Operating a distribution or manufacturing-based business in the 21st century is tough. Price sensitivity from consumers and consistently rising overheads are putting enormous pressure on companies around the world, and the need to find efficiencies wherever possible has never been greater.
A warehouse management software system is just one way company bosses can strive for efficiencies, and it delivers a wide range of benefits that ultimately lead to increased profitability.
Real-Time Stock Control
Left to manual procedures, stock management in a warehouse can become a haphazard, inefficient affair - fraught with potential for financial loss. However, by adopting specialised warehouse management software, a company can keep a tight reign on operations.
For instance, the ability to identify exactly what is in a warehouse at any given time is essential for making informed purchasing and production decisions.
Warehouse management systems monitor real-time information to give workers an accurate and up-to-date assessment of what is in a warehouse, where it is and when it will need to be replenished. And because this information can be accessed by anyone with sufficient security clearance, it allows all departments within an organisation to work with the same goals in mind.
Better Customer Service
Having products and raw materials on demand is essential if delays are to be minimised. Warehouse management software can ensure that the right products are available in sufficient quantities.
It can also enhance picking accuracy of warehouse operatives and lead to error-free shipping. The resultant reduction in delays and improved product quality for customers will usually translate to increased loyalty and repeat custom.
Increased Productivity
Adopting a sophisticated warehouse management system can get more out of an existing workforce. Warehouse operatives will be able to check inventory levels without wasting time on physical checks, and the stock ordering process will be streamlined for quicker turnarounds and better availability.
In the long term, these efficiencies can reduce reliance on labour, or free workers to concentrate on other duties. Companies can also ensure that cash is not unnecessarily tied up in stock that isn't required for the fulfilment of existing orders and general demand.
Lower Operational Costs
The tried and tested algorithms of warehouse management software can result in fewer staff carrying out the essential duties of a warehouse. More can be picked in less time, picking errors can be greatly reduced and orders can be fulfilled far more quickly.
This means there will also be less time spent on the phone with unhappy customers and distributors - cutting unnecessary staff costs significantly.
Seamless Integration with ERP Software Systems
The success of any 21st-century business relies on driving efficiencies and reducing waste wherever possible. A complete ERP software solution will work according to the basic lean principles, and thanks to the compatibility of warehouse management software, both systems can work together for the benefit of an entire operation.
So, instead of completely redesigning a production process, warehouse management software can be implemented within an existing infrastructure. This ability to create a single production process that can be accessed and contributed to by all members of a workforce makes reducing costs and delays a cohesive strategy between various departments, managers and workers.
The need to drive efficiency, reduce delays and improve customer service has never been more pressing - particularly for companies in the manufacturing industry.
By using warehouse management software to take the elements of error and guesswork out of the process, companies can create efficient systems with cost-savings and product quality at their heart.