We needed a warehouse management system that could keep pace with our move into eCommerce fulfilment. Our main criteria were flexibility and the ability to implement quickly, and THOMAX .wms fitted the bill. They've been brilliant since we started the project, and we're now picking faster and more effectively. I've had fantastic feedback from the team, who felt supported throughout the rollout and have already put forward ideas for operational improvements, many of which we've implemented."

THOMAX said the implementation was designed around Miniclipper's existing operating model rather than a custom-built development programme. THOMAX is a warehouse and transport management software provider headquartered in Australia, with regional teams in the UK and other markets.

Rollout progress

The latest go-live takes the project beyond the two-thirds mark by site count. Once the final two warehouses are added, Miniclipper will have all six locations operating on one warehouse management system less than two years after the first site went live.

Thomas Jackson, Founder and Managing Director of THOMAX, said: "Miniclipper is a business that has continually reinvented itself over five decades and has approached this rollout with the same ambition and discipline. They needed a system that could be up and running quickly and shaped around the way they work. We had the first site live in under four months, with our team on the ground supporting every go-live since. With the system now operational across most of the business, Miniclipper can integrate with customers' systems on their terms, make the most of its increased capacity, and is well placed to keep growing and take on new opportunities."