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In essence, the WMS is an essential lever for productivity, flexibility, and process control in a rapidly evolving market. Additionally, transitioning to advanced digital tools is now vital to address labor shortages and ensure seamless integration with the automation and AI solutions of Supply Chain 4.0.
This white paper aims to guide you in selecting the WMS that will become the cornerstone of your logistics performance. Here are 9 essential keys to help you choose the solution that best meets your needs.
Define Your Warehouse’s Current Needs
Before selecting a WMS, it’s critical to identify your operational requirements.
A good WMS must be reliable: even a brief service interruption could disrupt your inbound and outbound flows, causing delays and additional costs.
The system should cover all warehouse processes, including:
- Goods reception,
- Storage and location management,
- Order preparation,
- Shipping,
- Returns management,
- Real-time flow monitoring.
Additionally, choose a provider offering a SLA (Service Level Agreement) that formalizes commitments regarding availability, performance, and response times.
To further enhance adaptability, ensure the WMS provides advanced features such as:
- mobility for operators working with portable devices,
- connectivity with your automated equipment.
A well-defined SLA also guarantees the provider’s accountability in case of disruptions affecting your operations.
Anticipate Your Organization’s Future Needs
Warehouses must evolve with market changes, order volumes, and emerging technologies. It’s crucial to select a WMS that can adapt to these changes.
Modularity is essential in this regard. It allows you to:
- add functionalities as needed,
- deactivate unnecessary ones, avoiding additional costs.
By choosing a modular solution, you ensure that your WMS remains relevant over time while maintaining optimal operational flexibility.
Evaluate Your Warehouse Resources
A warehouse operates with various human and material resources, such as:
- Machines and robots,
- IT equipment,
- Advanced technologies (connected glasses, voice commands, etc.).
Your WMS must integrate seamlessly with this environment. SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions, for instance, offer enhanced compatibility with existing systems.
Moreover, ensure the WMS is flexible enough to adapt to new technologies or the opening of additional distribution channels.
Choose a Rich and Configurable WMS
Developing a custom WMS might seem appealing, but this solution is often time-consuming, expensive, and difficult to maintain.
A standard, configurable WMS offers considerable advantages:
- faster implementation,
- features tailored to industry best practices,
- flexibility to customize processes for your specific needs.
The Generix Group WMS, for example, provides 150 standard business processes that can be tailored to your warehouse’s requirements. This approach maximizes efficiency while minimizing the risks associated with custom development.
Ensure Ease of Use for Users
Introducing a new tool may face resistance from users, especially in environments with high staff turnover (temporary or seasonal workers).
To encourage adoption, ensure the WMS is:
- intuitive and user-friendly,
- compatible with mobile devices,
- supported by training resources (tutorials, e-learning, interactive guides).
A clear design and quick onboarding process will optimize team efficiency and minimize operational errors.
Address International Requirements
If your warehouses are located in multiple countries, your WMS must adapt to specific linguistic, cultural, and regulatory constraints.
A localized WMS should:
- handle local measurement units (metric or imperial systems),
- adapt to local calendars (holidays, date formats),
- comply with regulations (e.g., GDPR in Europe).
Additionally, the provider should offer training and documentation tailored to the languages and specifics of each region.
Verify Compatibility with Other Logistics Tools
A WMS operates within a broader software ecosystem that includes:
- TMS (Transport Management System),
- OMS (Order Management System),
- YMS (Yard Management System),
- Supply Chain Visibility tools for 3PL providers.
Opting for a provider offering a comprehensive software suite ensures better compatibility and enhances performance across your entire supply chain.
Secure Support from the Provider
The WMS provider is a strategic partner. Ensure they offer:
- deployment support (Proof of Concept, testing phases),
- 24/7 customer support in multiple languages,
- regular maintenance and updates.
Some solutions also include AI-powered chatbots for automated assistance. However, ensure these tools can handle complex queries and escalate to human operators when needed.
Monitor KPIs to Evaluate Performance
Once the WMS is implemented, analyze Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess its effectiveness:
- Inventory management: turnover rate, stockout rate, costs, etc.
- Reception: dock time, cost per order line.
- Order preparation: orders per hour, consumable usage.
- Shipping: lead times, labor hours per order.
These KPIs will help identify areas for improvement and ensure continuous optimization of your logistics performance.
Conclusion
Selecting and implementing a WMS is crucial for ensuring your warehouse’s competitiveness and flexibility. By following these 9 essential keys, you can choose a solution that meets both your current and future needs.
To learn more about the WMS solutions offered by Generix Group:
