4 July 2023 The WMS system is a tool capable of facilitating the logistical management of the industry and promoting the success and results of the sector. Discover 6 of the main advantages of this software for your warehouse. Today, industries are experiencing what many experts call the “fourth industrial revolution.” The name is attributed to the new digital era that has changed not only consumer behaviors but also the forms and models of production through the introduction of new technologies, automation processes, and artificial intelligence. All this also impacts the routine inside and outside the logistics warehouses. The scenario is emerging and requires attention to new needs: it is necessary to adapt supply chains in record time to meet the growing market demand. This new consumption model also includes increasingly demanding customers who actively seek information and compare, in particular, product quality, prices, shipping methods, among other business differences. A constantly evolving market, product diversity, ever-shorter delivery times, customer demands, increased sales and orders, service quality. The pressure on companies that want to remain competitive in the market comes from all sides and represents a real challenge for industries seeking growth and success. With all these influences, the search for the application of intelligent strategies is present in the daily life of logistics managers, and the question to ask is: “how can I quickly adapt my company to this new scenario?” To overcome the challenges and survive the new market moment, it is inevitable to turn to technologies. Among the most sought-after by companies from all segments is the WMS (Warehouse Management System), a software that offers integration, information processing, quality control, and inventory monitoring, allowing the macro management of company warehouses, especially industrial ones. In this article, we have separated 6 of the main advantages that make a difference in the logistical management of the sector, offering greater reliability, risk reduction, management, information monitoring, and process optimization for the supply chain. Shall we go? The Importance of WMS for the Industry To succeed in the sector, it is important to pay attention to the entire logistical process and ensure it operates efficiently, after all, we are talking about a complex chain that involves the control of raw materials, unfinished products, and final goods. If any phase or process presents bottlenecks, the entire flow can be compromised. Ensuring high productivity, organization, and safety is certainly a significant challenge, but one that can be overcome with the help of the WMS system. The software is designed precisely to support operational activities and the management of a logistics warehouse, automating manual activities, assisting in decision-making, eliminating errors and rework. By using WMS, companies achieve greater work efficiency and operational improvement, optimizing time and using resources intelligently. The WMS operates from the receipt of production, through inventory management, batch and validity control, distribution of functions and activities in the warehouse, appropriate separation models, to the control of shipping and loading, ensuring logistical efficiency and higher quality of products and services delivered to customers, therefore, the tool provides a series of advantages for companies in the industrial sector. Take a look below: 6 Advantages of the WMS System for the Industry 1- Agility in Processes When talking about WMS applied in the industrial field, an immediate benefit is the gain in terms of speed of execution of activities within the warehouse. The system works to reduce the effort of order fulfillment through a macro view and interconnecting different processes, from the arrival of the product at the dock to the distribution and shipping of goods. With WMS, the industry gains agility in logistical processes, as the software supports the execution of various actions, such as: Receiving Goods As soon as a product arrives at the warehouse, the WMS helps control it, ensuring exact quantities and strict quality control. With the blind control functionality, the employee receives the items without having the invoice in hand, making it necessary to communicate all the data to the system, which performs a cross-check of the information. Storage In addition to verifying the arrival of the product, the WMS system is capable of recognizing the specificities of the goods and directing them, based on their characteristics, to the best address within the warehouse. This eliminates the need for an employee to decide the storage location. The software also determines the best path to take for the store and recruits the right people for the job. Activity Guidance The system also directs picking, replenishment, and shipping activities, helping to reduce the execution times of each task. Through Active Calling, the WMS can distribute and guide tasks, always aiming for the best use of resources and the elimination of errors and rework. With this intelligence, the result for the industry could not be different: increased productivity, reduced movements within the warehouse, and greater stock organization, including compliance with external regulations. 2- Space Organization Did you know that the lack of space within the warehouse can be resolved with the WMS system? Yes, with the software it is possible to minimize warehouse occupancy levels. All this happens through solutions like Kanban (a process that rotates stock through picking), defragmentation, and cross-docking. Whether it is the receipt of goods, maintenance routines, or stock organization, the WMS system can synchronize data to ensure that all space is used efficiently and intelligently. Moreover, the software provides updated reports on product movements, allowing complete monitoring of each address. 3- Product Control One of the advantages offered by WMS for the industry is the ability to track goods with batch control. Once the data and details of the items in stock are entered into the system, it is possible, in real-time, to access all information related to that product. This technology allows for the inspection and verification of product movements in the warehouse whenever necessary. In practice, logistics managers will have access to: Entry dates of a product at the dock and/or warehouse. Departure dates of a product in shipping. Expiration dates of products in stock. Identification of defects and/or damage to the goods. Address of the product’s location within the inventory. Number of items on the shelf. Priority according to FIFO or FEFO. Decision-making within the sector must be swift to always keep up with market demand. For this reason, having all necessary information about products in stock at hand greatly facilitates the application of strategies in daily warehouse operations. 4- Inventory Accuracy Maintaining inventory accuracy, especially when it comes to industry, ends up being fundamental and decisive for business success. Stock management, obtaining real-time product count information, and creating reports on incoming and outgoing goods help, for example, to optimize replenishment, avoid overproduction, and improve stock availability for the most requested products. The benefits of maintaining inventory accuracy do not stop there: updated data is essential for other sectors, such as sales, as order interruption can mean, in addition to losing the sale, the loss of a regular customer and high losses for the company. With WMS, the industry will have an ally that provides real-time reports on stock status, facilitating routine quality inspections and improving monitoring of warehouse movements. 5- Flexibility in Order Separation Sorting and shipping orders in the sector is a challenge and requires a lot of flexibility in the management system. This happens for a specific reason: outgoing orders, in general, can contain different patterns from each other, that is, at one moment they can be shipped on full pallets (large volume orders), or at certain times they can be shipped in boxes, small orders, or fractions. For all these cases, the WMS is ready to offer a specific solution, as it can quickly identify products in the warehouse and guide employees with the necessary information to fulfill the order. This reduces the error rate, increases productivity, and shipping speed. 6- Real-Time Information Business success only happens when the search for improvements is constant. Finding optimization points is one of the responsibilities – but also challenges – that great managers encounter along the way. To identify them, it is necessary to have reliable and updated performance numbers and data, a requirement fully met by the WMS. The system offers industrial logistics managers all the necessary information about the operation, such as KPIs and reports that show how things are going and what needs improvement. Moreover, it is possible to monitor in real-time any delays, deviations, and problems with ongoing orders. With the system in operation, managers and teams have access to dashboards and charts that are instantly updated as work progresses. All this favors urgent decision-making that can be decisive for the sector’s success. Investing in WMS Directly Affects the Sector’s Logistical Efficiency In this article, you have seen some of the main advantages that warehouse automation through the WMS management system can generate for your sector. In practice, the WMS increases productivity, helps meet market demands, optimizes team activities, offers transparency of information and data, allows real-time monitoring of all warehouse processes, reduces operational costs, values the workforce within your supply chain, and much more! Evaluate the current situation of your warehouse, list your current needs and difficulties, and consider whether a WMS could be the solution to offer you what you desire. DEAGOR has a team of highly experienced consultants, capable of guiding you on the ideal technologies to ensure concrete results for your business. Schedule an appointment and get ready to grow your business! 6 Advantages of a WMS System for the Industry Deagor WMS per ecommerce può aiutarti!