Five benefits of a warehouse management system ( WMS )
Five benefits of a warehouse management system ( WMS )
Space and time savings WMSs optimise warehouse flow by analysing the best use of floor space , based on the task and materials in question . This reduces waste – of premium floor space and also time spent locating products . By optimising product storage , as well as materials and equipment , a warehouse can lower its operating expenses .
Inventory visibility WMSs provide visibility of accurate , real-time inventory levels . This enables businesses to more accurately estimate supply levels and avoid backorders , which leads to more satisfied customers . They also work in tandem with the enterprise resource planning function to provide forecasting by sharing precise information about product demand , as well as seasonality information . Armed with this information , planners can make reliable decisions about product adjustments in order to increase revenue or mitigate losses .
Effective labour A WMS can assign the right task to the right person at the right time . Using labour forecasting , the system can assign jobs on a day-to-day basis and efficiently design schedules . Product scanning , meanwhile , improves pick accuracy and helps provide better customer service . KPIs can also be used to analyse staffing issues , which is key because labour is often one of the highest costs of warehouse operations .
Traceable materials Inventory materials can be easily traced using lot , batch and serial numbering . The Lot and batch numbers indicate the group in which materials were made , and the serial number identifies an item specifically . The ability to match specific lot , batch or serial numbers with incoming receipts and outgoing shipments affords full traceability , and accurate inventory planning and allocation .
Optimised supply chain The plus points of a WMS extend to the broader supply chain . Within the warehouse , the WMS streamlines the entire process , from inbound receipts to outbound deliveries , thus improving operational efficiencies and reducing costs . These time and cost savings can be passed to internal and external partners . Delivery data can also be shared with the end consumer , while allowing upstream partners to improve planning processes .
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