Steps To Take For Choosing Your Warehouse Management System

Knowing what your critical needs are and what drives your company will assist you in addressing the solution to the problem of what warehouse management system you should use. The system’s functionalities must closely match your requirements, which can be determined by identifying the particular problem(s) that needs solving. Vital in selecting a warehouse management system (WMS) is the identification of the key business requirements of your company.

Accessible Data

Is it easy to retrieve data with your chosen WMS? It is crucial that the system you choose has the capability to provide business intelligence (online queries) and flexible reporting.

Modification Costs Must Be Minimized

Various business processes must be supported by a configurable system. Because your needs are always shifting, the system must be flexible and capable of changing along with your business requirements. Adaptability is a highly desirable quality for your WMS. The key to success is not modification, but configuration.

Interfacing Capabilities Must Be Insured

Without running into excessive costs, your warehouse management system should possess an open architecture. Interfacing with your company’s enterprise resource planning system should not be a problem. To improve warehouse efficiency, integration between your materials handling equipment and your warehouse management system should be achievable.

Additionally, because each engagement may involve high-end or low-end requirements, your WMS must be able to address both. It must be scalable.

This Is a Team Effort

Your IT teams and your business teams should both be involved in decision-making when it comes to which WMS to utilize. You are creating a cross-functional team. In order to ensure a smooth process, both teams need to work together, particularly during implementation.

Is The System User-Friendly?

There is no wiggle room here – user-friendly is an absolute requirement. The only way to maximize any system to its fullest is for the staff to be operating with a user-friendly system. Easy to learn and easy to use is the only way to go.

Look at Deployment Options and Implementation

You’ll need to make a determination as to whether you’ll be using Software-as-a-Service, Cloud, or some other on-premise solution as well as deciding how it should be deployed (i.e. by using multiple technologies).

Take a Look at Vendor Capabilities

A critical aspect of any business is going to be support. In order to provide ongoing support, enough resources are going to have to be offered through a WMS customer service center that is responsive and supportive of your needs.

It is essential that when choosing a warehouse management system, you pick a provider that has a focus similar to your own. Consider the values and vision that you have for your company and choose someone that you feel is on the same page. When your WMS provider works in step with you, a smoother running operation is the result. You’re setting yourself up for failure if the two of you don’t share views on the project, work ethic, values, or vision because, when it all comes down to it – you’re both in it for the long haul.