Warehouse management systems (WMS) allows for customised solutions to productivity and inefficiency issues throughout your warehouse. Regardless of the industry you’re in, from engineering and manufacturing to construction and retail, WMS will benefit your warehouse highly, and for a number of reasons. Here are a few reasons as to why you should implement WMS throughout your warehouse.
It will optimise everyday processes
WMS implementation will allow you to optimise the everyday processes that you experience throughout your warehouse. These processes are extremely important as they’ve been specifically designed to complement your business and its inner workings, but they must also seamlessly suit the nature of the stock you work with. Regardless of the WMS you implement and no matter the industry you work in, you can be sure that your processes will be optimised.
An intelligent WMS selection will effortlessly allow you to incorporate a wide range of different algorithms, including batch picking and wave zoning. In fact, an excellent WMS will be versatile, particularly when it comes to input methods, tackling barcodes, working in collaboration with equipment automation and RFID or smart scales.
WMS will also take some of the burden and responsibility away from your team, allowing them to focus on what they do best rather than having to carry out activities that needn’t be long, laborious and difficult. View WMS as a modern-day assistant rather than another outlay. It should be seen as an investment that will develop your business and enhance productivity and efficiency throughout.
It ensures efficient labour allocation
WMS can be extremely easy to implement and are even more simple to use. Almost every single one of your warehouse workers should be trained (where appropriate) to use the WMS you have available to them because this makes delegation far more straightforward for managers and owners alike. It also mitigates the need for specific, specialist training when it comes to performing certain tasks which can be both expensive and time-consuming.
It will boost employee morale
WMS will make your employee’s lives far easier when they’re working throughout your warehouse and so if the amount of heavy, manual labour they need to do is reduced and if their jobs are made more simple and straightforward, you’ll likely have a far happier workforce. When the workforce is feeling positive their work output will likely increase and you’ll look like a more attractive employer for potential new workers.
It improves both supplier & customer relationships
A warehouse that’s efficiently run will help to reduce delivery lead times and order accuracy errors. This then means that more customers overall will be satisfied with their orders when it comes to both the item itself and the amount of time it took to be delivered. This will lead to more happy customers and an increase in sales thanks to positive reviews and recommendations.
WMS will enable your order pickers to locate and retrieve the items they need to distribute. The least amount of time this takes the better as it means customers will receive their goods within a reasonable timeframe. The more this happens, the more likely it will be that customers will order from you again. When it comes to suppliers, should your company be B2B, the same still applies. You’ll need to limit delivery and shipping times as much as possible.
It reduces operational expenses
You’ll save money in the long run when it comes to work output and the amount you’re paying for it. The more efficient a worker becomes, the more tasks that can be performed and, in turn, the larger work output you have as a result. You’ll be paying an employee a certain amount of money for eight hours of work, so if their work output in that time can be doubled, then you’ll soon be reaping the benefits financially in the long run.
It improves security & safety in the workplace
A modern WMS generally requires workers to enter transactions using a unique user account. As such, an audit trail will tie a transaction to specific workers which then, in turn, allows a warehouse owner to track their employees’ activity together with everything that they’ve distributed. This way, if there is shrinkage that cannot be accounted for, then a warehouse owner will be able to tell whether or not it’s down to legitimate means.
It allows for continuous improvement
A WMS is highly-adaptable and extremely versatile. This means that your WMS can move with the times and grow with your business rather than have to be reinvested in or reworked in order for it to work as efficiently as possible whilst still seamlessly complementing your warehouse operations at all times.
Refurbished Forklifts are pleased to be able to provide used forklifts and second-hand warehouse equipment to customers throughout the UK. Whether you need a diesel forklift for outdoor use, a reach truck for improving productivity or an order picker to make short work of distribution, you’ll be able to count on us to deliver. For more information about the warehouse equipment we have available, including used electric forklifts, second-hand LPG forklifts, refurbished diesel forklifts and more, get in touch with a member of our specialist team – we’re always happy to hear from you.
