The following are some of the advantages you can expect to see when you implement a Warehouse Management System:
1. Improved Inventory System Picking Accuracy
Inaccuracies in your inventory management can lead to low customer satisfaction, high product returns and loss of revenue.
By using a Warehouse Management System, you can implement processes to improve accuracy of your inventory buying by ensuring your stock levels are tracked to avoid over or under stocking your warehouse, inventory storage by tracking the locations of all items from put away, and picking and packing by streamlining the process from office to warehouse floor.
2. Improved Customer Service
A positive customer experience will build brand loyalty and customer satisfaction, so meeting, or even exceeding their expectations is significant. You may be communicating with your customers manually, or inputting data such as tracking numbers from one system to another that could lead to missed or incorrect communications.
A WMS can help you manage customers expectations and ensure they enjoy a seamless experience with you. The system can automate important touch points such as order confirmations and shipping updates with the option for personalisation, to keep the customer informed of their order status and make them feel appreciated and valued.
3. Reduced Stock Inventory Costs
To run an efficient warehouse, you will want to have the right stock levels at the right time, also known as stock control. It’s easy to think you need to have high stock levels at all times, however that can result in over-ordering and inefficient storage of goods that are not being ordered.
An advantage of using a WMS is that you can track stock levels without undertaking timely stock takes. If your WMS has reporting capabilities, you can also begin to see trends in orders and stock delivery time scales. This allows you to plan ahead and ensure you have the correct stock levels at all times, especially during your seasonal peaks, and avoid over or under-stocking – ultimately saving you money by reducing storage costs and increasing supply chain visibility.
4. Reduce Time Spent Managing
Without a centralised Warehouse Management System, you are likely spending a lot of your time managing everything around you, from accepting orders and stock deliveries to creating pick lists and instructing your warehouse staff.
A WMS system can help reduce the amount of manual intervention needed day-to-day. Orders can be automatically accepted and allocated, and further automation within the system can batch orders for picking. Additional functionality such as a warehouse map can also speed up stock delivery and put aways by having a clear understanding of where inventory should be placed.
5. Increase Speed of Orders
Customers are expecting faster delivery from point-of-sale with 24 and 48 hour delivery options offered as standard from many retailers.
A Warehouse Management System can help speed up fulfilment processes by offering automation of activities such as shipping label generation and prioritised pick lists which go directly to the picker/packers work schedule via technology such as mobile barcode scanners.
