What is a warehouse management system?
A warehouse management system is a software solution that provides visibility into a company’s entire inventory and manages supply chain fulfilment operations from the warehouse to the store shelf.
Warehouse management systems also enable businesses to maximise labour and space utilisation and equipment investments by coordinating and optimising resource usage and material flows. Specifically, warehouse management systems are intended to support the needs of a global supply chain, including distribution, manufacturing, asset-intensive, and service businesses.
Connected consumers want to buy, fulfil, and return anywhere in today’s dynamic, omnichannel fulfilment economy. To meet this demand, businesses must be able to respond quickly with warehouse management system software that optimises fulfilment capabilities. Industry-leading cloud-based warehouse management systems prepare you for tomorrow’s supply chain today. It extends supply chains to align inventory management and fulfilment services with modern purchasing methods and provides real-time visibility into an entire inventory via smartphone and browser. The only requirement is internet access.
The advantages of a modern, cloud-based warehouse management system
With the internet and digital technology transforming how customers make purchases, it has disrupted supply markets, changing customer buying patterns and increasing supply chain complexity. Subsequently, fulfilment operations must respond to the changes with their own digitally connected solution.
Moving warehouse management systems to the cloud allows them to meet the connected consumer with a connected fulfilment solution that provides real-time visibility, scalability, and market reactivity.
Rapid process fulfilment
You must adapt quickly to remain competitive in the new fulfilment economy. You can quickly ramp up your supply chain system with a cloud-based system. Instead of months, powerful logistics capabilities are now available in weeks. Modern warehouse management systems are pre-configured to integrate with various systems to support complex, multichannel fulfilment processes. In addition, they provide the same warehouse management functionality as an on-premises system without the IT overhead. Cloud computing eliminates the need to pay for hardware, software, and IT specialists to keep the system running. You’re up and running quickly and at a lower cost.
No upgrades necessary
You’re always on the most recent software version with a cloud-based warehouse management system. Pricing for software-as-a-service (SaaS) includes regularly scheduled updates and no IT infrastructure costs. The cloud contains everything. Updates function like apps on mobile phones, ensuring that customers always have the most up-to-date codebase at their disposal.
Lower initial costs
Cloud-based multitenant solutions provide an almost immediate return on investment and a lower total cost of ownership. The cloud eliminates the need for hardware, software, and IT specialists. As a result, the warehouse management system is pre-configured to integrate multiple systems and connect all your logistics processes from start to finish. On the other hand, a company with on-premises warehouse management systems could easily pay for several customisations and modifications over five years. When it comes time to upgrade, that company will have to reinstall and configure everything completely. There are no upgrade or maintenance fees with a cloud-based warehouse management system. There are no costs for IT infrastructure or hardware, system, or database administrators.
Scalable and flexible supply chains
The global market today demands speed. Therefore, cloud-based solutions provide the scalability you need to rapidly expand your supply chain operations in response to changing market conditions. Scale up or down as needed to handle peak seasons and other changes. You’ll be prepared when new opportunities arise. This business agility requires no on-premises costs since capital outlays for internal hardware, software, and labour are eliminated. As a result, you can focus your scarce resources on your business rather than your IT.
Seamless integration
Cloud-based warehouse management systems are designed to be easily integrated. Integration with host enterprise resource planning (ERP), merchandising (MMS), and supply chain solutions (SCM) is supported. These warehouse management systems were designed for collaboration, not isolation.
The future of the warehouse management system
Cloud-based warehouse management systems represent a new paradigm in supply chain software, offering a robust, next-generation warehouse solution at an exceptional value. In addition, the supply chain management functionality provides innovative product features, mobile solutions, and an easy-to-use interface.
Warehouse management software is used by businesses to streamline and automate inventory fulfilment processes while also controlling costs. A robust warehouse management system that is dynamic and easily configurable can leverage the cloud for a quick, cost-effective implementation that achieves several benefits, including:
Increased operational efficiency because supply chains have real-time visibility into their inventory and operations, with warehouse management systems managing fulfilment operations in the cloud. This allows them to meet their customers’ purchasing habits with relevant technology.
A cloud-based warehouse management system helps businesses control costs because they no longer need to worry about paying for costly maintenance and upgrades. As a result, they benefit from a lower total cost of ownership.
You can guarantee an improved customer experience with shorter fulfilment times, resulting in a more profitable business. Customers can make purchases from any location and at any time. Cloud-based warehouse management systems assist companies in meeting the demand dictated by market realities.
Contact Winfreight to find out more
In a time of instant gratification, there’s no place for time-consuming systems, costly upgrades, or lengthy complex integrations. Instead, you need a single 360° view of your warehouse operations, which can only be attained by increasing efficiencies in the fulfilment platform. This also means a more secure environment for data, a shorter path to multichannel commerce, and a smarter way to conduct business.
Winfreight offers a leading cloud-based warehouse management system and combines the speed and savings of the cloud with best-of-breed warehouse management and fulfilment capabilities, thanks to innovative product features, mobile solutions, and an easy-to-use interface.
For more information about our warehouse management system, visit Winfreight today. Alternatively, get in touch with a representative from Winfreight today.
