A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is part of the supply chain that primarily manages the movement and storage of items within a warehouse or multiple warehouses.
Warehouse Management Systems typically incorporate automatic identification and data capture technology such as barcode scanners and mobile computers. Real time data is then synchronised with a central database to provide reports about the stock held in the warehouse.
Is WMS Right For My Business?
WMS is not just for large organisations, a growing number of small and mid sized businesses are benefiting from improved efficiency and reduced costs associated with their supply chain through the use of warehouse management systems.
- Do you need visibility of where stock is held, not just how much is available?
- Would you like to eliminate manual data entry?
- Is inventory being misplaced?
- Do your customers receive incorrect orders?
- Are your warehouse staff working overtime to meet demands?
- If you have answered yes to any of the above, it may be time to consider a Warehouse Management System for your business.
- Benefits of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
The benefits of a Warehouse Management System to a business can generally fall within three key areas, cost, productivity and customer service.
- Cost Saving
- Reduce Labour Cost – By improving the speed and accuracy of your warehouse staff, you can minimise the need for additional temporary staff during peak periods.
- Minimise Over Delivery – How often are you told by your customer that you have sent them too many items than they have paid for? The almost unquantifiable cost associated with over delivering items to a customer is minimised.
- Reduce Stock Levels – Improved accuracy of stock control through barcoding can allow you to reduce your stock levels without the fear of stock outages.
- Reduced Warehouse Cost – With lower levels of stock required, warehouse space can be better utilised or minimised all together.
- Increased Productivity
- Faster Data Entry – A barcode scanner typically records data five to seven times faster than a skilled typist.
- More Accurate Data Entry – Human error is minimised with the use of barcoded data instead of manual data entry.
- Reduce Time Taken For Stock Taking – Improve the accuracy and efficiency of stock taking whilst also allowing for ad-hoc stock takes on the spot.
- Improved Customer Service
- Incorrect Orders – Minimise incorrect deliveries which result in returns and unsatisfied customers.
- Communication – Provide accurate real time information on the progress of a customer’s order.
- In addition to the cost savings, increased productivity and improved customer service discussed above, a warehouse management system also provides valuable real time business information allowing for management to make better informed business critical decisions.
WMS for SAP Business One
Integrating your warehouse management system with your back office ERP software can further benefit small and midsized businesses.
SAP Business One has comprehensive warehouse management capabilities, allowing you to maintain multiple warehouses with bin locations in each, recording items as they come into a warehouse, are checked and tested, put away, picked and delivered.
Frontline’s WMS for SAP Business One provides the ability to use SAP’s warehouse management capabilities from ruggedised, handheld barcode scanners for booking in, picking, delivering and doing stock transfers.
For more information contact the team on 0333 323 2141 today!
