What are the most important features of a WMS?

While real-time inventory visibility and seamless integration with ERP, CRM, or POS are essential WMS features, a robust platform should go beyond by offering pure cloud and SaaS architecture on a shared platform. This eliminates the need for manual upgrades, server hosting, and extra costs, ensuring a more efficient and cost-effective solution for your warehouse management needs.

An easy to use, integrated solution is a must in modern warehouses. A Day one of purchase to consumption system giving real time views of your assets and most importantly on hand interactive dashboards are a must. MI dedicated and tailored to your business KPIs with the flexibility and opportunity to easily adapt to incorporate new deliverable projects should also be a consideration.

Starting with barcode scanning on handheld devices will bring massive improvements in your accuracy rates, efficiency rates and reduction of errors. You can then build on this by introducing RFID, Voice Picking or Pick to Light and even Robotics but the threshold to achieving ROI for some of these means you have to do significant volume as they are not necessarily cheap investments.

One should consider the value in having a combination of RF devices (bar code scanners) and voice pick device technology working in concert to gain the most marginal aggregated gains. Whilst RF bar code scanning devices are great, in some use cases, they are inappropriate and primitive in others. There is no reason to have a one size fits all approach across your warehouse estate. Think about what your operators need and what kind of inventory they are handling and keep your mind and options open. The right WMS technology partner won’t limit you to one type of device. Naturally the key is a WMS capability that enables you to leverage modern technologies seamlessly with pre existing legacy infrastructure and skill sets.

At ClarusWMS we’ve introduced a series of data grids across the platform for stock, tasks, transactions, receipts and sales orders. You can use these to obtain and retain specific data. Using multiple filters to retrieve information in realtime. A column manager to introduce more fields and saved searches for recalling. A great feature in a WMS

In my experience one of the key outputs of a successful WMS implementation is that it provides confidence. Confidence that then fuels reliable decision making which then enables organisational growth and market penetration. This confidence then spreads outward vertically and horizontally across departments, stakeholders and shareholders trying to understand and mitigate risk in uncertain and unpredictable times. Without the data contained and harnessed through events within a WMS, providing clarity internally and externally, it’s like driving a car blind in a relentless race, whilst being asked to drive faster and faster. Today the right WMS In concert with powerful Big Data analytics surfacing actionable insights is a magical partnership.

This is so true!! Nothing more to say really, flexibility, configuration and scalability as well as being able to onboard new clients (3PL) is king ??

A Warehouse Management System (WMS) should encompass these key features Inventory Management Order Processing Receiving and Putaway Picking and Packing Real-Time Visibility Barcode Scanning Integration Capability Reporting and Analytics Task Automation Mobile Accessibility User-Friendly Interface Returns Management A well-rounded WMS should balance these features to enhance overall warehouse efficiency and accuracy.