Warehouse management around the world has seen some amazing advances over the last couple of decades with more efficient storage infrastructure and the introduction of various software solutions to improve efficiency and productivity.
If you are a busy warehouse, the chances are you are already using a management system to track goods and storage capacity as well as a whole host of other parameters.
If you haven’t upgraded for some time, however, you could be missing out on some major benefits that the latest WMS software can deliver for your business. This includes superior integration, better goods tracking, and more accurate inventories.
4 Benefits of Warehouse Management System
1. Better and Easier Integration
The latest warehouse management system software combines all the power of cloud technology with high levels of security. You can access inventories, track consignments, assign tasks and match up invoices from several different devices wherever you are.
The new systems that are available nowadays have a high degree of integration with other software packages which gives you a much better overall picture of how your business is operating at any one time. The ability to create audit reports and see where problems might lie in real-time makes the latest WMS software critical for competing in today’s fast-paced environment.
Not only do you get access to higher levels of integration, but it is much easier with intuitive systems to achieve what you need to make your storage business work better for you. That means there is less training for staff using the system while overall productivity is greatly improved.
2. Access to State-of-the-Art Barcode and RIFD Technology
One of the major transformations in the last five or six years is with barcode and RFID technology. Combined with the latest WMS technology, this gives you pinpoint accuracy when dealing with goods – you’ll know exactly where to find, pick and when to pack any inventory. That not only speeds processes up but can mean that your staff are almost always working at the height of efficiency at all times.
3. More Accurate Inventories
Keeping track of goods coming in and out of your warehouse can be challenging without the appropriate software. Time spent trying to locate goods if there’s an order or finding the right storage place when something comes in from a client or supplier is much simpler with the WMS upgrades.
It helps streamline your business operation, giving you information at your fingertips that you can share with sales teams, staff and even with your customers if you want to keep them up-to-date too.
4. Better Automation
Automation is key for many busy warehouse operations and the more it can be achieved, the better the productivity and speed of your service. The latest WMS software again allows you to integrate almost fully with these processes while keeping you informed of what is going on.
Is It Time to Consider Upgrading?
Of course, upgrading your warehouse management system is likely to be a significant undertaking and you need to be sure that it’s the right time. There are a few important questions you should ask yourself:
- Do you know exactly where stock is in your warehouse at all times and how easily can you access that information? If it takes you a lot more time to find where things are, a better inventory WMS may just be the answer.
- Is there stock in your warehouse that has been there for long periods, and you’ve forgotten that it’s even there? If this is the case, this dead stock is taking up space and not being optimized.
If you’re looking for closer integration and a faster more detailed response from your warehouse management system, now might be the perfect time for an upgrade.