Optimizing Ecommerce Operations with a Warehouse Management System (WMS) Implementation

To fully benefit from a WMS, selecting the appropriate system that ensures exceptional performance and sustained success is crucial, resulting in increased warehouse efficiency, better labor management, cost reductions, and improved customer satisfaction.

As a retailer, online seller, or third-party logistics (3PL) provider, you do not have the luxury of taking your time or making mistakes, especially not over the usual six to eight months, to implement a standard warehouse management system (WMS). Many e-commerce operations would instead put up with lower profits and less efficiency than take the chance of a failed implementation. Fortunately, swift implementation has become the new normal in the industry.

Why do you need to implement a warehouse management system?

• Boost performance

By implementing a warehouse management system, you can identify which products are in high demand and those not selling very well. This system can also reduce the time to locate products within the warehouse and the number of errors made. These advantages of a WMS will improve the warehouse’s overall performance and help reduce operational costs.

• Streamline the fulfillment process.

In order to remain competitive and satisfy customers’ changing needs, businesses must be able to adapt rapidly. Utilizing a cloud-based warehouse management software (WMS) can help boost the efficiency of the supply chain. WMSs offer powerful logistics capabilities that simplify the process of fulfilling orders. Furthermore, a cloud-based solution eliminates the need for costly IT personnel to maintain on-site servers, allowing businesses to quickly launch their operations without breaking the budget.

• Increases Transparency

By utilizing effective warehouse management software, you can gain an in-depth and immediate understanding of your warehousing activities and inventory levels. This makes it simpler to provide customers with up-to-date information, ensuring they know that their order is being handled promptly. Now that we have observed the advantages of a Warehouse Management System, let’s evaluate how we can provide a successful implementation.

Tips to ensure a successful WMS implementation

• Aligning the WMS with Corporate Strategy

A warehouse management system (WMS) is essential for your retail business to reach its maximum potential. With so many choices, selecting a WMS supporting your company’s long-term plan and objectives is essential. The software should be able to adjust to the constant changes in the market and grow with your business. You can decide which suits you by comparing the features of various WMSs and choosing the one with the highest quality technology that meets your business’s needs.

• Choose a cloud-based WMS.

Businesses can avoid the complex and costly interruptions of legacy hardware systems by utilizing a cloud-based Warehouse Management System (WMS) platform rather than an on-premise solution. Cloud-based solutions are far quicker to implement, and any problems can be easily identified and addressed quickly due to the increased visibility created in the early stages of implementing the system.

• Make sure to ensure a WMS is aligned with your unique workflows.

Before you begin the implementation process, it is essential that you make sure to identify the WMS provider that can offer the best solution for your needs and that you can trust. It may seem obvious, but many companies have made the mistake of agreeing to an impressive solution that did not meet their desired functionalities. You must ensure that all of your business processes are thoroughly documented when deciding about the WMS provider so that you can rest assured that its features are compatible with your needs.

• Audit WMS functionalities against your process requirements before committing

Once you have compiled a comprehensive list of your Warehouse Management System (WMS) needs, your WMS provider will be able to give you a formalized proposal that outlines the exact features they can offer. This proposal may include manual solutions, tailored customizations based on the requirements you have presented, and suggestions for improving your existing operational processes. Conducting a separate audit to guarantee that your future WMS will meet your needs and be compatible with your business is also beneficial.

It is essential to acknowledge that no solution is perfect and that there are always potential risks when implementing a WMS solution. However, you can minimize potential disruptions by having transparent processes and evidence that the WMS solution will achieve the desired outcome for your business. Before signing off and beginning the implementation process, ensure you have accounted for all customizations and that they are built into the software. This will help ensure that the implementation process is as smooth as possible and minimize disruptions.

• Test as long and as many times as needed

All levels of system functionality must be examined thoroughly to prevent interruptions in your fulfillment network and business processes. This requires you and your team to ensure that the systems readiness testing has been carried out adequately and that the new WMS reporting functions are visible and precise. Furthermore, your supplier should go beyond the basics of data conversion and perform tests on basic system operations, interface connections (integrations), user acceptance testing, and other relevant areas.

• Check the real-life effects of your WMS on your facility.

Implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS) should be easy to anticipate regarding its effects on your warehouse floor layout, storage and inventory levels, and workflows with the correct preparation. Nevertheless, when your custom automation rules start operating to optimize the utilization of your warehouse space and intelligent putaway algorithms are rearranging racks, palettes, etc. for maximum efficiency – there could be some inventory items that are not in accordance with the regulations. It is preferable to remain aware of these matters beforehand rather than address them afterward.

• Plan for the cultural shift by creating experts on your team

It is imperative to provide all of your employees with training to prevent any interruptions. Every single one of your employees should possess a fundamental understanding of your system so that you can be confident you will always be well-equipped and have a lack of personnel when you introduce your new Warehouse Management System. If you have to pause or slow down your operations while waiting for someone who knows how to operate the system, it will likely result in expensive delays.

• Ensure proper Go-Live support.

The go-live phase of your WMS implementation process can only be successful with the support of your WMS provider. Despite how successful the testing phase may have been, there is always the possibility that bugs could appear. Therefore, effectively communicating with your provider’s technical support team is vital to resolve any issues quickly. The ability to effectively escalate problems to the provider will ensure that any issues arising during the go-live phase can be rapidly dealt with.