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What is a Warehouse Management System? A Look at the Benefits and How to Choose the Right WMS for Your Business

what is a warehouse management system and why do you need a WMS?

Are you considering investing in a Warehouse Management System (WMS) for your business? The vast array of features and capabilities make it difficult to know which system is best for your organization’s needs.

A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a powerful tool used by many businesses to streamline their inventory management processes. It is an essential technology for managing and tracking goods within a warehouse.

WMS software has become increasingly popular in the past several years, as companies strive to reduce costs and ensure timely delivery of products. We will discuss everything you need to know about Warehouse Management Systems and how they can benefit your business.

In this article, you’ll learn:

A Definition of Warehouse Management System

warehouse management system defined

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software solution that streamlines daily warehouse operations. WMS solutions give managers a central location to manage tasks like inventory tracking.

Warehouse management system programs may be part of a larger Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, or they may be standalone applications. WMS solutions range from simple to complex and provide warehouse managers with the information needed to control the movement of warehouse materials efficiently.

Benefits of a Warehouse Management System

Warehouse managers use warehouse management systems to control and transfer inventory in a centralized system. Often, warehouse managers access the system on handheld devices or tablets so they can work in the warehouse or at their desk.

Many managers point to remote data visibility as a valuable benefit of using a WMS solution. Other benefits of implementing a warehouse management system include:

  • Accurate inventory counts
  • Fewer returns
  • Better demand planning
  • Transparency and visibility
  • Automatic replenishment
  • Stock visibility and traceability
  • Reduced operational expenses
  • Fewer picking errors
  • Improved customer service
  • Optimized processes
  • Efficient labor allocation

Some warehouse management systems aid executives in maximizing the use of their space and their workforce.

If you choose a WMS that automates routines for stock rotation and picking, workers will require less space, which will streamline your warehouse and make it more efficient. Indeed, some of the best WMS solutions improve space utilization by reducing safety stock levels and more efficiently locating items via receiving, assembly, packing, and shipping areas.

Warehouse executives who invest in warehouse management systems look for additional return on investment (ROI) opportunities as a result of their investment.

More often than not, a WMS solution delivers the ROI warehouse executives and managers expect to see because the program provides the visibility and transparency needed to better manage inventory and reduce safety stock levels; knowing real-time inventory levels leads to reduced lost product and overstocks.

How to Choose a WMS

With so many warehouse management system options available today, it can be quite a difficult and confusing task to choose one.

The first step an organization should take when choosing a WMS is to evaluate your needs and determine which WMS best addresses them. Generally, there are a few criteria that make a WMS worthy of your investment:

  • Maximum functionalityhow to choose the best warehouse management system
  • Integration with barcoding technologies
  • Real-time inventory updates
  • Ease of use
  • Scalability to accommodate future growth
  • Complete transaction management to track receiving, shipping, putting away received goods, order picking, cycle counting, and moving items
  • Support for multiple picking methods
  • Back-office integration with order entry, inventory control, and purchase order modules
  • Advanced reporting capability
  • Automated inventory receipt and put-away
  • Commitment to warehousing and logistics

The Different Types of Warehouse Management Systems

There are several different types of warehouse management systems (WMS), each with its own features and benefits. Here are some of the most common types:

  • Standalone Warehouse Management Systems are traditional software packages that are hosted and managed by a company on their own servers or computers. The scope of a Standalone WMS includes inventory tracking, order management, and labor management capabilities.
  • Cloud-based Warehouse Management System provides anytime, anywhere access and does not require local installation. It is accessed by an internet connection and hosted on a cloud server.
  • Open-Source Warehouse Management System is a type of WMS based on open-source software. It can be customized to meet an organization’s individualized requirements and tends to cost less than proprietary WMS solutions.
  • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) WMS is a warehouse management system integrated with an ERP system. This integration enables the exchange of data between the warehouse and other departments, leading to increased efficiency.
  • Supply Chain Execution (SCE) WMS is a warehouse management system designed to manage the movement of goods throughout the supply chain, from production to delivery. It offers comprehensive features such as transportation management and order fulfillment.
  • Third-Party Logistics (3PL) WMS is a specialized WMS intended for 3PL providers. It contains features like billing and invoicing, making it possible for 3PLs to control multiple customers right away in one comprehensive system.

The size of the warehouse often determines whether the organization needs a standalone system or a WMS as a module of an ERP system or supply chain management suite. Some software developers also gear their WMS systems toward the industry for which they are intended, so look for a warehouse management system that is tailored to your industry, whether it is eCommerce, retail, or enterprise

Final Thoughts on Warehouse Management Systems

Overall, a quality WMS solution ensures minimal losses in various warehouse processes and enables warehouse managers and staff to know where each product is, when to reorder, and how much to reorder. For this reason, warehouse management systems aid in customer satisfaction efforts because it can help warehouses get products to customers more quickly while avoiding backorders and errors.

For more information on warehouse management systems, visit the following articles:

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