Are you wondering what features to look for when choosing a warehouse management system? An effective warehouse management system can help you allocate storage space more efficiently, manage goods more effectively, and save time and money on labor costs.
An effective warehouse management system should do the following:
- Meet your current needs while being flexible enough for future expansion
- Utilize your current ERP system
- Produce excellent reports
- Automate as many processes as possible
- Maximize efficiency
Now that we know what makes a good warehouse management system, consider four features that enhance the five points listed above.
4 Important Features of the Best Warehouse Management Systems
Although warehouse management systems are available with various features, these four are among the most desirable. By implementing these four features, you will handle almost any warehouse requirement.
An essential feature of warehouse management is the ability to handle random slotting. The system can assign SKUs to any bin, shelf, or location by using random slotting. As a result, the system is flexible enough to handle frequent stock layout changes.
The warehouse layout will be easily adjustable for your business needs rather than becoming less efficient as time passes.
2. Simple Inventory Management
An inventory management system should be easy to use and understand. The easier the system is to use, the faster new employees can become proficient in them, making all the difference between goods piling up in the receiving area and goods being ready to ship.
Fulfillment optimization is another desirable feature of a warehouse management system. A picking system that automates picking layouts speeds up workers’ movement among bins to pick orders, providing optimal efficiency. The data provided helps improve efficiency by showing you how to adjust warehouse layouts.
Real-time updates are another aspect of warehouse management software that makes it highly valuable. Using cloud-based systems, which share data through the internet, warehouse data can flow seamlessly to a central database. Companies can manage inventory levels more efficiently, improve customer communication, and control costs with this information.
Warehouse Management Systems and Your ERP
Finally, any warehouse management system you consider must integrate with your basic ERP package. Otherwise, you will need to invest time and money into custom programming to ensure the systems can communicate. Over time, the system is more likely to become outdated or out of sync.
Very few companies can remain competitive in today’s supply chain environment without warehouse management software. To stay competitive and manage against the uncertainties of international markets, your company needs the right software.
If you’re ready to implement the best software for your business needs, contact ASI today and learn how to help you achieve your business goals.