When it comes to supply chain operations, warehouse management is a critical aspect. After all, it impacts everything from shipping times to inventory levels. It provides solutions to meet the operation’s needs, achieving productivity gain from manual inventory as well as being a sustainable supply chain business. This having paperless operations, reduced carbon footprint, optimised space in the warehouse, reduced inventory waste by converting to data, reduced packaging waste, increasing accuracy, and optimise delivery and loading. With a growing demand for fast and accurate warehouse management, warehouse management systems (WMS) have evolved to offer new features to their users.
To learn more about the top warehouse management system trends in 2023, check out our complete overview below.
What Are the Top WMS Trends of 2023?
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
Both AI and ML are integrating more smoothly into WMS. These two technologies can assist with tasks like forecasting demand, optimizing warehouse layouts, and predicting equipment failures.
The optimization of warehouse operations and improvement of efficiency – AI and ML can do both; for example, you can use AI and ML to predict which products will be in high demand soon. So, you’d be able to adjust inventory levels proactively are prevent products from going out of stock.
Inventory control is as crucial as fulfilment speed, cost control, error and wastage minimisation and dynamic customer service. With Symphony Logistics Suite, every hub in the supply chain from production, warehousing to freight works together under one system enabling the decision makers to review the daily operation stats regularly and monitor inventory information real time.
2. Internet of Things (IoT)
Even if you haven’t heard of the Internet of Things, you’ve probably interacted with IoT devices yourself. These devices include – but aren’t limited to – smart lights and smart door locks.
In the context of WMS, IoT sensors are becoming more closely integrated with warehouse management systems. In practice, you could consider using IoT sensors to track inventory levels and monitor equipment which would be an effective solution to streamline the warehouse processes. The sensors would then feed the data to your warehouse management software.
Another example is warehouse being seasonal, where temporary staff is needed and results to a high turnover rate. This seasonal change takes time and effort to train new personnel, and thereby costs money. With IoT the business would benefit the technology’s ease of use, improved accuracy in the warehouse and faster operation.
3. Cloud-Based Systems
Since cloud-based warehouse management systems allow for greater flexibility and scalability, they’re becoming more popular. The dawn of cloud-based warehouse management systems have dramatically increased resource management flexibility, easily accessing these systems from anywhere and integrate them with accounting and shipping software. This also makes adding or removing storage and processing resources quicker to meet the customer demand.
Cloud based also increases security, the warehouse management systems are more secured than on-premise systems.
Moreover, cloud-based systems tend to have lower upfront costs and require less hardware and software than traditional on-premise systems. And when the cloud is managed by the vendor, this would also save staff costs to maintain and support the infrastructure.
4. Mobile Technology
Gone are the days of having to turn on an office desktop computer to access warehouse management software. Nowadays, you can access most WMS through mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Our Symphony Mobility provides mobile and configurable solutions for your warehousing and supply chain operations. Our Mobility ePOD (Proof-of-Delivery), provides real-time status of shipment orders; our Mobility POC (Proof-of-Collection) gives customer assurance and tracking convenience; our Mobility Stock Count powers retail stores and satellite warehouses to track the inventory and auto-trigger replenishments in one mobile App; then our Symphony Driver Communication provide real-time, direct communication between drivers and controllers. Overall provides greater flexibility for employees, customer satisfaction, as well as improved efficiency.
5. Advanced Data Analytics
Warehouse management systems are also becoming better at collecting and processing data.
Advanced data analytics provided by warehouse management systems can help you gain insights into key metrics like order fulfillment times, labor productivity, and inventory levels. Our Symphony Business Intelligence provide decision-makers a quick way envision data to obtain practical conclusion; Discover outliers, recognise correlations, pin down trends, plan out outcomes and identify opportunities for potential growth; and will able to create practical visual aids to illustrate and recognise patterns, relationships, and trends. Example in Warehouse Management, our Symphony Business Intelligence will be able to automate inventory processes with real-time accuracy, Our Symphony WMS streamlines everyday warehouse operations from ASN, receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, and shipping with smart planning, decision automation, automated ABC categorisation, mobility, voice picking add-ons and many more. With this data at your fingertips, you can make data-driven decisions to optimize warehouse operations.
Final Thoughts
Warehouse management systems have become more connected, automated, intelligent, and mobile. By keeping in mind the trends we’ve listed, you can fully use warehouse management systems to improve accuracy, efficiency, and performance in the warehouse.
Contact Us
Symphony Logistics Suite is one of the most advanced warehouse management systems available today. It’s a comprehensive solution that incorporates all the features you need to optimize your warehouse and supply chain operations.
Contact us to request a demo today if you’re looking for a flexible, powerful, and easy-to-use warehouse management system.
Find out more about Symphony Cloud-based WMS here and Connect with us on our Facebook Page
