Do all warehouse management software systems to be equal? The WMS programs of the past decade were once tightly compartmentalized and assigned to a specific vertical or industry.
Today is a totally different story. Configuration rules the day.
Effective warehouse management requires more than simply a matter of data. It’s a platform for an extensive and custom-designed collection of solutions to your workflow. It connects teams beyond your warehouse walls, and loops with engineering, sales IT, IT, and many more , to bring an environment of cooperation and transparency across all departments.
The WMS you have is more than simply pressing a button to find out where the materials are located. It’s about constructing and guiding the processes to get the materials there.
And today, you have many integration-friendly, scalable options for a WMS that are capable of the evolution you’ll need as a modern business.
If you decide to install the best WMS to run your business and your company, you will reap these 10 advantages.
1. Optimized Processes
Selecting the right WMS that is appropriate for your business will enable you to improve your workflow within the warehouse. This means that you need to find not just the appropriate processes that are suitable for your company’s needs as well as those which are appropriate for the type of materials you handle.
There are a variety of ways to choose the material that is that are based on these parameters and a well-thought-out WMS selection can allow you to integrate several algorithms like zone, wave and batch-picking.
A successful warehouse management system must be able to handle input methods of all kinds in addition to tackling barcodes and RFID as well as smart scales with the same ease and working in conjunction with automation of equipment.
Process automation eases the burden off your team’s shoulders to handle outgoing freight and allows them to focus on the more complex aspects of freight inbound and the inevitable internal snags which need to be dealt with.
Through the integration of your WMS with the transportation system also known as TMS, you and your business can create a holistic view that goes beyond the walls and racks.
This dual-system collaboration provides more precise delivery goals. The system also warns your team of the time to hold outgoing shipments and when delays are likely and other information that is important to know.
2. Efficient Labor Allocation
Based on factors such as the dimensions of your facility as well as specific requirements for handling materials You must approach efficiency in different ways at each phase of your process. The WMS must be able to support – if not directly assigning these jobs in the most sensible efficient manner possible.
Even if your system just provides metrics, you’ll get crucial data for decision-making which you can use to create the most effective method possible.
It is essential to keep in mind:
Time effort and resources are becoming an element of differentiation in busy markets “winging it” could result in a loss of long-term profit.
This is another area where dual-system collaboration can work to your advantage. If you build in or choose the right system to integrate of your labor and management systems and the WMS (such such as High Jump), you could even incorporate the element of game-based learning. Invite your workers to healthy competition to get noticed for outstanding metrics and track crucial optimization metrics like distance traveled, what items are picked during a time period and more.
It is also possible to choose a WMS , such as JDA (RedPrairie) that offers a totally distinct labor management system that integrates with the chosen WMS without sacrificing excellent integration and contact points.
3. Employee Morale
A WMS can help provide an environment that is structured in both a literal and symbolic sense. Based on our research in the company we’ve found that this kind of structure assistance boosts morale of employees. Also, knowing precisely where they need to be , and exactly what ought to be doing can help employees feel fulfilled in their jobs.
By using a well-constructed WMS The same employees benefit from more efficient assignment of tasks, greater autonomy in their respective roles, and greater precision in their tasks.
Through real-time feedback on the performance of their employees managers are able to offer more positive suggestions, and goal setting is a much easier process. The process of measuring growth and improvement can be standard, which allows for healthy competition on the floor of the warehouse and a better feeling of self-worth and, consequently, more productive, consistent work practices of individual employees.
4. Better Customer and Supplier Relationships
A well-run warehouse can reduce delivery times and also order accuracy mistakes which means that customers are happy with their purchases which, in turn, means increased sales.
Efficiency can be a boon for suppliers on the side , too:
If your team is in place and waiting for new materials and supply chain orders, this means that your employees can get onto their next project or even deliver their goods faster. It’s not a stretch to declare that the right WMS improves your relationships with everyone within your supply and demand chain, not just your customers.
The WMS controls inventory and the location of your item. It guides you to the right location to pick up the item as well as the appropriate outbound door, as well as the proper shipping lane. It ensures that it is delivered to the correct truck. This is a system-driven efficiency that can help to reduce the friction you may experience with your suppliers or even your end-customers.
5. Reduced Operating Expenses
If you’re dealing with perishables or other items that are restricted in date at your facility, using a WMS will help you reduce wasted material by determining which items should be taken first, and which ones may require the assistance of a sales force.
