A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a technology solution that can help a company automate its warehouse operations and manage it effectively. This solution usually has the software and may have hardware as well as other automation equipment and devices. All the operations of a warehouse, right from receipt of goods to storage and packing and dispatch can be managed using the WMS. The system would make use of devices like bar code scanner or RFID readers for easy handling and tracking of products.
Why use a WMS?
WMS is used by most of the Top Warehousing Companies in India so that their operational efficiency is increased. Automation has many benefits, which is why such software-based systems are used. The reasons why a business can use a WMS are:
· The management of inventory in the warehouse would be easy.
· The entire operations would be streamlined, making work smooth and easy.
· Most importantly, errors which are usually done by humans can be eliminated when you use a WMS.
· Automation speeds up work and saves on time. This helps you handle orders faster, leading to better services to customers.
· Automation reduces the use of manpower. It can thus help to save costs.
· Automation using bar codes or RFID technology can help you track your product easily. It also makes your warehouse more secure and prevents theft.
· Managing a warehouse that has hundreds of racks and thousands of products is very complex and difficult. Automation by using a WMS can make this work very easy.
· The management can get real-time information on the working of the warehouse. Various reports needed for decision making can be obtained just by the click of a mouse.
What a WMS can do?
The WMS used by leading Warehouse Companies in India would be able to manage not just the warehouse operations, but the entire supply chain. It is up to you to decide which parts of your system you want to automate. A good WMS would have many features to help your operations. Here are some of the functions and features a WMS would provide:
1) Helps in Design
A good WMS would help you design your warehouse operations effectively. You can ensure effective workflow. The logic used in the picking of goods (like FIFO or LIFO) can also be decided using the WMS.
2) Management of Inventory
Irrespective of the size of your inventory, you can manage it easily and effectively when you use a good quality was. You can avoid manual data entry by using bar codes or RFID tags on the products. At any point in time, you can know what products you have, which ones need to be dispatched first, and you can also trace the physical location of the product.
3) Effective physical handling
Physical handling of products is easy and with the WMS, you know where a product is located and can easily locate it and handle it. WMS also supports the use of robots for handling products.
4) Quick and effective shipping
You can automate the entire process of shipping. The Packing List, Bill of materials, and Invoice can be printed instantly and the entire process of shipping the product would be smooth. It also ensures the timely delivery of products.
