Warehouse management software is an essential part of many modern enterprises. Although it's easy to say that certain businesses should employ warehouse management systems, users may not be sure what to expect from their setups. Here are four things you'll want to look for in a warehouse management system.
Labels, Codes, and Scanning
Using scanning technologies to speed up processes is one of the most basic reasons to invest in a WMS. Every system should provide support for both UPC and QR codes. Many also offer support for RF tags, labels that have embedded radio frequency components that respond to pings.
A person should be able to produce new codes in a matter of minutes. Likewise, you should be able to produce labels for both products and shelving units. Also, every scanner should be portable enough for you to roam the warehouse and find items.
Databases
One of the core components of all warehouse management software is a database. This is a computer system that handles all of the entries. For example, someone might scan a box of new widgets. The software will then create or update a record that ties the widgets to your labeling system.
When you need to recall that data in the future, it's the database that does the heavy lifting. You can pull an item number from an order, use the database to find the location, and then pull it from the warehouse.
Sales Integration
Many businesses use their warehouse management systems in conjunction with sales setups. For example, a company might have an e-commerce store. Ideally, a customer places an order and the sales components then send the information to the warehouse management system. This makes it dramatically easier to handle fulfillment.
If you have a sales system you already rely on, it's wise to as the folks installing your warehouse management about how they'll integrate. Most software has components that allow other types of software to connect with it. This makes the integration process significantly simpler.
Analytics
One of the main benefits of using a modern system is that you can do more than track items as they come and go. Modern systems usually allow users access to analysis. If you want to see what the 6-month sales trend is for your best-selling widgets, for example, you can pull up the inventory history. This historical information can help you make better judgments about what to buy and when to get it.
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