When looking for a WMS, it’s important to consider the warehouse management features that are included. Many options are available today, but this doesn’t mean that all of them are worth your time and money. Below, you will find six of the most important things to consider when you’re choosing your warehouse management system. If you already have a WMS in place, but you find that it doesn’t offer you at least all of the following, it might be time for an upgrade.
6 Warehouse Management Features You Need to Know
1. Understandable Interface
Some of the warehouse management features available are overly and needlessly complicated. Even when you have a robust system, the interface should be easy to understand and to use. However, the interface is often one of the features that many companies neglect to consider before making a purchase. Take the time to look at the interface and how the various tools appear. You need to find a solution that will be easy for you and your employees to use. Otherwise, you may run into problems, even if the system has all of the other features you need.
2. Inventory Management
Naturally, you need to be sure that the system has a robust inventory management system. It should be a system that will update in real-time, so you can reflect these inventory changes in your store. This ensures that you aren’t offering items on your website that are no longer in stock.
Proper management of your inventory is about far more than just knowing whether you have items in stock, though. This part of warehouse management means that you need to know exactly where to find those items when they are needed. The system should allow you to pinpoint the location of the items, making them faster and easier for your team to pick and pack.
3. Easy Integration with Enterprise Resource Planning Platforms
You need to be sure that your WMS will integrate with your ERP. Integration ensures that you will have better accuracy and real-time tracking for data across your entire organization. All of the important data you need will be placed onto a single platform that can be easily accessed by those who have the authority.
4. Mobile Deployment
Another modern warehouse management feature is mobile deployment. The days of manually writing and checking the inventory or shipping labels are gone. Instead, it is possible to use a range of different types of mobile devices and barcodes that can be used to scan items when picking or doing inventory. There are also mobile printers that speed up many processes throughout the warehouse.
When looking at warehouse management features, consider the types of mobile options that are offered and the types of equipment that will be needed to employ them. Even though it might be an added cost, it’s worth it.
5. Shipping Logistics
Shipping can often be demanding, as it is where your supply chain and customers tend to put the biggest demand on your business. However, with proper warehouse management tools, it becomes possible to meet those demands. Ideally, you will have a system that is flexible and can be tailored to meet your shipping processes and needs no matter how complex they might be.
Systems that can offer both simple and complex shipping features will be useful for companies that need to get a better handle on their shipping processes. Some companies may have relatively simple requirements and may not need to have as many features. Others might have more complicated requirements that need to be met. You need a system that can handle the type of shipping you are doing.
6. Paperless Processes
Today, the goal is to be paperless, or at least to use as little paper as possible in the warehouse management process. Going digital helps to reduce the risk of losing information, and there is no danger of losing physical pieces of paper. The days of using old warehouse management methods and ledgers are long gone. The world moves far too quickly, and the demands today are too high to use antiquated means of management and recording orders, inventory, and other data.
Find Great Warehouse Management Features for Your Business
When you are choosing a WMS, make it a point to write down the warehouse management features that are most important to your business. After all, each company and each warehouse are different. Think about what it is that your company will need. Improved warehouse management means more accuracy, faster shipping, and optimized resources. You can reduce your company costs and make your customers happier with the service you can provide. Contact us today to learn more about our modern warehouse management features.