LCBO deliveries delayed due to new warehouse management system

The shelves at some GTA LCBO stores are looking a little bare in recent weeks, leading to concerns about inventory shortage.

But not to worry, there is still plenty of booze for your summer barbecues – it’s just taking a little longer to get to your local store from the warehouse.

The LCBO says deliveries are behind schedule because they have “recently implemented a new Warehouse Management System (WMS), an updated technology for handling product intake and outbound orders” at their Durham Retail Service Centre, according to a spokesperson. The Durham centre is one of many operated by the LCBO across the province.

Meanwhile some locations, like the one on St.Clair and Spadina Avenues, have taken to putting up signs explaining their significant lack of stock while the warehouses settle in to the new system.

“While the transition to the new system is progressing well, deliveries remain slightly behind schedule,” says the spokesperson. “The LCBO is working diligently to ensure that we maintain daily replenishment orders to our stores and to our wholesale customers and that we get back to our regular operations as soon as possible.”

The move to the new system took place in mid-June and was outlined as a key initiative in the LCBO’s strategic plan for 2018-2021:

“Transform our supply chain through the implementation of leading software and adoption of best practices” 

It was also mentioned in the LCBO’s latest annual report for 2017-2018:

“Some of the key initiatives during the year included the continual development and implementation of the e-commerce platform, an order management system, a warehouse management system, and a new telephony system, which services the entire organization from head office to all stores across the province.”

In a statement, the LCBO reiterated that there is no inventory shortage, but rather a delivery delay.

Watch below: Several downtown LCBO stores have many bare shelves due to a delay in deliveries from warehouses.