A Cloud Based WMS Is your warehouse keeping up with the fast-paced nature of your business and industry, Under competitive and customer pressure, you must optimize your supply chain—doing things the old way and outrunning the competition is simply not enough. Businesses are frequently only one step away from making a breakthrough. Perhaps it’s an infrastructure upgrade, or perhaps it’s more flexibility and scalability to capitalize on new opportunities. Some people may benefit greatly from additional IT resources.
A more efficient, cost-effective, and agile warehouse is frequently the difference between staying ahead of the competition and falling behind. A warehouse management system (WMS) that is cloud-based gives you the tools you need to connect and optimize every link in your supply chain. WMS in the cloud is a comprehensive warehouse management solution that includes inventory management, labor performance optimization, warehouse processes, and material flow control.
As technology improves the way businesses are conducted, a trend of moving applications to the cloud has emerged. A warehouse management system communicates with pickers in real time, informing them of orders and allowing them to perform their jobs more accurately. A cloud-based warehouse management system runs in real time and can be accessed from any device.
When considering moving a warehouse management system to a cloud-based infrastructure, three key benefits should be considered.
For starters, a cloud-based system can be implemented much more quickly. System administration, system backup and recovery, and system upgrades do not require training for the IT department. Everything is hosted on the server and provided by the software provider.
The initial cost of a cloud-based system may be high due to high licensing fees, but it is more cost effective over the life of the software. The licensing fee is typically for the life of the software and includes updates.
The final advantage of using a cloud-based warehouse management system is that the company is always supported by an expert. Many cloud-based systems include technical support. These technical experts frequently have access to the engineers who designed and developed the system.
Read More: Inventory Management System
Warehouse management systems are software applications that are programmed to optimize warehouse operations and streamline procedures. In short, a warehouse management system (WMS) aids in the movement of goods and materials in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.
To begin, warehouse management system software increases transparency by providing a real-time view of the company’s inventory. A good WMS, on the other hand, does more than just keep track of inventory from the time it enters a warehouse to the time it leaves. It also aids in the management of returns (and keeps returns to a minimum in the first place).
While some Ecommerce businesses have an on premise legacy programmed, also known as “standalone WMS software,” these systems require a lot more manual work, are prone to problems, and frequently have hidden costs. Cloud-based solutions that integrate with third-party logistics providers (3PLs) are widely regarded as the best type of WMS for almost any business, which is why they will be the focus of this article.
A warehouse management system (WMS) plays an important role in supply chain management by managing order fulfilment processes, from receiving raw materials to shipping finished goods. Assume that some raw materials were received incorrectly or that parts were misplaced within a warehouse; this could temporarily slow or stop the supply chain, costing the company money and potentially customers.
A WMS keeps the entire operation running smoothly by tracking inventory and ensuring that goods are properly stored, sorted, shipped, and tracked. It can even detect inventory anomalies and identify potential problems before they become major problems.
Previously, we went over a laundry list of features that any good WMS should have. Here’s a closer look at each of those characteristics.
Warehouses are not always well organized, wasting space and adding time to the pick-and-pack process. Many WMS platforms can help with customizing workflow and picking logic to ensure that inventory allocation is optimized in the warehouse.
A WMS platform will track inventory data from barcode readers and updating information in the software’s dashboard to ensure that everyone who has access to the software has the most up-to-date information. It also contributes to the ease with which goods can be located when they need to be moved.
A WMS can be used to optimize zone picking, wave picking, and batch picking. It may also provide lot zoning and task interleaving functions to warehouse workers to aid in the pick-and-pack process.
This technology, which is available on some WMS platforms, speeds up inventory put-away and retrieval by using pick-to-light (PTL) or pick-to-voice (PTV) technology.
PTL: At each fixed pick location, light displays are installed in shelving units and storage racks. Pickers can see which order line to pick by lighting up the display units one at a time.
PTV: Using a headset, a computerized voice directs pickers to the correct location and instructs them on the quantity to be picked as well as any other instructions.
WMS Cloud platform will send bills of lading ahead of time, generate packing lists and invoices and notify recipients when the shipment arrives.
Which employees need to step up – and which ones deserve a high-five? A WMS platform can track employee performance by using key performance indicators (KPIs) that show who is performing above or below expectations.
For larger operations, WMS platforms can assist truck drivers entering a warehouse by directing them to the appropriate loading docks. Cross-docking and other inbound and outbound logistics functions are additional features on some WMS platforms that businesses may use as they scale.
WMS platforms can generate automated reports that assist managers in analyzing the performance of warehouse operations, warehouse employees, and other factors. This enables them to anticipate potential issues and identify areas for improvement.
Also Read : Warehouse Management System Software
Communication between warehouse workers and customer service is frequently soloed, resulting in a lot of miscommunication and wasted time going back and forth.
Through a centralized system, most WMS software provides transparency to the warehouse and customer service department. This enables both teams to track orders, fulfilment times, shipping procedures, and customer feedback in real time, reducing confusion, human error, and bottlenecks that lead to dissatisfied customers.
Conducting regular inventory counts to ensure inventory is where it should be and in good condition is both time-consuming and costly! Employees are frequently able to maintain count frequency by simply pressing a key or scanning a barcode using WMS software. The WMS then automatically tracks goods and inventory as they move around, freeing you up.
Warehouses that struggle with compliance or safety issues should have a system in place that generates automatic reports on a regular basis to ensure that everything is in order.
Most businesses want to expand, which necessitates the use of a WMS. Without one, as your company grows, warehouse and inventory management will become even more difficult.
Furthermore, you want a WMS that can grow with you, so getting one with all the bells and whistles right away is often a good idea, even if you don’t use all of the features right away.
Consumers today expect instant gratification, which is why expedited shipping is so important. Unless it’s a very niche or customized product, studies show that three days or less is the most acceptable timeframe for delivery.
So, if you want to compete with the Amazons and Walmart’s of the world, or even the guy next door, a warehouse management system (WMS) can help. Warehouse management software that works in conjunction with barcode scanners allows your team to pick and pack orders much faster, reducing fulfilment latency and processing times.
Employees in businesses without a WMS frequently spend a significant amount of time on administrative tasks, and as we all know, to err is human. A WMS combined with barcoded inventory reduces the human element, lowering the risk of error.
Warehouse personnel can simply scan the barcodes when picking, packing, and shipping, and the WMS will notify them if the wrong product was scanned. It will also automatically notify other teams of inventory changes in real time. As a result, not only are errors reduced or eliminated, but you are also less likely to have dissatisfied customers – and those pesky negative online reviews they are known to leave.