29 June 2022 Discover which innovations assist in inventory management and the tools that benefit administration by bringing greater accuracy to processes Many of the challenges that warehouses face, such as stock depletion or excess inventory, as well as obsolete stock or goods deterioration, are the result of poor inventory management. These situations lead to higher costs for the company and can also result in a loss of sales. To prevent this from happening, more and more companies have invested in specialized technologies that automate processes, assist in inventory management and control, and provide real-time data. In a scenario of high supply chain complexity and increasing consumer demand, companies have sought technologies to transform their traditional warehouses into innovation centers. With greater productivity, control, and accuracy, processes begin to occur in a coordinated manner, benefiting management and ensuring cost reduction and greater customer satisfaction. In this text, we present the main technologies used in warehouses in Brazil and around the world and the benefits they offer in both inventory management and process execution. Take a look below: 1) WMS System The WMS system is software designed to support and optimize intralogistics processes, as well as inventory management. The system facilitates the execution of daily planning, direction, and resource control, in addition to supporting the team in carrying out their tasks, from receiving, storage, picking, replenishment, shipping, and loading. Its great advantage is the recording of all information and movements, offering greater traceability, in addition to automating activities, always aiming to increase agility and better utilize resources (people, equipment, and area). The WMS can provide inventory visibility at any time and place, which means the manager literally has the information in the palm of their hand. By integrating with ERP and TMS, the system brings even more efficiency to management, providing fundamental data for decision-making and the correct fulfillment of requests. The WMS also has cyclical inventories, increasing inventory accuracy to levels that can reach 99.9%. By implementing the software, the company improves inventory accuracy, enhances its responsiveness, reduces errors in task execution, and increases efficiency, delivering faster and faster. It is worth adding that the WMS can be designed or configured according to the specific needs of the organization. For example, an e-commerce company can use a WMS with different functions than a traditional retailer. Additionally, the WMS can also be configured based on the type of goods sold. 2) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Radio frequency identifiers refer to a technology through which digital data encoded on RFID tags or smart tags is captured by a reader using radio waves. After reading the tag through a device (the collector), the information is stored in a database. One of its advantages over systems using barcode tracking software is that the data on the RFID tag can be read outside the line of sight, while barcodes must be aligned with an optical scanner. In practice, this technology brings with it great accuracy in managing products entering and leaving the warehouse, as, upon receipt, items are subjected to a check through the device (integrated with the WMS), which allows for the exact registration of incoming goods. Similarly, in all movements, the tags are read, and an automatic update is made by the WMS, which receives the data at all times. At the time of shipping, the products undergo a new check, ensuring that the customer will receive exactly what they ordered. Moreover, with the use of RFID integrated into the WMS, processes are executed with greater speed and without errors. 3) Autonomous Robots The potential for collaboration between robots and humans has driven companies to invest in robotics. According to a survey conducted by IDC, by 2023, about 65% of warehouse activities will employ robots and data analytics to help optimize storage, increasing warehouse capacity by over 20% and reducing processing times for half of the orders. With increasing order volumes, a wide variety of SKUs, and a strong demand for fast deliveries, robotic solutions will help you respond effectively to volume growth and perform more tasks in less time. Counting on the support of robots, companies can focus their workforce in strategic positions, with great benefits for warehouse and business management. 4) Innovation: The Key to Inventory Management In this text, we present three of the technologies that are most implemented in warehouses today. Even though two of them (RFID and robotics) are not directly aimed at management, as is the case with WMS, both play a fundamental role in increasing process accuracy, a factor that directly impacts inventory management. When investing in innovation, in fact, the company must have a holistic vision, prioritizing all the tools that make sense for its business and that are capable of promoting improvements as a whole. It is worth remembering that inventory control is vital for the company, and today having access to accurate and real-time information is a challenge that can only be resolved with technology. For those who already understand this and have prioritized innovations in logistics, the benefits go far beyond excellence in management and process execution. These companies create safer work environments, redirect their teams to high-value activities, and provide all employees with valuable information, which they can access at any time and use to make better decisions. In the end, efficiency stands out, challenges are reduced, and profitability increases. Discover the technologies for inventory management Deagor WMS per ecommerce può aiutarti!