Summary:
Atlanta Bonded Warehouse is using Cycle® to automate its WMS testing, reduce manual workload, and improve system stability while scaling operations. The company is still implementing, with a goal of automating 60% of its test scenarios.
About Atlanta Bonded Warehouse
Atlanta Bonded Warehouse (ABW) is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in warehousing and distribution for confectionery and other temperature-sensitive products. Founded in 1948, the company has grown from a single refrigerated storage unit into a network of 16 facilities covering 7.4 million square feet across the Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. ABW is family-owned and has built a culture of in-house innovation, continuously looking for ways to optimize operations and stay ahead of industry challenges.
Challenges
As ABW keeps growing, managing warehouse operations and system upgrades is getting more complex. With six instances of Blue Yonder WMS and more than 120 clients, including major brands like Hershey, Storck, and Reynolds, the company has to deliver seamless system performance while taking on new clients and adapting to changing operational needs.
Key challenges
- Manual testing bottlenecks: A small, five-person IT team handles all WMS configurations and testing, which makes manual regression testing time-consuming and resource-intensive.
- Multi-client complexity: Some facilities house up to 70 clients, each with its own standard operating procedures (SOPs), storage requirements, and business rules.
- Ensuring system stability during growth: As ABW expands, onboarding new clients quickly while maintaining system integrity and operational efficiency is a growing challenge.
- Maintaining up-to-date WMS instances: Upgrades are necessary for performance and security, but with limited resources, keeping instances current is difficult.
Cycle Labs’ Solution
To address these challenges, ABW has begun implementing Cycle Labs’ automated testing platform to streamline WMS testing, improve system reliability, and support future growth.
Implementation goals
ABW’s initial focus is on building Cycle into its regression testing strategy, specifically for:
- System upgrades: Automating key tests to make sure WMS upgrades don’t disrupt operations.
- Configuration changes: Quickly validating changes for new and existing clients without manual intervention.
- Ongoing regression testing: Establishing a structured approach to proactive system monitoring and stability.
Phase 1: Core test automation
- Focus areas: Receiving, putaway, storage, picking, and shipping.
- Objective: Achieve 60% automation of test scenarios for system upgrades, reducing manual workload.
- Approach: Develop test cases tailored to ABW’s multi-client, multi-instance WMS environment.
Phase 2: Expansion and continuous testing
- Expand test automation coverage to include exception scenarios and more complex workflows.
- Establish scheduled automated regression testing to proactively identify and address system issues.
- Keep test and production instances synchronized for accurate validation.
Expected Benefits
ABW is still in the early stages of implementation, but it anticipates significant operational improvements:
- Reduced manual testing burden: Freeing up IT resources by automating at least 60% of upgrade test cases.
- Improved system stability: Detecting issues proactively, before they affect operations.
- More efficient client onboarding: Faster validation of system readiness for new clients.
- A scalable testing framework: Supporting future growth with structured, repeatable automated testing.
Progress So Far
ABW has already started developing automated test scenarios. Even at this early stage, Cycle has helped the team identify configuration issues before they caused real operational disruptions. The company is now working toward its Phase 1 goal of 60% automation and will keep refining its testing framework.
Looking Ahead
ABW’s long-term vision includes expanding test automation beyond upgrades and configuration changes. The company is exploring scheduled regression testing, cloud-based execution, and enhanced reporting to improve efficiency further. As implementation progresses, ABW expects Cycle Labs to play a key role in supporting its growth strategy, helping it maintain operational excellence as it expands its footprint in the 3PL industry.
Conclusion
ABW is in the process of transforming its approach to WMS testing through automation. Full implementation is still underway, but the company is already seeing early signs of success and is confident Cycle Labs will help optimize its operations for the future.
“With six WMS instances and over 120 clients, manual testing was becoming a bottleneck. Cycle Labs is helping us automate 60% of our test cases, allowing us to scale efficiently without compromising quality. This is a critical step in ensuring our systems are ready for continuous growth.”
Alex DeGrossi, SCO Applications and Project Manager, Atlanta Bonded Warehouse
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