Blogpost
In today's fast-paced E-Commerce business environment, companies need to constantly seek ways to improve their operations and increase efficiency.
One area that is ripe for optimization is warehouse operations. Many studies have shown that relying solely on manual processes in warehouses can lead to decreased efficiency and productivity. Outdated technology is cited as a challenge to operational effectiveness by 51% of employers.*
In our observations, warehouses typically squander about 30% of their employees' time as they attempt to locate items within the facility without the assistance of a modern, app-based Warehouse Management System (WMS). High staff turnover rates exacerbate this issue, as memorizing product references and their corresponding storage locations is a time-consuming process for new hires. However, implementing a cutting-edge digital tool can efficiently guide employees from their very first day, significantly reducing wasted time and improving overall productivity.
The solution to reducing the reliance on manual and outdated processes in warehouses is using a modern Warehouse Management System that is user friendly and thus decreases your training time and cost. A WMS reduces the potential for human errors, inaccuracies, and delayed processing of repetitive tasks. By streamlining and automating workflows and processes, a WMS ensures consistency and efficiency in warehouse operations.
Furthermore, relying excessively on employees' knowledge to ensure timely and accurate product delivery can leave your operations more susceptible to vulnerabilities. To foster resilience and competitiveness within your internal logistics, it is crucial to delegate the management of rules and processes to an automated digital platform. Such a system will not only minimize errors but also significantly enhance productivity across the board.
In a manual process without a WMS, new warehouse workers need to be trained every time they start a type of task. This can be time-consuming as they have to learn the process from scratch each time. With the help of a WMS, warehouse workers are guided intuitively step by step, they can easily access task lists, manage inventory levels, and track order progress, allowing them to work more efficiently and effectively. This can also lead to increased job satisfaction as employees feel more confident and empowered in their roles.
Your onboarding process can be significantly streamlined by training new team members on the WMS, ensuring seamless integration into the warehouse operations. The following features provided by a WMS contribute to this improved experience:
✅ A WMS can tell the new warehouse worker what is going on in the warehouse, allowing them to load as much product as possible within a short period of time.
✅ Warehouse workers can easily scan the incoming and outcoming goods. They don't need to know the product details, they just need to scan the barcode. The system will tell them if it's the right product or the wrong product.
✅ The system can also automatically assign tasks based on their skills and availability, ensuring that they are always working on the most appropriate tasks.
✅ Discrepancies in the inventory can be detected and corrected right away.
✅ Picking lists in the app allows warehouse workers to pick the right product in a chronological order, reducing confusion and improving efficiency.
Also for managers, a WMS can help them gain a better understanding of warehouse operations through real-time data and analytics. This can help identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize processes and reduce costs.
In today's warehousing industry, it's crucial to keep up with the latest trends and technologies to remain competitive. It is also important to note that over 40 percent of warehousing leaders state that it takes up to two months to fully train an employee. Another 21 percent stated that it could take as long as three months to get new hires up to speed.* Well, you can say goodbye to those days and start working efficiently in the warehouse from day zero.
Making your warehouse operations more measurable and transparent will have the added benefit of increasing the retention of the right people, as they will finally have more visibility in their contribution to your business outcomes through real-time metrics.
Warehouses that embrace change by modernizing their operations can not only survive but also thrive. While change can be intimidating, adapting to the evolving landscape can lead to long-term success and profitability. So, don't shy away from the opportunities that come with growth and innovation.
*https://workhound.com/product/workhound-warehouse-employee-retention-strategies/
A warehouse management system is software that helps organizations manage inventory, orders, and logistics in their warehouse operations.
