A warehouse management system, often referred to as a WMS, is software that supports warehouse-based businesses manage daily operation and workflows, from when items initially arrive into the warehouse, through to their final delivery and every stage in between.
With the rapid pace of the industry these days, it’s vital that enterprises are working as efficiently and productively as possible to remain competitive. Integrating a quality WMS that meets the needs of your business is a wise investment to ensure optimal performance and maximising on your existing resources as best as possible.
Let’s find out a bit more about warehouse management systems:
- What does a WMS do?
- What are the benefits of Warehouse Management Software?
- How can WMS support inventory management?
- Can WMS help with transport and logistics?
What does a WMS do?
The central function of a warehouse management system is to literally manage your warehouse, within a digital framework. This replaces the pen and paper systems of the past to digitise your entire operation. Warehouse management software can empower every step of your supply chain processes from receiving goods from suppliers, to picking, packing, shipping, tracking of inventory and restocking.
What are the benefits of Warehouse Management Software?
Integrating a quality warehouse management system into your enterprise is essential if you’re handling inventory. Here are just a few of the benefits you can expect:
Benefit 1: Increased efficiency and productivity
Without question, a WMS, especially if integrated with your transport and logistics software, will power your efficiency and productivity rates across the entire supply chain. Everything will exist on one single platform, making it easy and effortless to access the information you need. Errors are reduced by the automated processes, as well as time and money being saved.
Benefit 2: Real-time visibility for you and your clients
From the initial receiving of goods from suppliers to your warehouse, through to the final delivery to the customer, every item is trackable in real time throughout the entire chain. This visibility gives you control and the ability to navigate potential problems in advance and address those that occur swiftly. Customers now expect to have visibility of their orders, so they are informed from when they place their orders of when to expect delivery, or even be given the option to choose when they want the delivery to occur.
Benefit 3: Access to Powerful Data
Data empowers you to make quick and accurate business decisions and to access opportunities for further venture growth. An integrated WMS will produce this data and be simple to access with a range of reporting outputs as you require.
Benefit 4: Customer and supplier satisfaction
If your warehouse operation is running seamlessly, with full transparency for customers and suppliers, your relationships with these stakeholders will improve dramatically. Your business will be easy to work with, deliver on time and ultimately be reliable. This equates to repeat business, which is the aim of the game.
How can a WMS Support Inventory Management?
Inventory management is super charged when backed by a quality warehouse management system. The WMS enables visibility to stock levels in real-time, this includes items in the physical warehouse, those in transit and any on the way to you from suppliers. This full transparency enables you to always know what is where, which produces quick and powerful data that ultimately reduces surplus stock purchases, which frees up budget and shelf space. These data insights help enterprises make the necessary inventory adjustments and improve the overall workflow efficiency of the warehouse.
Can a WMS help with Transport and Logistics?
Integrated with transport management software, a warehouse management system can completely transform your business. Transport and logistics processes will seamlessly pair with the WMS so all data resides within the one platform. This streamlines all processes, supports the automation of previously manual tasks, saving time and money and reducing error rates. Tailored transport and logistics software comes with real-time tracking capabilities, so you will know at a glance where items are in your supply chain, down to the estimated and then actual time of delivery. Notifications can also be automated with this setup so that clients, customers and any other stakeholders receive prompt and timely updates.
With transport and logistics software integrated with your WMS you can manage your fleet in real time, using data to optimise routes, further saving on resources, and increasing efficiency, safety and productivity.
Warehouse Management Software in Action
SeaRoad Logistics, one of Tasmania’s biggest transport companies integrated a new warehouse management system with their existing financial, transport and logistics software. With inventory located in warehouses on both sides of the Bass Strait, keeping track of the inventory across 20,000+ square meters of warehousing space all up is quite the task.
Quality Warehouse Management System Tailored to Your Needs
Infocomm are the leaders in designing and delivering customised supply chain ERP solutions to the Australian and NZ warehousing and transport industry. If you’re looking to streamline your operation, while boosting productivity and efficiency, then integrating an intelligent and easy to use system that suits the specific needs of your business is paramount. Our Warehouse Management System is custom built for warehouses of all shapes and sizes. Get in touch with the team today to discover how we can transform your business.