Choosing the Best Warehouse Management System

Before you can decide on an optimal solution for your operations, you need to determine why you’re looking to upgrade in the first place. Once you’ve clarified what you want out of your WMS, it’s time to look at how your existing system is underserving those goals. Does your current system accommodate any industry-specific needs or specialized warehouse equipment? If so, you need to be mindful of these factors before deciding on an upgrade. 

Talk to all employees whose jobs will be impacted by upgrading your WMS. What would they look to see out of the upgrade? What inventory management techniques do they prioritize? How would an upgrade affect their day-to-day duties? Ensuring that your employees are a part of the decision-making process is critical to a smooth transition to your new WMS.

Once you’ve clarified your needs and priorities, it’s time to start shopping around for WMS solutions. The most important decision you’ll have to make is whether your business needs a bespoke management system or a prebuilt inventory management software platform. While a prebuilt system may allow you to get more out of your budget, it may not be tailored to your warehouse operations. If needed, create a list that includes both possibilities. 

There are a lot of possibilities for your next WMS upgrade. If you want to make sure your business is considering all possibilities, hiring an experienced logistics or supply chain management consultant will help ensure that you’re getting the full scope of all options at your disposal. Important things to consider include:

As you narrow your running list down, you’ll be better prepared to make a decision by clarifying what your business prioritizes. You understand your business better than anyone, so you’re in the best position to make a decision on the WMS upgrade your business needs. If you have any questions, [contact] the logistics and WMS experts at FW Logistics today.