From manual struggles to strategic solutions: A comprehensive look at stock management in today’s business landscape
FOR many businesses operating without a Warehouse Management System (WMS), manual spreadsheets remain a common, though inefficient, approach to managing inventory.
While they may seem practical and cost effective in the early stages, as operations grow, these spreadsheets tend to multiply, becoming cumbersome and difficult to manage.
Relying on manual processes brings a range of challenges that can severely impact the efficiency, productivity, and profitability of warehouse operations.
These challenges include: human intervention and errors, tedious and time-consuming procedures, reactive management, lower inventory accuracy, increased risk of stock losses, slower turnaround times, suboptimal solutions, and limited visibility.
From the increased likelihood of human error, to the strain on resources; and slower turnaround times, these challenges introduce significant complexity into daily operations, impacting all aspects from stock management accuracy to strategic decision-making. As businesses expand, these issues only become more pronounced, underscoring the limitations of manual systems.
The solution is clear
Implementing a WMS is crucial for overcoming the challenges businesses encounter when lacking an efficient stock management system. By partnering with experienced professionals like Value Warehousing, companies will benefit from a robust WMS solution that addresses these challenges, providing a range of advantages that streamline operations and enhance overall efficiency.
The benefits of utilising a WMS to effectively manage your inventory are:
Detailed stock visibility: A WMS provides comprehensive visibility of stock from receipt to dispatch, including efficient handling of returns, ensuring complete visibility at every stage of the process.
Product characteristics management: The WMS easily manages stock based on key attributes such as product code, different SKU levels, product type, production date, expiry date, shelf life; and batch number, allowing for precise control of inventory.
RF Scanner Integration: Utilising RF scanners for multiple functions, including receiving, picking, cycle counting, and stock taking, increases efficiency and accuracy.
Real-time updates: Benefit from real-time stock and location updates as inventory is physically processed, ensuring accurate, up-to-the-minute information across all warehouse operations.
Simultaneous actions: Achieve seamless efficiency with simultaneous real-time stock status updates, system-to-physical actions, and automated processes driven by pre-configured rules.
Auditable stock movements: Gain full transparency with auditable records of inbound, outbound, and general inventory movements, ensuring traceability and accountability.
System-driven processes: A WMS automates essential tasks, from put-away to storage, ABC classification, stock allocation, replenishment, expiry management, and more, reducing the need for manual input.
Automated stock rotation and replenishment: A WMS automates critical tasks like stock rotation, replenishment to pick faces, and ABC placement, as well as the automatic blocking of expired items, ensuring optimal stock health and availability.
Stock condition management: A WMS systematically segregates stock based on physical conditions, offering visibility into categories such as “Good for Sale,” “Quarantined,” “Blocked,” and “Expired/Near Expiry,” so you can manage stock health effectively.
Failure to act
Companies struggling with manual stock management systems will inevitably encounter numerous challenges that hinder operational efficiency and accuracy.
Considering these obstacles, outsourcing warehousing solutions to experienced professionals, like Value Warehousing becomes crucial for businesses seeking to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and overall effectiveness of their inventory management processes.
For more information: https://valuewarehousing.co.za/
