Cloud-based Warehouse Management System

A Cloud Based WMS Is your warehouse keeping up with the fast-paced nature of your business and industry, Under competitive and customer pressure, you must optimize your supply chain—doing things the old way and outrunning the competition is simply not enough. Businesses are frequently only one step away from making a breakthrough. Perhaps it's an infrastructure upgrade, or perhaps it's more flexibility and scalability to capitalize on new opportunities. Some people may benefit greatly from additional IT resources.
A more efficient, cost-effective, and agile warehouse is frequently the difference between staying ahead of the competition and falling behind. A warehouse management system (WMS) that is cloud-based gives you the tools you need to connect and optimize every link in your supply chain. WMS in the cloud is a comprehensive warehouse management solution that includes inventory management, labor performance optimization, warehouse processes, and material flow control.

As technology improves the way businesses are conducted, a trend of moving applications to the cloud has emerged. A warehouse management system communicates with pickers in real time, informing them of orders and allowing them to perform their jobs more accurately. A cloud-based warehouse management system runs in real time and can be accessed from any device.

When considering moving a warehouse management system to a cloud-based infrastructure, three key benefits should be considered.

For starters, a cloud-based system can be implemented much more quickly. System administration, system backup and recovery, and system upgrades do not require training for the IT department. Everything is hosted on the server and provided by the software provider.

The initial cost of a cloud-based system may be high due to high licensing fees, but it is more cost effective over the life of the software. The licensing fee is typically for the life of the software and includes updates.

The final advantage of using a cloud-based warehouse management system is that the company is always supported by an expert. Many cloud-based systems include technical support. These technical experts frequently have access to the engineers who designed and developed the system.
What Exactly Is a Warehouse Management System (WMS)?
Warehouse management systems are software applications that are programmed to optimize warehouse operations and streamline procedures. In short, a warehouse management system (WMS) aids in the movement of goods and materials in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.

To begin, warehouse management system software increases transparency by providing a real-time view of the company's inventory. A good WMS, on the other hand, does more than just keep track of inventory from the time it enters a warehouse to the time it leaves. It also aids in the management of returns (and keeps returns to a minimum in the first place).

While some Ecommerce businesses have an on premise legacy programmed, also known as "standalone WMS software," these systems require a lot more manual work, are prone to problems, and frequently have hidden costs. Cloud-based solutions that integrate with third-party logistics providers (3PLs) are widely regarded as the best type of WMS for almost any business, which is why they will be the focus of this article.

Supply Chain and Warehouse Management Systems
A warehouse management system (WMS) plays an important role in supply chain management by managing order fulfilment processes, from receiving raw materials to shipping finished goods. Assume that some raw materials were received incorrectly or that parts were misplaced within a warehouse; this could temporarily slow or stop the supply chain, costing the company money and potentially customers.

A WMS keeps the entire operation running smoothly by tracking inventory and ensuring that goods are properly stored, sorted, shipped, and tracked. It can even detect inventory anomalies and identify potential problems before they become major problems.

8 Characteristics of a Warehouse Management System
Previously, we went over a laundry list of features that any good WMS should have. Here's a closer look at each of those characteristics.

Warehouse Layout
Warehouses are not always well organized, wasting space and adding time to the pick-and-pack process. Many WMS platforms can help with customizing workflow and picking logic to ensure that inventory allocation is optimized in the warehouse.

Inventory Management
A WMS platform will track inventory data from barcode readers and updating information in the software's dashboard to ensure that everyone who has access to the software has the most up-to-date information. It also contributes to the ease with which goods can be located when they need to be moved.

Choosing and Packing
A WMS can be used to optimize zone picking, wave picking, and batch picking. It may also provide lot zoning and task interleaving functions to warehouse workers to aid in the pick-and-pack process.

Receiving and storing
This technology, which is available on some WMS platforms, speeds up inventory put-away and retrieval by using pick-to-light (PTL) or pick-to-voice (PTV) technology.

PTL: At each fixed pick location, light displays are installed in shelving units and storage racks. Pickers can see which order line to pick by lighting up the display units one at a time.

PTV: Using a headset, a computerized voice directs pickers to the correct location and instructs them on the quantity to be picked as well as any other instructions.

Delivery
WMS Cloud platform will send bills of lading ahead of time, generate packing lists and invoices and notify recipients when the shipment arrives.

Labor Administration
Which employees need to step up – and which ones deserve a high-five? A WMS platform can track employee performance by using key performance indicators (KPIs) that show who is performing above or below expectations.