What Is WMS?

You probably own one or more warehouses close to your shop floor, so you probably know how hectic things can get.

We are here to tell you there is a solution that will make managing your warehouse a breeze. That technology is WMS. If you are a business or company that uses warehouses to deliver goods to customers, then you should be using software to make your warehouse more organized and efficient. Software such as WMS can help to do this, and make your warehouses a dream come true.

With WMS, you can see how efficient your warehouse is and be on the lookout for ways to improve it. To learn more about WMS, keep reading!

WMS: A Definition

Warehouse management system, or WMS, is a software that allows businesses and companies to track and manage warehouse operations.

WMS will monitor items as soon as they enter the warehouse until the moment they leave. WMS can also help with other tasks in the warehouse such as inventory, auditing, and pick-up processing.

This system is great for providing full transparency on items you have sitting in the warehouse or ones that are moving across the country.

Types Of WMS

You have your pick from stand-alone systems, to cloud-based, and ERP modules. Each system has its advantages, but it ultimately depends on what goods you’re selling.

On-premise systems are the most basic WMS. They use the native hardware and network of your business to function. These systems are usually provided by a third-party and, since they’re paid for upfront, can be more expensive. Stand-alone systems can be customizable, but for an external team and with payment.

Cloud-based WMS is entirely internet-based, as it utilizes cloud-based technology. With this option, you can have more flexibility, security, and a great recovery if a disaster were to happen. The top-ranked manufacturing software for usability, Prodsmart takes advantage of cloud-based technology and other advanced systems.

WMS can be stand-alone systems or they can be integrated with larger enterprise resource managers. For instance, Prodsmart can integrate with ERPs such as SAP or Salesforce, and also with other softwares, like Shopify, Oracle or Zapier. WMS can vary in complexity, ranging from intricate versions for bigger companies and minimalist versions for smaller businesses.

Advantages of WMS

There are many features that are common to most WMS products. These features include the following.

More Space

By using WMS, you can get rid of products that don’t sell and make room for the ones that do. By knowing exactly what you have in storage, it is also easy to avoid excessive production.

WMS will also help you declutter your warehouse.

Find out how to declutter yours with Prodsmart.

Reporting

Reporting helps managers to look at and analyze the performance of the warehouse operations.

This will help with figuring out improvements for the business and make it easier to identify problem areas.

Picking and Packing Goods

WMS can help with zero picking, wave picking, and batch picking.

Zoning can also be used by warehouse workers to help make picking and packing more efficient.

Yard and Dock Management

This feature will assist every truck driver that comes to your warehouse to load up.

This will help them to find the right loading docks so there is no confusion or mix-ups.

Shipping

This will help you to send bills-of-lading ahead of shipments.

It will also assist with generating packing slips and send advanced shipping notifications to the buyer.

Warehouse Design

You will be able to review your warehouse design and its efficiency through your WMS.

This will help you to see if your design is the best for optimized inventory allocation.

Inventory Tracking

This helps implement the use of advanced tracking.

By using barcode scanners, radio-frequency identification, or automatic identification and data capture, you can track goods and make sure they are where they need to be. Prodsmart allows all of these data collection methods, simplifying your warehouse management.

Tips For Managing WMS

WMS can seem like a complex application, but key WMS insights and reporting can prove to be a worthwhile ROI. WMS helps you identify pain points and successes so that your business can continue to thrive.

By using a WMS, you can lower labor costs, improve flexibility, improve responsiveness, raise inventory accuracy, limit errors in packing and shipping, and improve your customer service.

Another plus to solutions like Prodsmart, is that it operates on real-time data. This means it’s constantly updated and you can look every minute to see how inventory has changed, what orders are being packed, and what orders have shipped.

WMS is pretty versatile and can be tailored to fit your business’s needs.

If you’re a small business, you will use a more simple WMS and can tailor it easily. If you’re a large business, you will use a more complex WMS to keep track of everything moving in your warehouses. These systems can also be tailored to the specific needs of your organization.

You can tailor your WMS to your store type (brick and mortar or e-commerce) and what types of goods you sell. You also have the option to build your WMS from scratch or to buy a program and customize it yourself.

Is WMS Right for Your Business?

We have told you why WMS can help your warehouse and the different types there are. Now it’s time for you to decide if WMS is the right option for your warehouse.

Click here to see how we can help you grow your business by optimizing your warehouse operations!
Related: INVENTORY MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR NEW YEAR’S SALES