Warehouse management systems are a great way to increase efficiency and productivity in your warehouse. They allow you to keep track of inventory, manage orders, and generate reports for accounting purposes.
That is, choosing the right warehouse management system is critical to your business’s success. If you make the wrong decision, it could cost you time and money. This article will discuss five qualities that you should look for when selecting a new warehouse management system.
Data Security
In our hyper-connected world, it is critical that information transmitted between systems and devices can’t be hacked or intercepted by unauthorized parties.
This includes data being transferred between computers as well as mobile devices such as phones and tablets.
An example would be transmitting inventory levels across different terminals, so an employee has up-to-date information about current stock availability at all times while on the floor doing their job.
Therefore, look into what security features are included with any new Warehouse Management System before buying it. There should be some form of protection in place from cyber threats and data breaches.
You should always consider what security measures are in place before making a purchase decision, even if the business has never suffered an attack.
Integration with Other Systems
It is critical to integrate a Warehouse Management System with other software and computer systems that may already be in place.
If you’re using accounting, billing, or payroll applications from another company, for instance, make sure the new system can support these existing programs before making your purchase. This will save time and money because it won’t require additional integrations down the road.
In general, look for warehouse management systems compatible with as many different types of software as possible, so there’s no need for multiple upgrades later on when adding more computer equipment.
Having everything integrated into one central database makes all kinds of tasks much easier than managing separate data repositories across different platforms.
Scalability
When considering any business solution such as a warehouse management system, it is essential to think ahead and consider future growth.
Will the warehouse management system you’re looking at be able to scale with your business to meet increased demand for services? If not, then there could be a problem down the road when things start picking up.
Look into what types of scalability options are available to save time and money further down the line. This way, if you need more space or technology resources such as storage capacity or bandwidth, it can easily be added without taking away from current performance levels.
If the system you select does not offer this type of flexibility, it will quickly become obsolete and leave your company needing an upgrade at a considerable cost.
Look for systems that can adapt and grow as you do and adapt to changing business needs and requirements.
Customer Support
The final quality that should always be factored into any purchasing decision is customer support. You want someone on call who has expertise in whichever solution you choose so they can help with any issues that may come up.
Ask what types of support are included when purchasing so you know whom to contact if anything goes wrong and how much it will cost for additional services such as training or consulting.
This way, there won’t be any surprises down the road like long hold times on phone calls or high hourly rates because everything is laid out in your contract terms.
Simplicity and Ease of Use
The Warehouse Management System you select must be easy to learn and simple to operate. If it takes too long for employees new on the job to get up-to-speed with how the system works, they will rely less on using it, which entirely defeats its purpose.
Look for a solution that offers simplified training so your new hires can quickly become productive members of your team.
Bottom Line
These are the qualities to look for in a new warehouse management system, and finding one that includes them will benefit your company immensely, helping it grow over time. These systems allow businesses of all sizes to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability without hiring more employees or investing in costly upgrades.
A good WMS can make a world of difference! However, a warehouse management system having the right service provider is just as important. It would be best if you had someone you could trust and rely on, like NetSuite partner.
We provide custom warehouse management systems that can help your company improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Call us today!