Traditionally, warehouse management typically entailed a simple inventory process and supervising the fundamental supply chain processes. Technological advancements and innovations have changed the way businesses manage their warehouse operations over time.
When running an eCommerce business, you’ll handle an array of moving elements. Without a reliable system to monitor your products, it can result in inefficiencies that can negatively harm your brand’s image. One way to ensure efficient management of all warehouse operations is with the help of a warehouse management system (WMS).
What is a warehouse management system (WMS)?
Today, WMS software is a must-have tool since it plays a critical role in supply chain management. It can carry out various tasks ranging from overseeing order fulfillment, receiving raw materials, and shipping products, to name a few. (1)
A WMS is important since it ensures the entire warehouse operations stay on the right track. It keeps track of the inventory and ensures that all goods are properly stored and sorted while also monitoring the shipping. It’s also capable of keeping you up-to-date with any inventory irregularities and pinpointing potential issues before they get out of hand. (2)
Generally, a WMS supply chain model also includes an eCommerce platform to ensure regular stock updates and visibility to customers.
Who needs a WMS?
WMS software is a must-have for any business that wants to improve its operations. If you’re hesitant to use one, keep in mind that manually managing your warehouse operations will require significant time and effort and won’t help you meet your goals.
An example is a small company utilizing Excel sheets for inventory or a large-scale enterprise eager to improve organization and reduce errors. Businesses frequently encounter situations where an order does not match the quantity or description of goods received.
When you have a WMS, you’re unlikely to encounter such problems. Generally, the information stays up-to-date. It allows pinpointing and resolving any warehouse discrepancies or inconsistencies.
Remember that manual processes still risk errors since it’s a human tendency, including delays, duplicate entries, and lengthy data coordination. Moreover, investing in top WMS software eliminates these errors while streamlining your business operations for superior efficiency and productivity.
Why is WMS software important for your business?
If you don’t invest in reliable WMS software for your business or plan to use a manual management approach, you’ll miss out on many critical functions. Here are several reasons to consider a WMS for your business.
#1 Inventory management and control
A WMS makes the inventory management task manageable by organizing the inventory, improving order fulfillment, and minimizing the order cycle time. The software allows you to monitor every available product for better order fulfillment and inventory accuracy. (3)
Having a WMS makes inventory management easier, faster, and more efficient. With up-to-date information, it provides accurate feedback to ensure operations flow efficiently to cater to your clients’ needs.
#2 Monitoring of customer service and fulfillment
The warehouse plays a crucial role in your customers’ buying experience in any business. Ensuring that ordered products are in stock and that customers receive the correct products they ordered is critical to providing excellent customer service.
It’s also helpful in organizing and monitoring shipments with automation. Automation, real-time data, and monitoring increase accuracy and client satisfaction.
#3 Increase the overall productivity of the company
Proper warehouse management is key to ensuring your company meets its productivity goals. WMS software improves efficiency, consistency, and quality assurance by allowing products to flow as quickly as possible through the warehouse, improving all parts of the fulfillment operations. Additionally, your employees can maximize work in less time since they have everything they need right from the start. (4)
#4 Seamless integration with enterprise resource planning (ERP)
A reliable WMS can easily integrate with your current management system, eliminating the need to transfer systems or procedures, depending on your specific needs.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is specifically designed to automate processes across your business. The ideal outcome of an ERP and WMS integration is to ensure all automated business processes and warehouse inventory management work together to help different branches of your operations make informed decisions. As your business grows, your WMS should also evolve to cater to your changing needs in the best way possible. (5)
#5 Ensures a satisfactory return on investment
Implementing a reliable WMS can significantly improve your sales and profits, allowing faster and more accurate selling. Additionally, your current workforce can carry out tasks in less time with minimal errors. Overall, the software’s precision cuts down on the number of client inquiries and streamlines the customer support process.
Final thoughts
Today, many businesses face challenges in keeping up with customer demands while maintaining costs. If you don’t have WMS software yet, consider investing in one soon to ensure better warehouse management. Using a reliable WMS that streamlines your business operations can help save time and money while ensuring growth.
References:
- “Logistics information systems: An analysis of software solutions for supply chain co‐ordination”, Source: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/02635570510575153/full/html
- “The applications of warehouse management systems: an exploratory study”, Source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13675560600661870
- “Inventory Management Framework to minimize supply and demand mismatch on a manufacturing organization”, Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405896315003304
- “The impact of WMS implementation on work productivity. The case of three distribution warehouses”, Source: https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=986853
- “The Realization for Automated Warehouse Based on the Integration of ERP and WMS”, Source: https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3412953.3412954
