What is a Warehouse Management System?
A warehouse management system refers to a digital tool that manages, supports, and optimizes warehouse workflow. It handles various processes like inventory management, picking and shipping, order fulfillment, auditing, allocating labor, ensuring inventory accuracy, and more.
You may incorporate this system with your supply chain management software or business resource planning. It may even work as separate software.
Significance of Warehouse Management System in E-commerce Shipping and Delivery
- Effective inventory management
Businesses can use a warehouse management system to manage inventory in real time. It tracks data about the shipments, latest orders, and other activities related to your inventory. Consequently, it decreases the chances of errors.
- Improved order accuracy
A warehouse management system helps you recognize and correct errors before they happen. For instance, you can integrate this system with a voice-picking system. It helps you to stay away from the speculation of order picking. Consequently, it lowers costs and ensures customer satisfaction.
- Increases profit
Setting up a warehouse management system saves a significant amount of space. So, you can use the saved space for other operations, which will ultimately benefit the business financially.
Prerequisites for a Warehouse Management System
- A warehouse management system must accurately administer each step of the warehousing processes, including receiving, order purchase, sales, order picking, shipping, etc.
- Its reporting tools must be efficient, flexible, customizable, and visually appealing. You must be able to export the tools to various well-known file formats for review.
Use Case with Warehouse Management System
Suppose company X deals with machinery products and needs hefty raw materials. It can use a warehouse management system to optimize its operational costs for warehousing. Such a system helps to maintain correct stock and inventory so the company can make accurate business decisions.