(1) Does my warehouse management system do enough for me?
If that’s the first thing that comes to mind, then the answer is probably “no.” Price is only one minor part of total cost of ownership of your WMS; indeed, functionality, flexibility, integration, ease of use and customer support are all important components of a quality WMS. Leveraging the latest technologies in your warehouse will sizably improve on-time shipments, increase inventory accuracy and reduce your error rate. If you do not have a current system in place, or you are running a system that does not effectively manage your supply chain, it may be time to consider implementing a WMS that will enable you to monitor warehouse activities in real time, minimize errors and measure the efficiency of your warehouse employees.
(2) How easy is my WMS to use?
If your WMS is easy to use, employees can spend less time setting up and monitoring daily operations and more time using the software to successfully run your warehouse operation. A user-friendly WMS can reduce the amount of time you spend on employee training, from pickers to senior management. Implementing an all-inclusive WMS enables standardization of inventory, picking methods and inventory locations. This standardization helps to minimize your company’s reliance on outdated legacy systems, resulting in reduced training costs and lower error rates. Having strong feature navigations can ensure that all employees can use the WMS functionality to the fullest, so when choosing a WMS, look for easy-to-navigate menus and help screens that can improve usability.
(3) Does my WMS have the ability to react to business change?
When an organization grows and evolves, the technology used to support that organization must change as well. A WMS should have maximum flexibility to adapt to a changing logistics landscape because this scalability will ensure ROI. When organizations choose software solutions for their business, they select it based primarily on their ability to support processes that are used in business today. In reality, though, businesses change over time, so implementing a flexible solution can update processes, maintain compliance and increase ROI.
If you spend a lot of time fixing problems with costly integration or customization to your requirements, you’re already well aware of how the wrong WMS can end up costing you far more than it saves. It’s crucial to consider the overall value of a WMS, its features and functions, how much you can grow and scale with the technology, and if the system is built to withstand the challenges of your industry. To that end, we encourage you to take a step back and evaluate your warehouse management system. Having the right warehouse technology can automate and improve every aspect of your warehouse operations and lead to the ultimate ROI that you need to be successful and competitive in an ever-changing environment.
Source: Article by Joe Scioscia, VP Sales
http://www.supplychainbrain.com/content/single-article-page/article/how-to-choose-the-perfect-warehouse-management-system/
