Top 5 WMS Features You Can’t Ignore.
In today’s competitive landscape, businesses must efficiently manage their warehouse operations to stay ahead. A reliable Warehouse Management System (WMS) is essential for optimising processes like order processing, inventory control, and order fulfilment. As your supply chain grows, so does the complexity of managing multiple warehouses, inventory, and customer expectations. This is where a WMS comes into play.
In this blog, we will explore the top five WMS features every business should focus on. These features can improve inventory management, keep inventory levels just right, and ensure smooth order management.
What is a WMS?
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a smart tool that helps improve how warehouses work. It shows real-time data on stock movements, checks inventory levels, and makes managing warehouse tasks easier.
WMS software automates tasks like picking, packing, and shipping orders, giving you a clear view of your inventory. This helps you make smart choices, keeping stock levels right and avoiding too much or too little stock.
The system also saves time by making processes faster and cutting down on manual work, which boosts efficiency. With quicker and more accurate order processing, a WMS increases customer happiness, leading to loyalty and business growth.
1. Automated Putaway and Receipt Management.
The process of receiving goods and putting them away can be time-consuming and error-prone if done manually. Automated putaway and receipt management is a vital WMS feature that improves this part of your supply chain by speeding up order processing and organising stock more efficiently.
With automated systems like Körber WMS, businesses can assign the best storage locations automatically. This is based on real-time inventory and operational needs. It leads to faster processing times, fewer human errors, and better inventory control. Items are placed in the most suitable spots.
Key benefits:
- Minimises manual data entry errors.
- Increases efficiency by automating the placement of goods.
- Optimises inventory levels and space utilisation.
This feature helps you track your inventory levels precisely, ensuring items are put away in the right locations while maintaining full control over your warehouse operations.
2. Batch and Expiry Management.
Managing batches and expiry dates is crucial, especially for industries that handle perishable or regulated goods. A WMS that offers batch and expiry management ensures you maintain accurate date information, enabling you to manage stock levels based on product age and condition.
WMS solutions enable businesses to enforce first-in, first-out (FIFO) or first-expiry, first-out (FEFO) rules, making sure that the oldest stock is used first. This feature ensures compliance with industry standards, minimises the risk of stockouts, and prevents product wastage.
Key benefits:
- Ensures compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Prevents stock from becoming obsolete or expired.
- Enhances order fulfilment by providing accurate date information for inventory.
This WMS functionality helps businesses maintain tighter control over inventory management, ensuring that goods are always sold or dispatched within their ideal lifespan.
3. Flexible Picking Strategies (Batch and Regular Picking).
Picking orders is one of the most time-consuming tasks in any warehouse. A flexible WMS offers various picking strategies, such as batch and regular picking, to optimise your order fulfilment process. Batch picking allows workers to gather items for multiple orders simultaneously, reducing travel time and improving efficiency, while regular picking is better suited for precise, individualised orders.
A sophisticated WMS like Körber adapts to your order management needs, whether you’re handling bulk orders or specific customer requests. This flexibility saves time, boosts productivity, and ensures that customers receive their orders quickly and accurately.
Key benefits:
- Reduces the time required to pick and pack orders.
- Adapts to different warehouse processes depending on order volume.
- Improves customer satisfaction through accurate and timely order processing.
Multiple picking options help businesses optimise their supply chain, improving overall warehouse efficiency and maintaining high service levels. Whether you’re managing a large distribution centre or a small operation, a flexible WMS ensures you’re prepared for any order type.
4. Hot Replenishment.
Stockouts are one of the most frustrating issues in order fulfilment, especially for high-demand products. Hot replenishment ensures that stock is automatically refilled in real-time as items are picked, keeping your most popular products readily available for customers. This feature ensures that your inventory levels remain optimal, minimising delays and keeping your warehouse processes running smoothly.
With Körber WMS, you can monitor stock levels in real-time. This helps restock popular items quickly. It prevents delays in order processing. Customers will not find any products missing when they place an order. This is very important for businesses with changing demand or seasonal items.
Key benefits:
- Prevents stockouts of high-demand products.
- Ensures continuous operation, even during peak times.
- Improves inventory management by maintaining accurate, real-time data on stock availability.
Hot replenishment plays a crucial role in maintaining smooth warehouse operations, ensuring that your supply chain remains efficient, even during busy periods.
5. Real-time Reporting and Data Insights.
In today’s digital era, real-time data is indispensable for making informed decisions. A WMS that offers real-time reporting and analytics provides detailed insights into your warehouse operations, allowing you to track everything from inventory levels to order statuses. This real-time inventory visibility gives you the ability to make adjustments on the go, identify bottlenecks, and improve overall operational efficiency.
For example, Körber WMS offers detailed reports on key performance indicators (KPIs). These include order fulfilment rates, stock movement, and worker productivity. This information helps warehouse managers make smart decisions. These decisions can improve efficiency, lower costs, and optimise supply chain processes.
Key benefits:
- Empowers better decision-making with actionable insights.
- Enhances inventory control and resource allocation.
- Improves operational efficiency by identifying and resolving bottlenecks.
With real-time reporting, businesses can stay agile, quickly responding to market changes or internal challenges, ensuring that their warehouse management system continuously delivers value.
Conclusion
A good Warehouse Management System (WMS) helps make warehouse tasks easier and handle today’s supply chain needs. Key features like automated storage, batch and expiry tracking, flexible picking, real-time inventory checks, and quick restocking can greatly improve inventory and order processes.
Using these WMS tools speeds up operations, cuts costs, and increases customer happiness. In a fast-changing market, the right WMS keeps businesses competitive by saving time, improving accuracy, and helping them grow confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions.
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is software that makes warehouse work easier and more accurate. It handles daily tasks related to inventory and tracks goods in the supply chain. A good WMS, like the Korber system, gives real-time updates, batch picking, and works with ERP systems.
Batch and expiry tracking is vital for businesses that handle perishable goods. It ensures products are fresh and safe to consume. This helps reduce waste, improve quality, and follow rules. It also aids inventory management using FEFO (first to expire, first out) or LEFO (last to expire, last out) methods, boosting customer satisfaction.
Yes, Korber WMS works smoothly with existing ERP systems. This lets data move easily between the warehouse and business processes. It improves order handling, keeps inventory accurate, and helps with forecasting. This teamwork cuts costs and boosts efficiency.