TOP 5 MISTAKES IN WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT THAT RESULT IN INACCURACIES AND INEFFICIENCY
If you still haven’t embraced automation via a warehouse management system (WMS), it is inevitable that your business will face a number of warehouse issues related to shortages, excess inventory, lack of visibility, space underutilization and ultimately, your customers’ dissatisfaction. As today’s fast-moving business landscape demands a more innovative approach, relying on outdated manual inventory tracking is more costly than investing in a proficient warehouse management system (WMS).
Noticing pitfalls in your warehouse management, mistakes in inventory records, your staff’s anxiety, and customers’ frustration? Here are the mistakes you are allowing to impact your productivity and efficiency:
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No Real-Time Inventory Tracking
Dealing with inventory management through outdated systems or manual methods increases the likelihood of errors and inaccuracies, such as misplacing or losing products, delaying orders, experiencing out-of-stock situations or redundancy. Without access to real-time inventory tracking tools, it is difficult for your team to follow item status and availability. Consequently, they are unable to respond to customers’ inquiries accurately due to the lack of visibility, leading to frustration for both your team and your customers.
A reliable warehouse management system allows you to keep track of your inventory in real time, keeping you consistently ahead and providing you more time to react to potential risks. The real-time management features of WMS are extremely beneficial for minimizing errors and miscalculations, while also delivering exceptional customer service.
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Poor Time Management
The more manual inventory processes your team must deal with, the more time they waste instead of paying attention to your customers in the front office. However, through the integration of tools such as barcode scanning, automated labelling, and order authorization, you mitigate time inefficiencies and significantly enhance time management. Warehouse management systems streamline the workflow completely, saving time from handling repetitive everyday tasks and allowing your team concentrate on what is truly important: retaining customers by offering them convenience and flexibility, thereby boosting sales, and driving loyalty.
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Space Underutilization
Absence of a warehouse management system often leads to challenges in optimizing space utilization. Ineffective storage planning often results in increased expenses and financial setbacks. Use your capacity effectively with a warehouse management system that assists in planning out your warehouse layout for efficient space utilization. Moreover, the distribution of storage across the warehouse is crucial as high-demand items should be positioned in a more easily accessible place for the sake of your staff’s convenience and time management.
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No Connectivity throughout the Supply Chain
The lack of automation poses challenges in connecting the different locations of your business. Failing to integrate a more advanced approach in warehouse management imposes constraints on traceability and flexibility, which hinders your productivity. Consequently, a warehouse management system gives you the transparency you need to make use of all resources efficiently, allocate to them other locations and have full control over the whole supply chain, reducing the risks of unpleasant surprises leading to losses.
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Incorrect Purchase Orders
If you rely on manual handling of purchase orders, it will be difficult to ensure the accuracy of data across the supply chain. Still using scattered documents, emails and spreadsheets is an outdated method that slows down the purchasing process. Implementing a warehouse management system enhances data accuracy and streamlines the process of picking items and fulfilling orders. Moreover, with orders coming from various channels, online and offline, such manual methods lead to higher risks of errors in order management. Your customers will be left with a negative impression from the experience you provided if you have sent them the wrong item, delivered to the wrong address, or significantly delayed the shipping.
The more you postpone investing in the long-term efficiency and productivity of your warehouse management, the more opportunities you lose to retain your customers. A warehouse management system digitizes daily processes, contributes to the overall quality of your work, and boosts the productivity of your team leading to revenue growth. Customer demands are fulfilled, which on the other side drives retention and loyalty.
Are you looking for a solution that will optimize your inventory management but also seamlessly integrate with your system? PocketNAV is a warehouse management system that is fully integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The application has four standard modules that can be adapted to your specific needs: Purchases, Sales, Warehouse, Manufacturing. Trust the innovative approach of PocketNAV to avoid all warehouse management issues and fuel your business growth.
NavTech Group can assist you in maximizing the advantages offered by WMS PocketNAV, ensuring strong inventory management and efficiently optimized warehouse operations. Just contact us.
