Warehouse management systems (WMS) have been used to organize materials movement and storage space within a warehouse facility or stockyard for decades. In recent years, WMS systems have grown substantially in scope and complexity. Many are now capable of overseeing and coordinating everything from order management to accounting, light manufacturing, and transportation. The latest generation uses innovations like radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags for remote data retrieval, and employs wireless communications technologies to enable real-time information flow.
To begin evaluating what kind of WMS software solution would best suit your needs, consider the following:
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Let your WMS follow your ERP
If you already have an Enterprise Resource Planning system in place, you may be one small step away from having a WMS solution at the ready. More and more ERP software providers also offer warehouse management software modules. Expanding your relationship with an established resource can bring significant price breaks, even on the most robust warehouse and inventory management systems.
I recommend: Major ERP software providers
SAP,
Oracle, and
QAD all offer their own warehouse management systems software modules.
Consided a measured approach
While the outright replacement of an outdated WMS software application with a state-of-the-art warehousing management system can yield vast benefits in the long term, abandoning all current components can be disruptive to your operations. And it may be both expensive and unnecessary.
I recommend: Retrotech is a material handling engineering, modernization, and retrofitting company which builds customized WMS software that can integrate with current warehouse management systems. And a little of the right knowledge can go a long way when it comes from
Supply Chain Knowledge Base, which offers white papers, tutorials, and discussion boards dedicated to warehouse management issues, including 3PL WMS software and WMS software cost justification.
Make connectivity a priority for your WMS
Few WMS solutions function as stand-alone entities dedicated to picking, packing, and shipping. Many share data with vendors, customers, and customer relationship management systems via Electronic Data Interchange, XML, and messaging applications.
I recommend: Proteus Software offers a comprehensive range of warehouse management solutions, including WMS software, RF warehouse management, operational process consulting, cost benefit quantification, systems implementation, training services, and project support.
Make your WMS software go where you go
Most of the latest warehouse management software systems support bar coding and RFID tag reading, as well as mobile computing options like portable data terminals (PDTs), personal digital assistants (PDAs) and wireless networking (WiFi.)
I recommend: Alongside their WMS software offerings,
Barcoding Inc. supplies route accounting and package tracking applications, as well as WiFi installation services.
Related Resources from Business.com
Comments
Is any content on this page inappropriate? To let us know, please 