In addition to perishables, efficient utilization of space and labour also helps reduce waste. WMS can determine the best place to store each object, and ensure that space is equalized against picking-and-put-away process.
To move it an additional step, the most expensive part of managing a warehouse is the people. The more effective you create your workforce:
1. The greater the volume you can release
2. The less you have to allocate to each step of your supply chain
Each of them reduces costs and permits you to expand the scope that you operate in. Your 3PL is expected to assist you reduce and identify expenses in any way, not only to reduce your expenses down, but also to boost the margins of their operations as well.
Additionally, when you select the correct WMS, you’ll maximize the utilization of the warehouse space , from the placement of products and the total footprint. It makes your space more efficient and improves the way you travel (from picking up to the location for putting away and everything between).
If you accomplish all of this, you’ll be able to reduce your inventory on hand and reduce the cost of space and ultimately drive down the cost of running your business, without any compromise in quality.
6. Better Balance of Inventory
An “bad” WMS can hurt your inventory and also. Inventory, when kept in a proper location and utilized in the most efficient way, can eliminate the need for scrap, waste and obsolescence.
With solid, reliable data, you won’t have to fret about having enough inventory of safety items on hand or risk putting yourself in a bad shoe by being short of an SKU in an “crunch” time. This will help your business realize the efficiency and cost savings of a just-in time strategy.
In an eloquent way:
The more effective you create your team and overseeing inventory more efficient, the greater quantity you can manage. The more efficient you are will mean that fewer people require to assign for your node in the supply chain. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy about efficient operations, and it’s an ideal goal to pursue to improve increasing your profits.
7. ERP Integration
If your orders for outgoing delivery are correct, your demand history won’t be slowed down by repeated shipments, replacements or shipping issues. This will give you a better understanding of the overall process.
The “clean” record can be utilized by a balanced WMS to identify the “best for me” algorithm to calculate the demand to be used for ordering purposes.
The ideal WMS should be able to be able to grow with your business without causing a sweat.
ERP manages everything from finance and HR management to market tracking. It requires clean data in order to function effectively. If your WMS is inadequate fit, you’ll become victim to the “garbage in, garbage out” problemand waste energy and time trying to piece a temporary solution.
8. Improved security and Safety
Modern WMS system will require employees to complete transactions with their personal account. This creates an audit trail that connects transactions to the specific worker. If accountability is being enforced it can help limit pilferage and other types of shrinkage, as in highlighting opportunities to coach and provide more intensive training.
Even in the absence of a major theft problem, which is becoming a rare occurrence for any business–automatic segregation dangerous or high-value products is the company’s own “insurance policy” within the warehouse.
Accidents do happen, but when your system is automated that reduces the consequences and the C-suite, as well as floor employees can rest more comfortably.
9. Transparency and Visibility
If suppliers have access to their own inventory usage and stock SKUs they are able to plan and execute the production process themselves. Through shedding redundancy they cut down on lead times and reduce the cost of holding inventory in warehouses.
With the added benefit of real-time information on shipments, orders and much more The customer service team is also able to more efficiently deal with issues and queries.
Instead of periodic reports that are long after which they can be used to correct errors firms with a solid WMS system can access reports as often as they need. We provide automated reports on operational issues with a time-frame that is pre-determined within our service that allow our customers and their operations teams to be aware of and react to any changes that occur.
10. Continuous Improvement
The improvement of your business is dependent on a variety of aspects. From the simplest, such as travel paths in the process of packing and picking up, to “long game” processes such as employees’ engagement. This means that you constantly have the opportunity to do better and accomplish more.
Process improvements are vital for achieving improvement, and a well-designed WMS assists in facilitating them. Use “what is the scenario” scenarios to figure out the potential impact of major changes. You can also make use of the WMS itself to make and monitor smaller changes.
A reliable WMS must always be capable of continuously improving your business, however it’s crucial to remember:
If you are doing work around rather than working alongside it, it could be time to upgrade.
You must be able to trust you WMS vendor to stay on top of industry trends. They should be open to new concepts by providing a steady flow of new features which will allow you reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve processes with every new version.
Then, eventually, you’ll be able to utilize the data you collect from your WMS to be a proactiveand predictive leader in your company, and not simply reactive.
To sum it up
If you’re in the planning phase of deciding on an WMS, be sure that the one you’re looking at has the capabilities to meet your needs. One size does not fit all in the realm of the subject of WMS.
The best choice should be a good fit for your company’s model and culture and provide you with the flexibility, innovation flexibility, functionality, and adaptability you need to expand and prosper.
