This is a general question we’ve been asked concerning warehouse management system (WMS) software in the marketplace today. Here are some thoughts…
Books and lists do exist outlining general functionality. There are various sources including The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport – CILT and specialised consultancies. Lists, books and general advice are all a good starting point however consider also:
Are you looking for a list of standard WMS functionality only?
- Is this for a manual, semi-automated or automated warehouse? Will future investment change the nature of these requirements significantly?
- Is a standard list enough information or too restrictive? Do you know what you don’t know?
- Will a list explain the functionality in enough detail to be understood?
- Do certain functions or parameters conflict and cannot be used together?
Is specialist functionality required?
- Will general functionality be too restrictive for the industry sector required? For example if sophistacted pharmaceutical batch control or managing fresh food is required? Or if voice technology is required in areas other than picking e.g. despatch, perpetual inventory and so on?
- Can value added processes be supported? Or can physical restrictions manage effective stock flow e.g. minimal racking for storage and product segregation, internal walls splitting replenishment and picking zones, lack of dock space and doors in goods receipt or despatch areas?
- How willing are you to bespoke functionality if required? How much functionality are you prepared to bespoke?
What does the business want?
- What benefits is the business looking for?
- Are there expectations that the software needs to support the business today and in the future? What will the future bring?
- What experience exists of warehouse software in the business? Is a strong solution in place today? Are there cultural gaps that need consideration?
- Do technical restrictions exist e.g. to use existing hardware such as servers or radio frequency guns, requirement to have standard interfaces to order and enterprise systems, continue with current management information feeds or report layouts, or the need to use Software as a Service?