Warehouses are dynamic spaces with multiple processes happening simultaneously. One station could be getting supplies from manufacturers while others are packing orders for shipment. One minor hiccup in this supply chain can create costly ripples of disaster. To ensure everything runs smoothly, a warehouse management system is your best tool.
With a WMS, you can digitize your warehouse operation and gain more control over its function. Whether it’s the day-to-day tasks or more complex problems, a WMS can handle anything.
If you’re deciding whether or not you need a WMS, here are some incredible ways this tool can improve your warehouse’s efficiency and streamline order fulfilment.
Why Do You Need A Warehouse Management System?
A warehouse management system (WMS) is designed to manage all major functions in a warehouse. Here, you can add all your stored inventory, assign categories, track its movement, and ensure it is shipped on time. All these features are designed to improve efficiency and create a smooth supply chain.
With so many processes in a warehouse, you need a tool to optimize everything. A WMS acts like a central hub where you control and monitor everything that goes on in a warehouse.
4 Functions of a Warehouse Management System
As mentioned before, a WMS can help you optimize every single process in a warehouse. From simple everyday tasks to bigger, more complicated processes, a WMS will help you every step of the way. Here are 4 standard functions of a WMS.
1. Inventory management
A WMS gives you complete control of your inventory and more visibility over stock movement. You can check where items are in your warehouse and track them while they’re in transit. With this visibility, you gain real-time information and can make better decisions about inventory management.
2. Management of Incoming/Outgoing Goods
Manual tracking of incoming and outgoing goods is incredibly tedious, but a WMS can easily simplify it.
With a warehouse management system, you can track inventory at every step of its journey. From when it’s received to when it’s packed for shipping, you’ll always have visibility. Additionally, inventory tracking lets you set accurate reorder points to avoid stockouts.
3. Order Processing
A warehouse management system is a great way to streamline your order fulfilment process. With a WMS, team members can pick orders more accurately and reduce human errors. Ultimately, you’ll have a faster fulfilment process and higher customer satisfaction.
4. Reporting and Analytics
Real-time data lets you access critical information about your warehouse. With a WMS, you can view accurate reports and use analytic tools to make the right decisions for your business. You can easily identify any gaps in your workflow, set progress KPIs, and manage workers, all from a WMS.
Different Types of Warehouse Management Systems
Not all WMS are built the same; some might work well with smaller warehouses, while others are designed with multi-warehouse operations. Here are 4 common types of WMS you can find:
Standalone WMS: This is an independent software tool installed on a local server. It is ideal for small or medium-sized businesses.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) WMS: This type of WMS offers data-sharing and other automation features that are perfect for busy warehouses. You can manage multiple warehouses with this software and have access to more advanced features.
Cloud-Based WMS: This lets you share data with any connected device. It is ideal for warehouses that prioritize scalability and flexibility.
Supply Chain Module WMS: Ideal for warehouses focused on supply chain optimization.
6 Benefits of Using A WMS for Order Fulfilment
In today’s fast-paced world of order fulfilment, having an efficient warehouse set-up is crucial. A WMS is essential to keep up with this efficiency as it digitizes all functions and maintains a smooth supply chain.
If you’re wondering what else a WMS offers, let’s examine 6 great benefits of having one.
1. Accurate Inventory Reports
Manual inventory records often contain errors, leading to mis-picks and overinflated inventory levels. With a WMS, you’ll know exactly how much stock is available to avoid inventory shrinkage.
One way WMS keeps track of all products is through barcodes and RFID tags. Items are scanned once they enter the warehouse and when they’re picked for an order.
Scanning inventory ensures you track the product’s movement in real-time. With such data, you can also set reorder points to avoid stockouts and customer loss.
2. Effortless Order Fulfilment
Modern businesses often use multichannel integrations and selling that outdated warehouses would need help keeping up with. Without the proper software and infrastructure to handle such fulfilment, you could create bottlenecks in your supply. In addition, you’ll have higher lead times, leading to poor customer satisfaction.
A modern warehouse should automate its order processing to keep up with multi-selling modes. A robust WMS can be a great help here as it will be a central hub for all your order fulfilment needs.
If you’re looking for an innovative solution to your order fulfilment problems, choose Canary7’s WMS. Our warehouse management system has an easy-to-use interface that allows integrations with some of the most popular eCommerce stores and shipping options.
3. Improve Space Optimisation
Space utilization is a significant problem in many warehouses. Often, warehouses don’t use all the space available or keep products in hard-to-reach places. Such issues can increase lead times, leading to dissatisfied customers.
A WMS system can analyze your space and give you space optimisation strategies. The software will note the dimensions of the warehouse and how fast products move. In the end, you’ll know how to best use your storage and create optimal pathways to reduce lead times.
4. A Faster Ordering System
Delivery times can make or break customer satisfaction, so you need a system to increase order processing speed and reduce any speed bumps that can slow down a customer’s order process. This is where warehouse management is a major help.
A WMS can easily integrate with an eCommerce platform for seamless order fulfilment. It keeps real-time records of your inventory levels so customers won’t place orders for out-of-stock items.
When inventory errors are reduced, orders move easily through the warehouse and reach customers on time. Additionally, many WMS can handle omnichannel fulfilment, so no matter where the order comes from, your customer won’t experience any delays.
5. Better Adaptability
The market is constantly changing. New product launches, seasonal demand and product trends can significantly spike in warehouse operations. Without the proper tools, your business can fall behind and potentially lose customers.
A flexible WMS will quickly adapt to these changes and scale up/down operations wherever needed. With a WMS, you can also forecast demand, reallocate resources, and create automatic reorder points to manage high-order volumes. These tools allow your warehouse to remain agile and flexible to meet any demand spike.
6. Low Costs
Better efficiency comes with lower costs. Even though some WMS have expensive upfront charges, they make up costs for them with their many features and innovative tools. Once you start using a WMS, you’ll reduce costs by:
- Automating and simplifying complex tasks
- Keeping accurate inventory levels
- Efficiently managing labor
- Making the best use of storage
- Speeding up picking and packing
- Centralizing all functions with one software
Streamline Your Order Fulfilment with Canary7 WMS
Warehouse management systems are crucial for any business looking to optimize its workflow. A WMS allows you to streamline order fulfilment and increase customer satisfaction. With accurate forecasting, scalable design, and a fully responsive interface, Canary7 is an ideal solution for your warehouse worries.
Our WMS is designed to upgrade every part of your workspace to help you streamline your fulfilment process. Some helpful features of Canary7 include:
- 360° view of all operation
- User-friendly interface
- Stock rotation capabilities
- Multiple software integrations
- Simplified labour management and more.
So get in touch today to optimise your order fulfilment with Canary7!
Namrata Chawla
Author
UPDATED ON: 14th May 2024
Namrata Chawla, a professional writer, crafts compelling weblog content on warehouse management, inventory control, logistics, and beyond. With a wealth of experience in this niche, she's dedicated to delivering unique, informative, and top-tier posts. Her commitment to exploration ensures fresh perspectives in each insightful blog post.
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