Warehouse inventory management software that grows with your company

Warehouse inventory management software是一個程序,使您能夠有效地來講ol goods in your facility. Among its basic features, it records the units stored for each product SKU, their locations, and the history of goods entries and exits.

This inventory software is essential in practically any logistics facility, as manual management increases the risk of imbalances and of operations being carried out inefficiently. Therefore, choosing the right inventory and warehouse management software is crucial for your business's future.

When to use warehouse inventory management software

Implementing software for warehouse inventory control marks an evolution from manual stock control with pen and paper or basic office tools (inventory management with Excel). Inventory management softwareboosts efficiency in logistics processessuch as stock entries and exits, inventory counts, and calculations and forecasts for stock quantities needed at any given time.

One of the main advantages of aninventory management program is stock control: the software monitorsproduct traceabilityby recording the goods received and orders shipped. Inventory software enables strict management of stock levels: it coordinates cycle counts and determines values such as thereorder pointand themaximum stock levelfor each SKU according to demand, historical records, and criteria predetermined by the logistics manager. Likewise, this software displaysinventory levels in real time, which allows managers to know the status of each SKU and availability of stock at all times. This control reduces the risk ofstockoutsand, consequently, unfulfilled orders.

Key features for choosing the best inventory management system

新的消費趨勢增加了倉儲complicated. The ecommerce boom and the free order returns standard have ushered in a new kind of logistics characterized by a greater number of SKUs and more complex operations. With shorter delivery times, more and more companies are breaking up their logistics infrastructure and spreading their operations across multiple warehouses.

This scenario has led numerous businesses to invest in warehouse inventory management software with a wide range of functions that allow the program to evolve along with the business. When this software includes a series of advanced functionalities designed to efficiently control stock as well as operations in the facility, we’re talking about awarehouse management system (WMS). This logistics solution goes beyond traditional inventory management software, as it maintains thorough stock records while ensuring the productivity of all movements made in the facility. These are some of the core features of a WMS:

Putaway management

The software can be connected toQR andbarcode scannersto monitor goods inflows and outflows. It can also incorporate specific functions to organize stock movements in the warehouse, taking into account criteria such as product turnover and batch picking.

Management of online sales

Basic warehouse inventory management software should facilitatestock control. But a WMS has additional functionalities aimed atlimiting errors in order preparation and dispatch.In the warehouses of companies with online sales channels, the updating of the online catalog needs to be automated across the multiple points of sale (POSs) on the web. These include marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay and ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. TheMarketplaces & Ecommerce Platforms Integrationmodule from Interlake Mecalux was specially designed for this purpose.

Multi-store/multi-warehouse management

The warehouse inventory management software you choose should have the option to manage stock in more than one logistics facility.WMSs can coordinate logistics processessuch as automatic replenishment of physical POSs and transfers of goods between the different stores. This is a feature you’ll find, for instance, in Easy WMS from Interlake Mecalux.

Shipping management

Due to the success of ecommerce and the importance oflast mile delivery, dispatch management has become one of the most complex tasks. This is because any error could damage business competitiveness. Besides monitoring stock inflows and outflows, ascalable software programshould be capable of organizing shipping processes by carrier route (as theMulti Carrier Shipping Softwaremodule from Interlake Mecalux does).

Management of the main inventory KPIs

Data are essential for making well-informed decisions. A WMScompiles real warehouse KPIs, e.g., percentage of SKUs in stock, rate of prepared orders, etc. The collection of this information allows managers to make decisions based on the actual status of operations in the facility.

WMS: software for comprehensive inventory management

Logistics 4.0makes it clear that digitization is the way to eliminate errors in both operations and stock management. That’s why more and more companies are investing in advanced inventory software, such as warehouse management systems (WMSs). Beyond ensuring strict stock control andproduct traceability, a WMS offers numerous additional functionalities such as the organization of wave picking,kitting, returns, and shipping. It also designs and optimizes pick paths, among many other functions.

Easy WMS features several modules for fine-tuning processes, such as:

• 位置管理:Warehouse Slotting Software.
• Organization of the various dispatch operations (packing, labeling, and shipping):Multi Carrier Shipping Software.
• Coordination between the warehouse and physical stores:Store Fulfillment.
• Synchronization between stock in the facility and the various online POSs:Marketplaces & Ecommerce Platforms Integration.

Rent a Book: Easy WMS for effective inventory management

Ecommerce has made stock management much more intricate. It’s helped to usher in new market trends such as short delivery windows, free product returns, and orders that are increasingly heterogeneous.Digitizing stock control in the warehousecan result in efficient order picking. And that’s exactly why Belgian textbook rental companyRent a Bookrelied on the Mecalux Group to implement Easy WMS warehouse management software in its facility in Enghien (Belgium). Rent a Book’s business is seasonal, reaching peaks of up to 1,000 orders a day during the summer months.

“Mecalux’s Easy WMS has been perfectly adapted to our company. Since installing it, we’ve shortened our order fulfillment time. Plus, the number of errors has gone down, lowering our after-sales service costs. What we value most about this system is its responsiveness and flexibility, as it’s tailored to our warehouse and our products,” says Grégory Bastieans, Project Manager at Rent a Book.

The Mecalux Group’s warehouse management softwarehelps to eliminate errors in all logistics processesin the Rent a Book facility, especially in inventory management. “Thanks to this system, the operator doesn’t have to worry about where to look for each product. Instead, Easy WMS tells them where to go and how much to pick. Orders are so accurate that errors can’t occur during order preparation,” says Grégory Bastieans.

Moreover, to increase throughput in the order dispatch phase, the Mecalux Group has deployed theMulti Carrier Shipping Softwaremodule. In addition to personalizing each shipment, this advanced functionality makes it possible forthe company to coordinate with BPost, the carrier charged with distributing its orders.

Software to manage inventory and boost efficiency in the warehouse

Inventory control software is a logistics program tasked with monitoring stock entries and exits, performing stocktaking regularly, and coordinating the fundamental processes taking place in the warehouse. Nevertheless, it’s important to consider other functionalities that go beyond that. For example,warehouse management softwareis a must if you need to automate kitting management or performcross-docking.

In any case, new market trends such as same-day deliveries, free product returns, and the construction of logistics facilities near big citieshave led companies to implement more complete softwarethat responds to the challenges of Logistics 4.0.

A program such as Easy WMS can be tailored to the level of complexity required by your business, ensuring efficiency in ecommerce scenarios, in the warehouses of logistics providers with multiple customers, and in the supply of complex production lines.Over 1,000 facilities in 36 countries count on our softwareto optimize their logistics processes.Get in touch, and one of our expert consultants will offer you a customized solution.