Warehouse Management Systems: That's How Things Run in the Warehouse

1. What is a Warehouse Management System (WMS)?
2. What functions does a Warehouse Management System have and what tasks does it perform?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Warehouse Management Systems?  
4. What WMS systems are there? 
5. Conclusion

Nowadays, it's nearly indispensable to establish a WMS. In particular, online shops can hardly handle their day-to-day business without a warehouse management system. It manages all processes from goods receipt to shipping including returns. You'll learn what this looks like in detail in this article.

What is a Warehouse Management System (WMS)?

Warehouse management systems are also called inventory management systems. They help you manage operations and processes in your warehouse and optimize your material flow. A warehouse management system handles the administration of your inventory, plans warehouse movements, and monitors all warehouse activities. You can link it with your Enterprise-Resource-Planning-System (ERP) and many other systems that you have in operation.

A WMS system covers many tasks within your warehouse. Source: ClickPost

What functions does a Warehouse Management System have and what tasks does it perform?

The main task of a warehouse management system is the management and optimization of your storage and transport systems. A WMS controls, checks and optimizes your storage and distribution systems. For this, it provides you with a number of functions that, for example, assist in managing your inventory, transfer stations, storage spaces, and shipping papers. 

These are a few functions that you can expect from your WMS:

• Inventory Management: A WMS stores and tracks information such as item numbers, storage locations, quantities, and due dates. It helps you to keep an overview at all times.
• Process Control: With a WMS, you can control and optimize your processes from goods receipt through storage, picking, packing and shipping to inventory tracking, and maintain an overview of your resource utilization.
• Yard and Gate Management: With a WMS system, truck drivers can find their loading ramps more quickly.
• Storage Space and Equipment: A WMS monitors and optimizes the use of storage equipment, such as the use of shelves and the operation of forklifts.
• Warehouse and Transport Documentation: The creation of transport documentation – for example delivery notes, stock books and stowage plans – is also handled by the WMS system.
• Customer and Supplier Order Management: A WMS assists you in managing customer and supplier orders. It stores and oversees key information such as item numbers, delivery volumes and delivery dates for you.
• Compatibility: You can integrate other tools into a WMS such as barcode scanning and RFID labeling, modern robotics and Augmented Reality (AR) wearables, transport management systems (TMS), ERPs and logistics systems.
• Data Analysis and Evaluation: A WMS enables real-time monitoring and the creation of data analysis reports.

WMS have many functions and tasks. Source: DEAR Systems

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Warehouse Management Systems?  

The use of a WMS sounds absolutely advantageous, doesn't it? If you're considering integrating a warehouse management system into your workflow, you should get an overview of the pros and cons first.

As you may have already realized, a WMS saves you a lot of work by automating your processes and guaranteeing a certain quality standard. This in turn saves time and money, avoids returns and improves your reputation. However, the cost of acquisition has to be worth it for you. So, let's look at the most important advantages and disadvantages of Warehouse Management Systems in detail:

What WMS systems are there? 

On OMR Reviews you'll get an overview of suitable warehouse management systems for your business. Verified reviews from users will help you make a decision for an appropriate WMS.

These are the 10 WMS systems you should take a closer look at:

PULPO WMS

360ᵉ by e-velopment

Zoho Inventory

active ilos

Generix WMS

pixi WMS

RightControl

SalesBinder

Boxstorm

Sortly

The entire range of Inventory Management Systems & Tools including a practical comparison can be found on OMR Reviews.

Conclusion

A WMS system can save you a huge amount of time and money, but also brings with it – like many tools and technologies – challenges, especially when it comes to implementation. Nevertheless, for many companies the investment in a warehouse management system is worth it – maybe for yours too.