These days, warehouses rarely bring in the use of pen and paper to accomplish inventory tasks. Rather, modern warehouses use sophisticated management system software that allows close monitoring to the flow of goods and work.
What Is In A Warehouse Management System?
WMS or the Warehouse Management System helps control the storage and movement of the materials within the warehouse. Putting this system in place has become a crucial part of the supply chain and managing processes within the warehouse such as shipping, picking and packing.
Warehouse Management System provides computerized procedures to efficiently deal with the receipt of stock and returns into the warehouse facility. WMS also enables a link to the ordering processes and logistics enabling picking, ordering, and shipping the product out of the warehouse.
Functionality
WMS solutions offer a wide range of functionalities that cover the basic aspects of managing a warehouse. Asides from providing inventory management, replenishment, loading and shipping warehouses, the system provides a more sophisticated set of functionalities including the billing module, cross-dock capabilities, RFID support etc.
Flexibility
To meet the needs and expectations of the clients, the warehouse management system is easily adaptable to different warehousing scenarios. The flexibility aspect allows the system to integrate with a working warehouse and compiles with the existing warehouse operations and working methods.
User Friendliness
The warehouse management system is user-friendly that helps clients save on training expenses to warehouse operative manpower and avoid operating mistakes.
ERP Interfacing
Some Warehouse Management Systems are stand-alone systems while others are modules of an ERP (Enterprising Resource Planning) system or supply chain execution suite. The WMS accurately supports the flow of the information by integrating with the ERP systems used by the client.
Innovativeness
The technology that underlies the warehouse management system holds the ability to keep abreast of progress in the industry. On the contrary, following an outdated system will not allow your business functionalities to adapt to future technological requirements.
What Is The Main Objective Of Warehouse Management System?
Considering today’s competitive business environment, the survival of your business may depend upon the ability to reduce costs and increase productivity. This is where an electronic warehouse management system helps your business thrive.
The prime motive of a warehouse management system is to control the movement and storage of materials in a warehouse.
Implementing an effective warehouse management system will streamline business processes and provide tangible, bottom-line perks. The system allows you to determine product availability and commit shipping/delivery dates more accurately.
How Does A Warehouse Management System Work?
An integrated system of computers and scanning machines is designed to keep track of what is in storage, what is being moved and what needs to arrive. This kind of system accounts for a significant portion of potential profit for the retail establishments as well as the warehouse itself.
Implementing a practical warehouse management system will give you real-time visibility into your inventory along with a precise measurement of goods consumption rate. WMS captures data electronically using a barcode, mobile scanners, wireless LANs, or RFID technologies. These technologies help efficiently monitor the flow of products. When the data gets collected, it is then transmitted to a central database which provides crucial and useful reports on the status of goods within the warehouse.
From initial order to shipment to the customers, the ability to electronically create min/max levels combined with enhanced visibility will allow you to significantly reduce your safety stock.
What Are The Types Of The Warehouse Management System?
Before choosing the warehouse management system for your business, you must first understand the different types of systems available. Basically, there are four types of warehouse management systems: standalone, supply chain management software, ERP modules, and a cloud-based system.
When it comes to choosing a warehouse management system, you must prefer one that matches the company’s needs, requirements, budget, and expectations. However, the availability of WMS software solutions and the broad range of warehousing methods and technologies make the choice difficult.
All kinds of warehouse management systems aim to meet several goals as a whole to match the needs of the clients. Knowing what to expect from the system can make the WMS s choice easier.
Related Post: How to Organize Your Warehouse More Efficiently
