Many warehouses rely on their systems and software to run efficiently – however, businesses can outgrow their systems, their processes can become inefficient and the software in place can even be more of a hindrance than a help, if it has limited capabilities – that can mean that it’s time to upgrade your warehouse management software before irreparable damage to your business’ reputation occurs.
When should you upgrade your warehouse software
1. You’re experiencing more frequent picking errors
If you’re experiencing recurring errors during the picking process, this could be a signal that you need to implement new software and technology into your warehouse management system.
Technology such as mobile barcode scanning can help simplify your picking processes by communicating clearly with your staff about the orders that need picking, alongside the stock's location information and to help reduce potential picking errors, your staff are able to scan the item barcode to confirm its the correct one. An additional benefit of barcode scanning software is the electronic audit of inventory movements so you can identify the source of any picking errors.
2. Slow fulfilment speeds
The fulfilment speed, or time from order received to despatch, is a critical metric in any warehouse or fulfilment house and one your clients need to be able to rely upon. If your speed to despatch is slow, and crucially promised delivery timeframes are being missed, this is a clear sign your software may need upgrading.
A good warehouse management software (WMS) can help speed your processes up, while also ensuring minimal errors, to help you achieve optimal performance and keep you on track to deliver the fulfilment speeds promised.
3. Lost or missing inventory
Lost or missing inventory is a big problem for any warehouse. Not only does it affect you and your operations, it also affects your clients and can have an adverse impact on your business relationships. Every piece of lost inventory is lost revenue for all involved.
A WMS should have inventory tools to help you manage stock on many levels of granularity, from an individual item level and large quantities of pallets and cartons of single or mixed batch items; as well as being able to view the quantities of stock in your entire warehouse. Tools such as barcode scanning and inventory management software can help you keep track of stock items and their locations, from checking stock in to picking and despatch, so you can stay in control of all the inventory you hold and ensure everything is accounted for at all stages.
4. Unsatisfied customers/consumers
Another signal that your warehouse software is in need of an upgrade, is when your clients, or their consumers are dissatisfied. Ways this can be identified can be as simple as an increase in returns of incorrect items, incorrect packages being delivered, delivery timescales being missed or direct complaints about service levels not being met.
A good WMS system should optimise your processes and overall minimise errors such as incorrect items being sent or incorrect shipping labels being printed and generally keep you on track to despatch on time and in full – every time.
5. Heavily reliant on manual processes
Relying on manual processes in your warehouse means your staff are spending time performing tasks that are prone to human error, and that upgraded warehouse software could be doing for you.
A warehouse management software can reduce the need for staff to perform tasks such as:
- Raising orders
- Producing pick lists
- Arranging shipping
- Invoicing clients
- Producing KPI reports
Most warehouse management systems will allow integrations to online marketplaces and shopping carts, and accounting systems, as well as enabling your staff to automate prioritised pick lists, shipping based on package characteristics and collate data for quick reporting. All of this allows your staff to do their jobs efficiently and frees up time to be able to assist in helping the business grow.
To find out more, please read our guide on the Benefits of Warehouse Automation.
Warehouse Management with Mintsoft
If any of the above points sound a little like what you’re experiencing in your warehouse, it may be time to begin looking at upgrading your warehouse software to something more intuitive and that can help optimise your operations.
Mintsoft’s Warehouse Management Software can offer over 150 integrations with marketplaces, shopping carts, accounting systems and couriers, and modules such as order rules to help you automate your operations and a client portal to manage client relationships.
If you’d like to find out more about Mintsoft’s WMS, please book a demo with one of our consultants.
