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11 Simple Steps to Implementing a WMS

11 Simple Steps to Implementing a WMS

11 Simple Steps to Implementing a WMS

WMS warehouse management system is an automated warehouse management tool that allows you to optimize the main warehouse processes and increase the efficiency of warehouse personnel in performing operations. ABM WMS system has all the necessary tools to automate warehouse operations, which allow you to optimize both individual processes and warehouse operations as a whole.

Implementing a WMS system in a warehouse that operates using other tools can be quite a time-consuming and stressful process.

11 simple steps towards warehouse automation with a WMS system:

1. Expectations and motivations

    Implementing a new warehouse management system involves different expectations and motives from different stakeholders. Company directors and operations/logistics managers by definition seek a quick payback and seamless implementation. Warehouse managers expect the new system to be user-friendly to simplify their work by eliminating inefficient processes, poor warehouse practices and habits. Warehouse employees expect their work to become easier, with fewer errors but without jeopardizing their jobs. It is the job of the warehouse management system provider to clearly communicate and manage expectations from the start to help employees at all levels adapt to the upcoming changes in warehouse operations.

    2. Risk reduction

    Risk mitigation is an integral part of the outcome of implementing a warehouse management system. The main objective is to assess the risks that may arise from the implementation and take measures to minimize them. The experience of the implementation team on the warehouse management system provider side is paramount. An experienced installation team of the WMS provider should have quite a lot of experience in handling various warehousing scenarios, however, the same can lead to a wide range of risks. It is essential that the client’s staff, i.e. the users of the system, also have knowledge of how the system works. The more experienced the client and provider personnel involved in the project, the less the project is exposed to unexpected risks.

    3. Business consulting

    Business consulting at the beginning of a warehouse management system implementation project allows both parties to discuss, analyze and understand how the warehouse functions and what the needs and requirements of the warehouse are. Typical issues that should arise during the pre-project study phase are the shortcomings of the current warehouse management system, risks and expectations. The implementation schedule and process should be built around business consulting.

    4. Implementation Schedule

    Many warehouse management system implementation projects are not invested in their schedule. This problem can be considered a project risk. It is often the result of poor planning and unexpected problems or obstacles. A flexible, realistic implementation plan allows you to include risks for unforeseen events and therefore the ability to anticipate them. In this case, careful planning is the result of the team of an experienced warehouse management system provider.

    5. Team Building

    WMS implementations require two teams: the implementation team and the client-side warehouse management team. Selecting the right team can give the difference between success and failure. Such a process is much more complex than simply selecting qualified employees. Issues such as communication between client representatives and implementation team leaders, person-to-person interactions are critical to the success of a WMS implementation.

    6. Design and customization

    The warehouse management system installation project is developed based on the above mentioned business consulting, or otherwise pre-design study, and the existing software is customized to meet the client’s needs. The more flexible the future WMS, the less additional customization and customization is required. Minimizing customizations is usually one of the keys to a successful project. While most warehouse management systems are built to industry standards, it may be necessary to change the way a warehouse operates. Risks and expectations must be taken into account.

    7. Training

    During the design work and system customization, future users should receive training. ABM Cloud offers trainings for warehouse employees. This is very important to ease the transition from one warehouse management system to another. Although user training is a lengthy process, do not neglect it. The success of the implementation largely depends on the users’ ability to cope with the new system.

    8. Data

    Part of the implementation of a new WMS is the transfer of warehouse data from one system to another. This means that the entire database used by the old system to manage the warehouse must be adapted to the data schema and terminology of the new system. In addition, missing data must be added and modified to meet the new system requirements.

    9. Testing

    Testing is usually performed using real warehouse data, comparing the results of the warehouse process execution in both systems. Different warehousing scenarios are tested and design errors are corrected by the warehouse management system provider. Configuration errors are also corrected by the implementation team of the WMS provider.

    10. Deployment

    After testing and modifications, the implementation of the warehouse management system reaches the critical stage of deployment. On an agreed date, the initial balances are entered into the WMS database by storage location using a RTD – work begins in the new system. It is important to further reconcile the WMS database balances (physical balances) and accounting balances.

    11. Support and maintenance

    Working with a newly implemented warehouse management system often reveals problems that were not resolved during implementation. Support is an important part of a successful project, as complex warehouse management system implementation projects always require the resolution of issues that arise during operation. At this stage, a cloud-based warehouse management system provider like ABM Cloud gets involved in the process. ABM Cloud offers a SaaS (Software as a Service) model whereby customer storage is maintained twenty-four hours a day through monthly subscriptions.

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