Warehouse Managment System

The WMS (Warehouse Management System) is a management software used in Logistics, particularly in storage units. In practice, it performs the daily control of processes and operations that involve the stock and logistics of a business, from the manufacture or receipt of products to delivery to the consumer. In Portuguese, we are talking about an EMS, Warehouse Management System. It is a robust software, which normally works integrated with another powerful software, the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), used for the control and planning of enterprise resources, controlling the flow of information in a corporation between different departments.

The Warehouse Management System starts its operations by connecting to a database. From then on, all movements that take place in a warehouse are reminded. This control can be carried out in several ways, from the use of bar codes to tags with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. To ensure traceability, the WMS sign a unique code to each of the items in the warehouse, the SKUs (Stock Keeping Unit). This happens at the moment the product enters the stock, which may be upon receipt or during production. This code gathers various information about the goods, such as batch, entry date, expiration date, dimensions, weight, checker, and supplier. Thanks to this control, the WMS facilitates some routines in the company. An example is receiving, checking, storing, separating, moving, replenishing and shipping products. According to the Nuvem Shop website, a good WMS offers essential services in warehouse management, such as:

• Merchandise allocation management considering inventory control systems such as the ABC curve;
• View of the warehouse map with specifications on the different sectors and the availability of space in each one;
• Cargo preparation management;
• Shipping labeling and documentation system;
• Management of the vehicle loading process;
• Resources that facilitate picking and packing processes.

According to the softdata.com.br website, the WMS (or SGA) can correct a series of operational failures in storage units:

• Lack of space
• disorganization of products
• unbalanced inventory
• Damage to moved goods
• Slowness in conference routines
• loading delays
• loss of goods
• duplicate orders
• Low team productivity
• High costs

As it is a multifunctional software, the investment value is high. The definition of values ​​depends a lot on each buyer and the needs they have. However, the resources invested show good results. The site maplink.global now 14 advantages that a good WMS presents:

1. Greater efficiency in the management of warehouses and distribution centers;
2. Greater organization and automation of logistics processes;
3. Optimization of storage space;
4. Optimization of operational and administrative activities;
5. Real-time information about inventory, steps and processes;
6. Reduction of costs due to loss or misplacement of goods or raw materials;
7. Maximum use of resources and manpower;
8. Reduction of waiting time between steps;
9. Team management;
10. Improvements in internal communication;
11. Lower incidence of errors due to human error;
12. Reduction of storage and labor costs;
13. Increased productivity;
14. Greater quality and agility in services provided to customers.

There are several suppliers of this software in Brazil. But some stand out. Among them we have HighJump, Senior, Totvs, Delage and Sankhya. All are excellent companies. But before closing the contract, take some precautions. First, find out what your needs are. Then evaluate the supplier’s experience in the market. Call customers and see what results they are getting, whether the deployment went smoothly, what hiccups occurred, and whether assistance is adequate. Don’t just focus on price. Also evaluate the ROI (Return on Investment). That is, what are the gains that supplier offers with its WMS. It is necessary to question what concrete advances will be made. Finally, it is important to emphasize that this is a consumption relationship that does not end with the purchase of the program. Technical support must be agile and efficient.

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