How do you update and refresh your WMS training and user adoption as your warehouse grows and changes?

Define Goals and Objectives-Prioritization of KPIs Performance Evaluation - Order Cycle, Turnover, Labor Productivity User Satisfaction - Assess whether the WMS is meeting the needs of the operator. Ensure they feel adequately trained and supported. Issue and Error Analysis - Assess the immediate and long term impact these issues have on daily operations, such as delayed shipments, inventory discrepancies, or inefficient processes. Benchmarking - Identify trends, new technologies, or advancements in WMS that may provide opportunities for improvement against competitors

In my experience, training is a constant process. Some key members are either rotated through the company of left entirely. Document every possible step and have the shareholders or leaders agree on this new changes and the training. Reviewed, revise and update the KPI, dashboards that provide the performance constantly.

Effective WMS training refresh starts with a clear picture of your current state. Ask yourself: WMS goals? Performance vs. expectations? User satisfaction with features and usability? How often do errors occur? How do you gauge WMS performance and user feedback? Answering these reveals gaps and opportunities to optimize WMS training and empower your team.

Establish regular feedback loops to gather insights from users. This not only helps identify challenges but also provides valuable input for refining training materials. By involving users in the improvement process, you create a sense of ownership and collaboration, fostering a positive environment for WMS adoption amidst warehouse growth and changes.

From my experiences there are two kind of companies that implement WMS: 1. companies that already have a WMS in place and are implementing a new and more modern one. 2. companies that have little or no knowledge of inventory management at site level and are not yet using a WMS. Here I want to discuss the first category: We generally encounter very demanding users, some of whom have implemented a very high degree of individualisation in the processes in the WMS. It can sometimes even be the case that employees perceive the new solution as a step backwards, as the initial aim is to stick to the standard and develop a few additional features. Here we should try to achieve process improvements asap in order to keep (key) users motivated.

The area of warehouse management is unique in terms of user, physical and software requirements. These three aspects must be ideally combined by the users in the warehouse. For example, users have to pick the right products in the right quantity into the right containers during order picking. They must follow and confirm the instructions on a mobile scanner. This is a major requirement and we can optimally prepare employees for the situation in the warehouse with training in the virtual world with the integration of the software application. Users can pick, pack and count in the VR and report back to the WMS integrated in the VR.

Training Needs Assessment Conduct a thorough training assessment to identify the specific training needs of your warehouse staff. Evaluate their current skill levels, knowledge gaps, and areas that require improvement. Provide Training through different channels. (Interactive Training) Don't bore your trainees with dull lectures and boring slides. Spice up your sessions with some fun and engaging activities. Or a quiz where they have to answer trivia questions about pop culture? Make them laugh, make them think, make them interact. And don't forget to ask them questions, listen to their stories, and praise their efforts.

Keeping your team’s skills aligned with system evolution. Start by integrating new modules or functionalities, ensuring your training materials reflect these changes. Prioritize scenario-based learning—think real-life bottlenecks and cross-functional tasks that users will encounter. Equip your trainers with real-time data to simulate dynamic conditions. Leverage data analytics to identify skill gaps and adjust the curriculum. Regular touchpoints with your team can help you gauge adoption levels and fine-tune the content for maximum impact. Consistency and alignment with operational goals are key.

- Design user-friendly and intuitive interface for WMS - Add gamification elements like leaderboards, badges, and milestones - Provide video tutorials or interactive guides for users - Create knowledge base and FAQs section for self-help - Establish user forums or communities for collaboration - Offer multiple support channels like live chat, email, or portal

Think of how training modules must align with system upgrades and scale adjustments. For instance, integrating voice-picking technology demands training on both software and ergonomic efficiency. When onboarding new staff, blend classroom learning with hands-on simulation in real workflow scenarios. Use microlearning for quick updates, especially post-software patches. Regular feedback loops with power users ensure the training remains relevant. Documenting these sessions aids in tracking progress and identifying gaps, enabling continuous improvement. This approach ensures your team remains agile, responsive, and WMS-proficient.

- Knowledge Base and FAQs: A comprehensive knowledge base and FAQs section can provide users with self-help resources. Users access guidance and troubleshooting information independently. Challenges and Difficulties: - Resistance to Change: Users accustomed to previous workflows or systems may resist adopting the new WMS. This requires clear communication about the benefits of the new system. - Technical Issues: Technical difficulties, integration problems, or system bugs affecting performance. This requires timely resolution of issues, regular maintenance of the system, and adequate testing before deployment. - User Adoption: Users may have different levels of familiarity or comfort with using the WMS.

Helpdesk and Ticketing System: Implement a dedicated helpdesk or ticketing system where users can submit queries or issues. Ensure timely and effective responses to address user concerns and provide solutions or guidance as needed. Feedback and Improvement Loop: Encourage users to provide feedback on the WMS functionalities, usability, and training materials. Regularly assess user feedback to identify areas for improvement, address user pain points, and enhance the overall user experience.

Agile framework in WMS refresh proves to more effective and less risky approach compared to a major overhaul. Incremental approaches to software improvement and alignment to business needs allows for flexibility and collaboration, thereby focusing on delivering small, functional increments of a project at regular intervals. Regularly reviewing WMS Release Notes by your WMS partner enables you to assess and implement new features, ensuring alignment with evolving market trends and your business requirements. In collaboration with your WMS vendor, you gain greater control over your system and still ensure continual refreshes within specific agile frameworks, in alignment to your evolving business and operational needs.

From my point of view, it is a little easier if the (key) users have not yet worked with a WMS. Of course, we then have to introduce and train the basic principles of a WMS for the first time: - Inventory management at location level - Warehouse orders and warehouse tasks (creation rules and strategies) - Use of mobile dialogues for booking - Automatic replenishment - Task and resource management - automation in processes ... Improvements, savings and speed are generally achieved very quickly in this scenario compared to the previous state.