Warehouses face increasing pressure to fulfill orders accurately, swiftly, and cost-effectively as e-commerce businesses seek a competitive advantage. Imagine these challenges being mitigated by intelligent software that orchestrates every process in the warehouse—this is the power of automation through Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) provided by companies like Tecsys.
Warehouse automation benefits
From autonomous robots to AI-powered systems, automation provides warehouses with the efficiency and productivity needed to strengthen the supply chain. Businesses can gain considerably by implementing automation in their warehouses. Some of these benefits include:
Faster Order Fulfillment: Automated systems like conveyors, sorters, and robots move and process orders with speed and accuracy, leading to faster delivery times and improved customer satisfaction. Faster order fulfillment leads to quicker delivery times, improving customer satisfaction.
Reduced Order Picking Time: Picking solutions like goods-to-person systems minimize the time spent searching for and retrieving items, increasing overall productivity. Moreover, warehouses can handle more orders with the same or fewer resources.
Lower Costs: Organizations can reduce their reliance on manual labor, lowering labor costs and improving cost-effectiveness. Automated systems are less prone to human error, reducing the costs associated with incorrect orders, damaged goods, and inventory discrepancies.
Improved Space Utilization and Safety: Storage automation like AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems) can maximize warehouse space utilization, reducing the need for larger facilities. By mechanizing repetitive and physically demanding tasks, automation can improve workplace safety for employees, reducing the risk of injuries.
Improved Inventory Visibility and Accuracy: Real-time tracking of inventory movement and location allows for better inventory management, minimizing stockouts and overstocking. Automated systems also provide accurate and up-to-date inventory data, improving the overall accuracy of inventory records.
The rise of WMS
Still, streamlining and optimizing every aspect of warehouse operations can pose a problem, especially if an organization uses different automation processes. Software solutions like WMS can help integrate various automation systems to streamline a warehouse’s processes.
Companies like Tecsys partner with warehousers to provide a robust WMS that seamlessly integrates with various automated equipment and technologies. Tecsys WMS can integrate with a wide range of automated systems, including conveyors, AS/RS, sorting Systems, robotics, and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). It also incorporates Warehouse Control System (WCS) functionality to:
- Control and coordinate the movement of automated equipment.
- Optimize equipment utilization and throughput.
- Monitor and track the performance of automated systems.
What this means for ERP insiders:
- Integrating automation technologies into a WMS can help organizations gain real-time visibility and control of their warehouse operations. It enables them to track goods throughout the supply chain, identify and resolve bottlenecks, and proactively adjust and optimize warehouse performance.
- Organizations can also increase their throughput, reduce order fulfillment times, minimize labor costs, while boosting their workforce’s productivity by automating repetitive tasks. Automating with a WMS also enhances accuracy and improves inventory management.
- In essence, WMSs, like the ones provided by Tecsys, act as the central nervous system for automated warehouses, orchestrating the movement of goods and ensuring smooth and efficient operations.
- Automation technologies like WMS also use AI, which is poised to transform how supply chains operate. Participating in research like this survey from SAPinsider can help organizations compare their current positions on the AI and automation journey with their peers.
