An active warehouse helps to ensure accurate and quick shipments, and therefore, it plays a vital role in customer gratification. Without an efficient warehouse, the business has to increase the workforce so as to maintain a high level of service.
Although increasing the number of employees can allow the company to satisfy the demand, it can also lead to a less profitable business in the long run.
To overcome this obstacle, many warehouses are turning to technology for minimizing errors by automatically performing repetitive tasks. For that, a wms warehouse management system will help you get things done properly.
In the subsequent paragraphs, we are going to mention three techniques for improving warehouse efficiency.
1. Mobile technology
In the majority of the warehouses, the workers are going to make more than 40 trips every day to and fro while working. However, mobile technology will provide them with instantaneous access to systems from anywhere within the warehouse.
Some of these mobile technologies which help in enhancing warehouse efficiency consist of mobile printers, portable computers, plus wearable barcode scanners.
a. Mobile printers
These will enable the employees to generate labels from virtually anywhere within the warehouse. Clerks will be able to print labels while working as long as there is a proper wireless warehouse network, and this helps to minimize the walking time to a great extent.
b. Mobile computers
The robust power of computing is not limited to servers and desktop computers only. At present, warehouses are also able to make use of mobile technology.
Most of the rugged portable computers and tablets are being manufactured so that they can withstand extreme warehouse conditions like moisture, dust, temperature, shock, and so on.
Many of those also feature MIL-STD 810G ruggedness (military-grade certification), and therefore, you need not be concerned about their durability. Besides these, they also come with dependable wireless network capabilities plus long-serving batteries.
c. Wearable barcode scanners
An efficient warehouse will surely make use of barcode scanners. These are actually a must-have in the existing warehouses and no longer a good-to-have like before—these help in receiving, picking, sorting, packing, not to mention shipping as well.
The outdated barcode scanner has become a more ergonomic and friendlier gadget right now. Wearable barcode scanners enable the clerks to remain productive plus mobile, and there is no need to compromise between holding the device and picking cargo.
2. Dimensioning systems
It is a fact that box and pallet dimensioning can consume plenty of time. On average, a clerk can take 40 seconds to 55 seconds to measure the cargo dimensions manually plus entering them in the WMS. Apart from this, they are prone to errors while doing everything manually as well.
Dimensioning systems is a critical technology that will help to enhance warehouse productivity at present. Small package and pallet dimension systems are very effective at automating the verification steps plus measurement involved in the receiving procedure.
3. Pick-to-light systems
These innovative systems use specific light displays to direct the warehouse operators to the product locations. The operators will understand which items to pick and in what numbers.
Apart from being extremely flexible, these systems come with the capability of planning, regulating, plus analyzing the volumes of orders that have been picked.
In this way, pick-to-light systems will help to enhance picking productivity and perform better accountability as well. Also, they will result in fewer human errors in the long run. These systems are of immense use while picking from bulk stock.
It is appropriate for retail warehouses dealing with sports goods, convenience food items, personal care products, apparel, and so forth.
Conclusion:
Apart from the three technologies for enhancing warehouse efficiency, there are many more like put-to-light systems, warehouse robotics technology, and voice tasking technology that we have not discussed in this article. Feel free to go online and look at the relevant sections to get some more ideas on this subject,
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Author Bio
Chris Giarratana is the co-founder of StrategyBeam, an Orlando marketing agency, where he works with small businesses. He specializes in SEO marketing, Google AdWords management, and copywriting services.