Facing the complexity of managing over 200 distribution facilities and a workforce of over 20,000 hourly associates, a top retailer sought to close the gap between defined operational standards and actual floor behavior in its DC network. By implementing Smart Access as a “one-stop-shop” for frontline performance management, the retailer consolidated disparate systems into a single mobile platform. The initiative resulted in a projected $30 million+ in annual savings, driven by a double-digit increase in associate performance, a significant reduction in “quick quits,” and a faster time-to-proficiency for new hires.
One of the largest big box retailers in the United States, operating a massive, complex supply chain network comprised of over 200 facilities. Since 2019, the company has utilized Smart Access across all eight DC types in its supply chain network to support leader and associate success.
Despite having Labor Management (LM) systems and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), the DCs faced significant “execution gaps”— inconsistencies and lack of visibility across Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), certifications, training, and actual associate behavior. Specific operational challenges included:
Critical performance and certification data was fragmented across Excel spreadsheets, Tableau, legacy coaching tools, and paper-based SOPs, making it difficult to drive actionable insights.
The company struggled with “quick quits”—associates leaving within their first 90 days—which drove up training costs and disrupted operations.
New associates took up to 13 weeks to reach full proficiency, creating a drag on productivity.
Without real-time visibility into behaviors, leaders were often reactive rather than proactive in their coaching. Low-performing associates received all the attention and higher-performing associates were dissatisfied due to low engagement.
The retailer deployed the Smart Access platform to digitize and standardize operations across its DC network. The solution focused on four core areas:
Enabled frontline leaders to conduct structured process, safety, and work area observations directly on the floor. This provided immediate and specific coaching based on defined SOPs rather than subjective feedback.
Replaced generic training with job-specific, mobile-accessible skill builds that guided associates through their specific roles (e.g., fluid receiving, packing).
Digitized the tracking of over 50,000 Material Handling Equipment (MHE) certifications and re-certifications, moving from disparate spreadsheets to a centralized system across all locations.
The platform integrated performance and operations data from disparate systems into the Operations Navigator console, allowing leaders to easily identify improvement opportunities and drive action without leaving the floor.
Projected annual savings across the supply chain network
Performance increase at the building level
Associate turnover reduction
Reduction in time-to-proficiency
The implementation yielded improvements across performance, retention, and training efficiency, resulting in a projected $30.3 million in annual savings across the entire supply chain network.
• Increased Performance: By identifying and coaching low and medium performers, The Home Depot saw a building-level performance increase of up to 12%. In Rapid Deployment Centers (RDCs), trained associates averaged greater than 8% higher sustained performance, contributing to $6.7 million in savings.
• Reduced Turnover via Engagement: Associates who completed their skill builds on time saw a 21% retention improvement at 90 days. Furthermore, conducting a process observation within an associate’s first 30 days improved retention by 16%. Overall, turnover dropped by 10%.
• Shortened Ramp Time: The structured digital training reduced the time to proficiency significantly. Ramp time dropped from 13 weeks to as little as 6.5 weeks for new associates.
• Hiring Efficiency: The improvements in retention and performance efficiency meant that for every 200 associates, the company needed to hire 36 fewer replacements annually.
Whether you’re in retail, 3PL, or food distribution, the challenges of frontline performance are universal—and so are the gains. Smart Access turns your SOPs into action, your supervisors into coaches, and your frontline into a consistent, high-performing team.
See what’s possible when every shift runs to standard.
April 14, 2026 @ 6:30PM | Ray’s In The City – Atlanta
An invite-only gathering of operation leaders during Modex 2026
March 5, 2026, at 6:30 PM | New York Prime | Steak House, Atlanta
Complimentary dinner for invited guests, hosted by Smart Access.
