Learn about the various WMS solutions available in the market and make a list of the best ones for your company.
Before narrowing down the field of potential software contenders to meet your needs of the right warehouse management system, consider the following factors to eliminate the vendors that wont fit your strategies for distribution excellence:
Interview re-sellers
Learn about the various WMS solutions available in the market and make a list of the best ones for your company. Interview as many software resellers possible to save time wasted on lengthy demonstrations.
Research software manufacturer
Make sure you are familiar with the company that makes the WMS software. For example, cloud wms is one of the respected names in this business.
Find a user-friendly system
If a warehouse management system cannot provide user-friendliness, your staff wont be able to experience its full benefits. Make sure you ask these questions during interviewing the re-sellers:
Does the system allow users to view relevant information and keep employees informed of all activities?
Is the software compatible with a standard browser?
Does the software allow access to critical data with just few clicks?
Look for the software that integrates with your accounting data
Using WMS software with the capability to work with your accounting data will make it easier for the warehouse staff to successfully track inventory and orders. This will increase efficiency throughout the entire warehouse.
Capability to mechanize the warehouse management processes
Look for software like cloud wms that supports RF-based wireless technologies. As soon as information is obtained on an RF-based hand held device, the warehouse management gets updated.
Ask about costs for extra users and modules
Apart from upgrade, maintenance, and support costs, it is also necessary to know the costs involved for additional users. WMS solutions that includes all the modules usually costs less than solutions that dont.
Ensure opportunities for growth
Before making a purchase, make sure that your software vendor offers a maintenance program that provides you with access to frequent updates. A good vendor stays current with new technologies to make sure the customers are not behind - especially those with fast growing businesses. The cost of the software upgrades is generally less than the retail price of the entire program.
Inquire the systems capacity
It is important to take note of the maximum number of users allowed to run a particular application at any given time. What if your business plans to add another? Once you compare the future needs of your business with the potential WMS software, there will be no need to purchase new warehouse systems.
Look for efficient reporting
If the WMS software has the ability to retrieve information easily, your warehouse manager should be easy able to perform tasks like labor productivity, inventory movement information, and order fulfillment.
Evaluate system security
The system should be able to protect sensitive functions and reports. A good system like cloud wms can be set up so that your warehouse technicians will only have the access to the information related to their job.