Choosing a WMS: Inside HJI’s Growth Journey with SnapFulfil WMS

Choosing a WMS can be tough. The New Warehouse Podcast takes us inside HJI Supply Chain Solutions in Louisville, Kentucky, where COO Shane Allgeier, GM Ian Walker, and SnapFulfil’s implementation lead Charzetta Bridgemon share how the right warehouse management system (WMS) can transform a 3PL’s operations. With rapid growth, diverse customer needs, and the pressure of automation and tariffs, HJI needed a scalable system that could adapt without adding unnecessary costs. Their journey with SnapFulfil shows how the right technology partnership fuels efficiency, visibility, and growth.

Building a 3PL Positioned for Growth

HJI, a women- and minority-owned 3PL, operates six facilities across Louisville and Memphis, strategically located near UPS and FedEx hubs to enable next-day service. Their Fern Valley facility alone spans 352,000 square feet, handling fulfillment, subassembly, and kitting for industries including food, beverage, and automotive.

As COO Shane Allgeier explained, “We are a women and minority owned business… we continue to have a fast track of growth as one of our visions.” That vision requires investing in automation, navigating tariff uncertainties, and finding ways to deliver more with less. For HJI, making technology decisions, such as choosing a WMS, involves striking a balance. “It’s 50/50—the customer drives some decisions, and we drive others, but it’s always a collaboration to find the right fit. Bottom line is revenue minus expenses equals profit. We’ve got to understand what we’re gaining from it. Can we grow with that?”

This perspective shapes how HJI evaluates every new system or process, striking a balance between customer demands, workforce constraints, and competitive pricing.

Why SnapFulfil Was the Right WMS Choice

HJI’s previous WMS was rigid, costly, and slow to support, limiting both scalability and customer responsiveness. The team needed a system that allowed flexibility without nickel-and-diming every change. As Allgeier put it, “With the previous WMS… there’s no adaptation. Every time we went to automation, everything was a nickel and dime. Not a lot of collaboration, not a lot of partnership.”

SnapFulfil stood out with its rules-based configurability, enabling HJI to keep internal processes standardized while customizing customer-facing requirements. This balance means faster onboarding, fewer manual workarounds, and streamlined automation integration. “Snap provided that flexibility to adapt per customer, while keeping our processes the same,” Allgeier emphasized.

GM Ian Walker noted how this shift cut manual effort and unlocked consistency across clients: “The biggest thing for me was the customization capabilities… with our previous WMS, we didn’t have those capabilities, so it made us have a lot more manual work.”

The implementation process was a collaborative effort, with SnapFulfil’s team embedding on-site to gather requirements and train staff. Bridgemon recalled, “Once we understood where the HJI team was and where they wanted to go, we were able to kind of come in and save the day.” Walker confirmed Snapfulfil did indeed save the day, “They definitely helped us a lot.” 

From Transition to Transformation

Post-implementation, the benefits have been clear: streamlined workflows, robust data integrity, and improved customer visibility. The customer portal was a standout addition, giving clients real-time access to inventory, receipts, and shipments. “Our customers see live transactions… what we’re receiving, what we’re shipping, and what our inventory levels are. It just makes people feel warm and fuzzy,” Allgeier said.

Operationally, leaders are spending less time on admin and more time with teams on the floor. Walker summed up the most significant gain simply: “Time’s really the most valuable thing we have. When we get time back that we were spending on redundant admin tasks, we can put it towards something really value-added.”

Efficiency and culture gains also came from SnapFulfil’s hands-on approach to change management. Bridgemon highlighted the importance of engagement: “Not everyone wants to be called out in front of everybody… being personable and adaptable breaks down barriers and builds trust.”

Together, these improvements have positioned HJI to scale efficiently while continuing to deliver high service standards for major brands.

Key Takeaways on Choosing a WMS

• SnapFulfil’s rules-based configurability enabled HJI to maintain standardized processes while adapting to diverse customer needs.
• Real-time customer portals increased transparency, aligning with growing client expectations for Amazon-level visibility.
• Reduced admin workload freed supervisors and managers to focus on floor leadership, quality checks, and customer service.
• Strong on-site partnership and change management from SnapFulfil eased employee adoption and ensured smoother implementation.
• HJI now has the flexibility to pursue growth and automation initiatives without costly system limitations.

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Guest Information

HJI Supply Chain Solutions

• Website: hjisupplychain.com
• LinkedIn Company Page: HJI Supply Chain Solutions
• Shane Allgeier (COO): LinkedIn 
• Ian Walker (General Manager)

SnapFulfil 

• Website: snapfulfil.com
• LinkedIn Company Page: SnapFulfil
• Charzetta Bridgemon (Implementation Lead): LinkedIn

For more information about choosing a WMS, check out the podcasts below. 

599: SnapFulfil Delivers a User-Friendly WMS

Brian Kirst & Smitha Raphael of Snapfulfil at Manifest 2024

Why Data is Still a Challenge in Warehousing — And How SnapFulfil is Solving It