7 Benefits of a Warehouse Management System

Published on 28 October 2022

Understanding the benefits of using a warehouse management system.
Generix Team
Written
By
Generix Team
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Warehouse

Exploring the advantages of a warehouse management system is critical for growth. A warehouse management system will tremendously help growing enterprises with on-hand goods. By monitoring work processes at multiple levels, raising productivity, and increasing asset utilization, the WMS will improve their operational efficiency for both labor and physical space.

Inventory control is aided by WMS automation, which enhances accuracy, throughput, and speed. A warehouse management system assists a company in a variety of ways, some of which are obvious, but others which we have mentioned below.

The advantages of using a warehouse management system WMS include: 

Continuous inventory management improvements

Warehouse management systems are meant to enable ongoing improvements as a valuable technical tool. The system can be installed in stages to allow for regular updates with newly created capabilities, allowing warehouses to be productive while keeping up with current improvements. This also allows the warehouse to adapt to new processes and technologies as they emerge without disruption. Furthermore, if the warehouse management system is cloud-based, it may update in real time, reducing the need for big, expensive IT teams and therefore reduced overhead.

Real-time inventory visibility in WMS

Using a warehouse management system also gives you real-time visibility into your inventory levels. This allows a business to better accurately forecast supply and avoid backorders, resulting in happier consumers and optimized cashflow expenditures.

WMS automation combined with scanning, RFID, or other location tracking technologies improves visibility at the location and decreases non-WMS enabled scenarios when merchandise is forgotten, lost, or misplaced.

Warehouse management solutions work in tandem with enterprise ERP and planning functions to offer demand to forecasting processes by sharing detailed data on how specific items are performing. As things are transacted and information is conveyed, product demand and seasonality are reflected. As a result of this data, planners can make informed decisions about which goods to change for the organization in order to boost revenue or reduce losses.

Effective and efficient labor allocations in Warehouse Management Systems

A warehouse management system can better allocate the correct task to the right person at the right time by taking into account workers' skill levels, proximity in the warehouse, equipment, and available warehouse tasks. One of the most significant benefits that the WMS can help or may bring to enhanced labour utilization is the reduction of trip time within the warehouse. The WMS can direct workers to the tasks that have the greatest impact while also identifying the best laborer for the job. The system may distribute jobs on a daily basis and efficiently design schedules using manpower predictions. 

Scanning things at the point of entry into a warehouse, as well as during their travels, can reduce the need for double-checking, saving time and expediting the recording process. Scanning also increases pick accuracy and decreases mispicks, resulting in better customer service. KPIs can also be used to analyze staffing, which is significant because one of the most expensive aspects of warehouse operations is labor. Appropriate work assignments improve labor efficiency, equipment efficiency, and space efficiency.

Increase space efficiency and lower operating costs

Warehouse management software improves warehouse flow by determining the most efficient use of floor space based on task and material characteristics. The usage of space and floor plan analysis in WMS installations is used to identify how space should be best utilized and gives chances for waste reduction - waste of premium floor space and waste of time spent locating items. Excessive material movement, time-consuming placement, and retrieval will all be reduced as a result of this. A warehouse can reduce its operating costs by assessing the optimum locations to store items, supplies, and equipment.

Warehouse Management: Traceable materials

Using lot, batch, and serial numbering, warehouse management systems can simply track inventory supplies. The serial number identifies a specific item, while the lot/batch number specifies the group in which materials were manufactured. As previously mentioned, WMS inventory tracking enables full traceability by matching precise lot/batch or serial numbers with incoming receipts and leaving shipments. This capacity to track materials reduces redundancy, allows for precise inventory planning and allocation, and gives current retrievable data for future traceability, service maintenance, or recall circumstances.

Improved customer service through effective shipment management in WMS

With a warehouse system that can alter inventory and equipment movements, inbound and outbound planning may be efficiently controlled. When inventory is due to arrive, the exact day and time can be determined by taking into account available manpower and storage equipment. WMS solutions allow for the planning of both receiving dock doors and outbound shipping docks.

Warehouse management systems can also help managers pick and pack products more efficiently by allowing them to choose between zone, batch, or wave picking This reduces any delays or challenges caused by traffic or poor personnel positions. 

Customers can also obtain early warning of shipments and how the supplies are arriving thanks to inventory tracking and packing options. With the WMS solution, clients can be better connected to advanced shipment notices.

Optimized supply chains in Warehouse Management Software

A warehouse management system improves the internal operations of a warehouse, which may subsequently be extended to the rest of the supply chain. A warehouse management system automates the whole warehouse process, from inbound receipts to outbound deliveries, increasing operating efficiencies and lowering costs. 

By lowering or eliminating redundant or non-productive activities, warehouse staff can achieve rapid and precise shipments. These time and cost savings, as well as enhanced processes and data, can be passed on to internal and external partners, allowing them to improve their own operations. Improved inbound receiving, for example, speeds up delivery times by allowing delivery partners to better utilize their equipment and resources and shippers to better control inventory levels. Improved data can help shippers, suppliers, and customers minimize risk and improve reliability.

 


 

At Generix Group North America, we provide a series of solutions within our Supply Chain Hub product suite to create efficiencies across your entire supply chain. Our solutions are in use around the world and our experience is second-to-none.

We invite you to contact us to learn more

Download our Guide to the Warehouse of the Future

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