Border States Chooses Blue Yonder to Optimize Warehousing and Boost Service
Border States Partners with Blue Yonder to Launch First Regional Distribution Center and Transform Warehouse Operations In an era of persistent supply chain disruptions, rising materials costs, and global trade uncertainty, the electrical distribution industry faces immense pressure to maintain operational resilience while delivering exceptional customer service. Recognizing the need for advanced solutions to address these challenges, Border States, one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States, has announced a strategic partnership with Blue Yonder to enhance its warehousing capabilities. The collaboration will support the launch of Border States’ first regional distribution center, scheduled to open in late 2026, and lays the groundwork for a broader digital transformation of its supply chain operations.
To power this next phase of growth and operational efficiency, Border States will implement Blue Yonder’s Warehouse Management and Warehouse Labor Management solutions. These systems are built on the Blue Yonder Platform, a modern, AI-enabled, cloud-native infrastructure that enables companies to drive agility, visibility, and optimization across their supply chains. Implementation and deployment will be supported by Open Sky Group, a trusted Blue Yonder partner with deep expertise in supply chain execution systems.
Strategic Growth Requires Operational Excellence
With over 130 locations nationwide, Border States has experienced significant growth in recent years, serving the construction, industrial, and utility sectors with innovative products and supply chain solutions. As part of its strategy to support future expansion and meet the evolving needs of its customers, the company is planning a series of investments in distribution infrastructure.
The first of these investments is the construction of a state-of-the-art regional distribution center, designed to streamline warehouse operations, reduce costs, and deliver faster, more reliable service. To bring this vision to life, Border States has chosen Blue Yonder’s solutions for their ability to integrate seamlessly with warehouse operations while offering flexibility to adapt to changing business environments.
“We are excited about our distribution center strategy and our collaborations with Blue Yonder and Open Sky Group,” said Tony Serati, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy at Border States. “These collaborations will help better serve our customers, scale our business through strong growth projections, drive operational efficiencies, and enhance the experience for our employee-owners. Blue Yonder’s AI-enabled, end-to-end warehousing solutions will enable us to achieve these goals and build a more resilient and scalable supply chain.”
Leveraging Blue Yonder to Optimize Warehouse Operations
Blue Yonder’s Warehouse Management solution is designed to bring end-to-end visibility and control to warehouse operations. By harnessing machine learning, system-directed workflows, and real-time analytics, Border States will be able to significantly increase operational accuracy, efficiency, and throughput. These improvements are especially crucial for a business like Border States, which deals with a broad and complex inventory spread across a large national footprint.
Key benefits Border States expects to achieve from the Blue Yonder implementation include:
- Optimized end-to-end warehouse processes, leading to improved service levels and operational performance.
- Efficient inventory management across an expansive distribution network, resulting in lower costs and improved customer responsiveness.
- Enhanced labor management, including improved employee satisfaction and retention, through the use of accurate, fair, and data-driven performance tracking.
- Increased productivity and cost savings by leveraging real-time visibility into labor and warehouse activities.
- Scalability and agility to respond to changing customer demands and external disruptions more effectively.
The Warehouse Labor Management solution from Blue Yonder will complement the warehouse system by providing actionable insights and performance metrics. These tools help identify areas for improvement, drive continuous performance enhancements, and promote a positive and transparent work environment. This is particularly important for Border States, which prides itself on being a 100% employee-owned company committed to investing in the growth and success of its workforce.
A Strong Implementation Partner: Open Sky Group
To ensure a smooth and efficient deployment, Border States has enlisted Open Sky Group to support the implementation process. Open Sky Group specializes in helping companies unlock the full potential of supply chain software through strategic consulting, best practices, and technical expertise.
“At Open Sky Group, we’re proud to support Border States on this pivotal project,” said Jeremy Hudson, Vice President of Client Services at Open Sky Group. “Their investment in Blue Yonder’s advanced warehouse and labor management solutions reflects a strong commitment to operational excellence. We look forward to helping them scale smarter, improve workforce performance, and deliver even greater service to their customers.”
Open Sky Group brings a proven track record of successful Blue Yonder implementations, and their involvement in the project is expected to accelerate time-to-value while minimizing disruption during the transition.
Empowering the Future of Distribution Through Technology
As supply chains become more complex and customer expectations continue to rise, companies like Border States recognize that digital transformation is not optional — it’s essential. The deployment of Blue Yonder’s solutions will give Border States a powerful technological foundation that supports long-term growth and innovation.
According to Umar Ausaf, General Manager of Global Manufacturing at Blue Yonder, “Leveraging advanced technology and automation is essential for transforming warehouse operations into a competitive advantage. Blue Yonder’s cloud-based solutions will provide Border States with increased visibility, efficiency, and control to improve customer service, cost savings, and decision-making across their entire supply chain while supporting the company’s long-term growth.”
The Blue Yonder Platform’s AI and ML capabilities will allow Border States to continuously learn from real-time data, adapt to disruptions, and make intelligent decisions that enhance both operational and financial outcomes.
Building a Resilient Supply Chain Ecosystem
Border States’ investment in warehousing and labor management technology is part of a broader trend across the distribution and logistics industry, where companies are increasingly adopting cloud-native platforms, AI-enabled decision-making tools, and automation to drive efficiency, agility, and customer-centricity.
By combining industry-leading technology with its core values of employee ownership, customer focus, and operational excellence, Border States is setting the stage for a resilient, scalable, and future-ready supply chain. The upcoming regional distribution center, powered by Blue Yonder and supported by Open Sky Group, represents not just a new facility but a strategic leap forward in how Border States delivers value to its customers.
As the company continues to expand and innovate, this technology-driven foundation will play a critical role in enabling Border States to thrive amid ongoing industry challenges and set new standards for service excellence in the electrical distribution sector.