From Chaos to Coordination: How WMS Systems Bring Harmony to Your Warehouse
Published on 11 May 2023
In today's fast-paced business world, it’s become all the more difficult for warehouse managers to address the challenges that come with a warehouse operation. Frequent supply chain disruptions and persisting labor shortages rob companies of the means to maintain their operation’s efficiency, to control costs, to provide a satisfying work environment, and to meet their customer’s expectations. As they scramble to find quick fixes, well-intended warehouse managers too often end up causing more problems than they’re fixing.
We all know that, when chaos invites itself in daily operations, it becomes virtually impossible to meet KPIs and achieve your business goals. That’s why it’s so vital to rely on well-defined procedures and efficient workflows. A Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) gives you the power to do just that, as it transforms your end-to-end warehouse environment into a smooth-running, synchronized operation.
In this article, we explore the benefits of a WMS and how it enables warehouse managers to streamline their warehouse processes.
What’s a WMS?
A WMS is a software solution designed to afford companies visibility and control over their inventory. It optimizes warehouse operations, making them more efficient and accurate, by automating tasks like inventory management, order processing, and labor allocation. Ultimately, a WMS delivers significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and overall warehouse performance, allowing you to meet the demands of today's competitive market.
Today’s WMS market is rich with solutions for operations of all sizes and levels of complexity. Best-of-breed solutions all offer the same core WMS functionalities, but some are designed to support fully automated operations while others are better suited to meet the needs of less technologically mature companies. Meanwhile, thanks to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Revolution 4.0, SaaS WMS solutions now abound that give SMBs access to best-of-breed technology without the prohibitive initial expenditure required to buy a license and implement the necessary infrastructure—you can read more about the difference between SaaS and on-premise WMS here.
Key Features of a WMS
Inventory Management
Good warehouse management is built on tight inventory control. That’s exactly what a WMS is made for. A WMS optimizes inventory tracking by providing accurate real-time data on stock levels, location, and movement. For instance, the SOLOCHAIN WMS/MES by Generix Group employs advanced algorithms to ensure accurate stock counts and efficient space utilization. In addition, SOLOCHAIN supports various inventory control methods such as FIFO, LIFO, and batch tracking, to ensure optimal stock rotation, reduce the risk of expired or obsolete products lingering in storage, and minimize inventory shrinkage. By empowering companies to better control their inventory, a WMS provides the foundations to true warehouse efficiency.
Order Fulfillment and Shipping
Another key function of a WMS is to support and streamline activities in the warehouse. A WMS like SOLOCHAIN greatly speeds up order processing and shipping by automating tasks such as picking, packing, and labeling. Not only does that lead to a higher throughput, but it also significantly reduces the potential for human errors that threaten an operation’s efficiency and a company’s bottom line. An advanced WMS solution like SOLOCHAIN easily integrates with a company’s TMS to further expedite the shipping process.
Labor Management
Labor shortages have become the norm in almost every warehouse and distribution center in North America. Growing companies therefore have to find the means to achieve more with less. A WMS goes a long way towards doing just that.
A WMS helps you manage your workforce efficiently by providing the tools necessary to monitor employee performance, schedule tasks, and assign work based on location and skill sets. By reducing deadheading, a WMS enables employees to be far more productive. As a result, you can optimize your operation’s capacity, reduce labor costs, and ensure that your team is operating at peak performance.
Reporting and Analytics
Data analysis is critical for continuous improvement in warehouse operations. A WMS like SOLOCHAIN provides valuable insights through such reporting features as analytics, allowing you to identify trends, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and make data-driven decisions. By leveraging the data provided by your WMS, you can continually fine-tune your warehouse processes for maximum efficiency. The SOLOCHAIN WMS/MES offers customizable dashboards and reporting capabilities that allow you to focus on the metrics that matter most to your business. With the right WMS system, you can turn raw data into actionable insights.
How to Select the Right WMS for Your Operation
Assessing Your Needs
Before you begin to shortlist warehouse management systems, it’s crucial that you determine your requirements. Consider factors such as: inventory size, number of SKUs, order volume, number of users, supply chain complexities, etc. Assess, also, your basic functional processes, technological infrastructure, and organizational culture. You should think about the level of automation you require, the unique challenges your warehouse faces, and your business goals for the next 10 years—you won’t be implementing another WMS for at least 7 to 10 years, so you want to make sure the solution’s capabilities are aligned with your long-term plans.
If it’s your first time shopping for a WMS, or if you’re uncertain of what requirements to consider, you can leverage the RFP for WMS template developed by experts at Generix Group North America.
Evaluating WMS Options
When comparing systems, consider features such as compatibility with your existing infrastructure and scalability. Look for a solution that not only meets your current needs but can also accommodate your business forecasts. Evaluate the system's ease of use, customization capabilities, and integration with other software solutions such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Transportation Management Software (TMS). Analyze customer reviews and testimonials to gauge the system's performance and the quality of the provider's customer support. Finally, carefully assess the different providers: much more than a solution supplier, a WMS provider should feel like a true business partner.
Implementation and Training
Proper implementation and employee training are critical to the success of your WMS. A good implementation process must include a detailed project timeline as well as clearly defined roles and responsibilities for you, your team, and the software provider.
During the implementation phase, it's essential to establish open communication channels with your software provider to promptly address issues or concerns. Regular progress meetings can help you stay on track and ensure that all parties remain aligned throughout the project.
Employee training is vital for maximizing the benefits of your WMS and empowering your team to excel in their roles. A comprehensive training program should cover both the technical aspects of using the software and the operational changes that come with its adoption. Whenever possible, you should aim to train super-users and include more advanced training sessions for supervisors and administrators. Offering ongoing support and refresher courses can help your team remain current with the latest system features and best practices.
The SOLOCHAIN WMS/MES comes with rich implementation tools that facilitate its successful deployment. Meanwhile, experts at Generix Group offer comprehensive implementation support and training programs to ensure a smooth system transition.
Conclusion
Implementing a WMS will transform your warehouse from a chaotic environment to a coordinated, harmonious operation. By optimizing inventory management, streamlining order fulfillment and shipping, improving labor engagement, and providing valuable reporting and analytics, WMS systems can significantly enhance your warehouse's efficiency and performance.
About Generix Group North America
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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