There are many benefits of WMS in the cloud. Only a decade ago we were talking about the use of the cloud as something new and exciting. But it’s clear that the cloud is mainstream in business these days.
The supply chain industry is no exception. IDC Futurescape predicts that 80% of supply chain interactions will happen across cloud-based commerce networks by 2020.
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) are an important part of supply chain operations. And it’s here too that the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model of cloud delivery is coming to the fore.
What is WMS in the cloud?
WMS in the cloud is the delivery of warehousing systems via the internet. An entire warehousing operation can be run in the cloud. Real-time responses allow for accurate logging of goods as they are received, picked and shipped.
Plus, cloud WMS can integrate to materials handling equipment and Warehouse Control Systems (WCS) so that conveyors, carousels and goods-to-person equipment can all be managed in the cloud too.
The benefits of WMS in the cloud
The obvious benefit of WMS in the cloud is that there are no hardware requirements. There’s no need for you to have dedicated servers, networking, or databases. The responsibility for the IT side of things rests firmly with your cloud software providers.
This means that you have lower upfront costs than with an on-premises WMS. You don’t need to research and purchase expensive hardware. Yet you still have access to world-class IT systems and security.
All maintenance and upgrades of the software are done automatically. This means that you are always running the latest version of the software, with all patches or updates applied. So you won’t have to suspend warehouse operations while you upgrade to the latest software version. As any busy warehouse manager knows, it’s crucial to not have interruptions to ensure the smooth running of the warehouse.
And because you don’t have hardware or software to maintain, there’s no need for a large internal IT team to monitor and manage your software and equipment. This reduces your potential staffing costs.
Perhaps one of the key benefits of WMS in the cloud, though is the reduced downtime. Your SaaS provider will have a business model that is dependent on its reputation for reliability. HighJump WMS, for example, provides 99.5-plus per cent uptime to meet the service level agreements (SLAs) and give you business continuity. Additionally, 24/7 monitoring and alerting helps solve any issues more quickly and gives you the peace of mind that everything is running how it should be.
Are you ready for WMS in the cloud?
A recent Gartner report projects that the cloud market will continue to grow over the coming years. There really aren’t any drawbacks to operating WMS in the cloud, so if you’re looking to upgrade your WMS system, then the cloud is your inevitable next move.
Warehouse Core is a WMS in the HighJump platform. It’s designed for small and medium-sized businesses and can be deployed really quickly – within 30 days, typically. It has out of the box functionality and integrates with your ERP and carriers to give you a fully functioning WMS solution.
For more information, call us on 020 8819 9071 or get in touch to request a demonstration.