In the traditional framework, warehouse management procedures were handled solely by the human workforce.  Real estate was less expensive and buying large warehouse spaces to spread out the process was a more viable option.   

Warehouse operations have evolved over the years, customer demand and the cost of inaccurate inventory are better understood, leading to the introduction of warehouse systems and technology.    Making the best of available space, even as businesses double in size, is critical to maintaining profit margins and reasonable costs.  Increased density of storage, stocking inventory higher and deeper than before, has become necessary and challenging. 

The processes for receiving goods, cross-docking, picking orders, organizing inventory, and maintaining warehouse facilities have seen the introduction of barcoding and RFID to guide the processes required to meet the rising expectations of customers.   

Warehouse Management Systems software is used to keep track of where inventory is stocked and guide pickers in the most logical sequence through the warehouse when preparing production and distribution orders.   

With operator ID badges and barcodes on each item in inventory and each pallet; inventory counts that previously took weeks, can be conducted in hours and with a higher degree of accuracy than before. 

The history of each count can be retained for future review and the record of what is on hand, at any given moment, is accurate to the second. 

Ten years ago, the cost of warehouse management systems, and the necessary hardware, was prohibitive for most smaller sized organizations. Fortunately, the cost has reduced significantly, and the variety of warehouse management systems has increased.  Maybe it’s time for your company to select it’s first Warehouse Management System.