20 January 2022

What are the features of the WMS system?

20 January 2022

Discover the main features of the WMS system and understand why they are crucial for a company’s success in today’s scenario.

Many logistics managers are interested in applying the WMS system in their operations but are unaware of its functionalities. As a result, they end up postponing the implementation to the future, wasting great opportunities to optimize logistics and increase company profitability. It is a fairly common opinion that the WMS resembles a traditional inventory management system, which is a mistake. The software, in fact, adds more comprehensive and robust tools, allowing complete control of the operation.

To resolve any doubts about WMS functionalities, that is, what the system is used for, we have prepared this text with details on its practical application. Follow the topics below.

What is WMS and what are its main features?

WMS (Warehouse Management System) is specialized software that supports the daily operations of a warehouse. We can divide its operations into three main fronts: inventory management; work execution; and information. With the system, the movement of goods is now tracked and organized, with strict controls preventing losses and errors. Additionally, the system manages all operational activities, ensuring the best use of warehouse resources. And all this while providing real-time information and notifications, helping managers make strategic decisions and anticipate failures.

With robust functionalities, the WMS ensures that all intralogistics processes take place in an organized, efficient, and precise manner. Moreover, by integrating with other important systems, such as ERP, the software ensures data centralization and transparency throughout the company.

Among the main features offered by the system, we can highlight:

1) Goods Receipt

In addition to assisting in purchase planning, the WMS manages the receipt of goods and products, ensuring that the receiving flow is in line with the warehouse’s capacity.

The WMS also automates the control of goods upon arrival, speeding up data registration (quantity per box, batch, expiration date, serial number, etc.) and optimizing the control of losses, shortages, and damages. Once the conference is completed, the system generates labels with complete product information.

Another advantage is the control of shelf life and reverse logistics.

2) Intelligent Placement

This is one of the most important features of the WMS when looking to optimize spaces and processes. As soon as a product arrives at the warehouse, the WMS automatically defines the best location for each product based on user-defined rules (address suggestion). Another significant difference is dynamic storage, with automatic rotation of stored items, space control (filled and empty), and inventory defragmentation when necessary.

WMS will always work to better utilize storage space, keeping it organized and facilitating the separation process.

3) Task Management

We often say that it is the WMS that “pulls the tasks,” not the people, which significantly prevents human errors. Through the Active Summons feature, the WMS defines who will perform each task (based on role, availability, and equipment used) and monitors its progress through the connection with mobile devices (RF collectors, smartphones, etc.), generating real-time monitorable data for self-management and monitoring by leaders.

With Active Summons, tasks are completed on time, with the correct priority and resources.

4) Agility and Accuracy in Order Preparation

All managers desire greater speed in picking, one of the most costly processes of the operation. And the great advantage of the WMS is that the system has complete functionalities to ensure greater efficiency in the process.

As soon as an order arrives at the warehouse, the WMS generates the picking activity aiming for maximum process efficiency. The system will designate the right operator to separate the items included in the order, indicating the best route to follow and ensuring that picking occurs following the pre-established inventory rotation parameters (FIFO, FEFO, LIFO, or LEFO, etc.). It is worth adding that the WMS has several picking modes, allowing you to choose the ideal model for each type of activity. As a result, orders are separated quickly and very assertively.

5) Shipping and Packaging Control

To ensure that the customer receives exactly what they ordered, the WMS also performs an automatic check at the time of shipping. This additional verification practically eliminates delivery errors, which directly affect customer satisfaction. Additionally, the WMS calculates volumes, indicates the best packaging for the order, and generates shipping labels.

6) Automatic Replenishment

The WMS system constantly generates product movement activities to ensure that spaces are well utilized and that no location is left empty. With the help of Kanban (warehouse rotation through picking), one of the crucial features of the WMS, the system automatically replenishes sectors, ensuring that goods are always available for shipment to the customer, meaning with the WMS, stock depletion does not occur.

7) Batch/Expiration Date Control

WMS performs strict batch control, which begins as soon as the product arrives at the warehouse. Through the use of RF collectors, all goods are controlled both upon entry and exit. In this process, data is checked by the operator and automatically enters the company’s database to ensure full traceability.

Regarding expiration date control, the WMS ensures that goods nearing expiration are shipped first and, if the expiration date is near and the product is still in stock, the system alerts managers in time to make strategic decisions.

8) Quality Control

This is also an important feature of the WMS system: ensuring inspections for quality control. This occurs both in incoming and outgoing conferences (with the cross-referencing of information received from the ERP) and in cycle counts. Whenever a non-conformity is detected, the software issues a notification requesting reconfirmation.

9) Cycle Inventories

Another great advantage offered by the WMS system is inventory automation. The software inserts counts into the operational routine, offering various inventory options: geographic, sampling, product, among others. As a result, inventory accuracy increases significantly, bringing numerous benefits to the operation.

10) Resource Optimization

The main mission of the WMS is to help operations do more with less. By reducing movements and directing activities through tools like Kanban, Active Summons, and address suggestions, the system promotes the best use of warehouse resources (people, equipment, and area). With the WMS, operational costs are significantly reduced.

11) Increased Productivity in All Processes

Since the software works to make the best use of resources, reduce process execution times, and ensure accuracy in all activities, a direct consequence is increased productivity. The functionalities offered by the WMS, present in all phases of the intralogistics operation, from receipt to shipment, aim primarily to bring greater efficiency, eliminating errors and rework, common in 100% manual operations. Additionally, the WMS integrates with the most modern automatic systems, such as voice picking, pick-to-light, shuttle, or sorter, further improving the operation’s performance.

12) Instant Management and Notifications

Information is the most valuable asset a company has. And the WMS helps with this as well. The system provides real-time information on process progress (Management at a Glance), presenting indicators and dashboards accessible on both mobile devices and monitors strategically positioned in the warehouse. With the data, it is possible to monitor employee performance, order fulfillment times, stock levels, among other information that allows measuring whether the operation is achieving its goals. The WMS also alerts you whenever an inconsistency occurs, allowing you to anticipate failures.

In addition to real-time information, the system offers a series of KPI to evaluate successes and critical points, trends, and what needs to be adjusted. In this way, managers can make strategic decisions and better direct their investments.

WMS: Complete Features for High-Performance Operations

From the topics presented, you will have understood how essential the WMS system is for the company to be ready for current challenges, which include fast and accurate deliveries, personalized service, cost reduction, and greater order fulfillment capacity.

The system is designed to accompany the growth of companies, so it is ready to support new concepts and formats, such as urban micro-fulfillment centers, dark stores, store fulfillment, etc., as well as new strategies, such as ship-from-store, D2C, among others. This is why it is considered one of the foundations for business success in the current scenario, generating profitability on all orders and improving the level of service offered to customers.


What are the features of the WMS system? Deagor WMS per ecommerce può aiutarti!


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