5 Signs You Need to Update Your WMS Solution

November 1st 2022 11:00:00 AM

When you’re busy working in your business, you are more than likely focused on your day-to-day activities. You have orders to fill, you’re paying invoices, and you are focused on ensuring your existing customers are happy. The pace of modern business is moving so fast that it’s become challenging to track how a company is performing without technology.

A cloud-based Warehouse Management System (WMS) is easy to deploy right out of the box, allowing your team to access the software from any web-based computer or device. This flexible, secure system also scores points for being easy to use.

How to Tell if You Need a New WMS Solution

There are definite indications that it’s time to upgrade your WMS solution. Here are some signs you need to look for:

1. Business is snowballing.

If your business is going through a period of rapid growth, that it is a definite sign it can benefit from a new WMS. You may be tempted to hang on before making any investments too soon, thinking this temporary growth spurt will disappear as quickly as it started. 

The other side of the coin is that your company may quickly find itself swamped with new orders and have difficulty filling them once your business reaches a certain sales level. If you fail to plan for the higher demand level in advance, customers may move on almost as quickly as they arrived. A cloud WMS can help you stay on top of orders and drive further growth.

2. You are creating workarounds for requirements your current system doesn’t support.

It’s a fact that modern distribution centers are expected to meet ever-increasing performance standards. Customers wish to receive orders quickly and receive the correct size and color in good condition every time. 

Suppose you find that your existing WMS solution needs to have workarounds added for value-added services, compliance, kitting, etc. In that case, it is probably time to replace it. The more processes that require extra support, the more challenging it will be to track and ensure your data is accurate.

3. The current WMS solution’s user interface is outdated or difficult to use.

Ease of use is a vital selling feature for WMS solutions. Older models may have outdated user interfaces and menus that are complicated to use to complete tasks. 

Suppose you find that your new employees are finding the interface clunky or difficult to use. In that case, it’s likely an indication you should update your WMS. An outdated system will take longer for new hires to learn, so your employees are more likely to make mistakes in using the system. 

A complex system means that team members will not use all the features you paid for when you installed the platform. If employees find the system too difficult to use, it isn’t working well for your business. 

Many newer systems are designed to be user-friendly, and this benefit extends beyond being visually pleasing. Updating your WMS gives you a product that is easy for your team to use, boosts productivity, and reduces errors. 

4. Your current WMS doesn’t work well with your other applications.

Ideally, your ERP and WMS are sharing and synchronizing data seamlessly so your team members can rely on it for reporting and making decisions quickly when necessary. If your WMS processes are constrained by information silos, your business functions aren’t working together. 

When you upgrade your WMS, communication between your order department, planning, shipping, suppliers, vendors, and customers becomes much more manageable.

5. Support for your existing WMS is expensive or difficult to access.

If your business uses a WMS developed in-house, valuable knowledge about supporting the application rests with a few key staff members. At some point, these employees will either retire or move on to other employment opportunities. Losing key personnel with critical knowledge about operating your system means you are looking at significant issues for your business. 

Suppose you delay implementing an upgrade to your WMS. In that case, you will focus on maintaining older software versions, databases, and operating systems. In some instances, support for older systems is no longer available from the original provider. Instead, you must deal with a third-party provider. This company can charge premium rates to support companies using older software.

You may hire employees with specific technical knowledge to manage old databases. This could be creating a drain on your business expenses. It also interferes with your ability to add new modules to the WMS. You should be able to standardize employee skills and databases throughout the company to obtain the highest level of optimization of both your team members and software.

Scanco WMS Advanced Is a Complete Warehouse Management Solution

Scanco WMS Advanced gives you the most advanced technology available in today’s market for Sage 100. This application integrates seamlessly with Sage 100 and uses several hardware accessories options for barcode scanning.

The app runs on Android, iOS, and Windows mobile devices. All scanned items are uploaded to Sage in real-time, and you don’t have to wait for syncing. The impressive features WMS Advanced offers don’t stop there. Scanco Warehouse gives you everything you need for optimizing and mobilizing your picking and shipping workflow. You get everything from the physical and cycle counting to shipping, receiving, and inventory transfers. WMS Advanced also includes proof of delivery, multi-bin functionality, directed order picking, and directed replenishment. 

Scanco WMS Advanced also gives you the flexibility to choose the options that best suit your needs. Start with the base module and add on one or more of the following options:

• License Plate/Pallet Transactions
• On the Water
• Wave Batch Picking 

Would you like to learn more about Scanco WMS Advanced or our other warehouse automation solutions? Scanco has solutions designed to fit our valued clients’ individual needs, whether they are operating small, mid-size, or large businesses. It’s easy. Contact us online or call (330) 645-9959 to make an appointment with a Scanco Solutions Expert today.