Selecting the right Warehouse Management System (WMS) or Bar Coding system to extend a corporate ERP system is not straightforward or cheap, but the benefits to efficiency, customer service and purchasing from having real time distribution data in the ERP system are potentially very large. Here are some considerations to bear in mind when deciding which of the wide variety of available Warehouse Management solutions is right for you.
Focus
Some systems specialize in manufacturing, assembly and finished goods tracking. Others focus on warehouse management and other on the basic functions needed to track inventory and sales operations within the ERP system
Level of sophistication
There are several standalone WMS applications available in the market today that have rich functionality in relation to actively managing physical inventory operations. However research has shown that only twenty percent of the features included in sophisticated warehouse management systems are actually used by smaller companies (i.e. $ 5-50 million revenue).
Flexibility
Everyone uses the same functions (Receiving, Put Away, Stock Counts, Transfers, Picking, Fulfillment and Shipping). They may also use the same functionality but often need to adjust data capture workflow in order to optimize efficiency. It should be possible to modify the system to handle this, if needed.
Additional data
Some industries need to use Lot Numbering or Serialization. Other considerations are Bin Allocation and License Plating (where inventory is tracked at the pallet level.)
Level of integration
Some systems are designed to operate directly within Dynamics GP, but the majority require an additional interface to transfer data to and from GP. This adds a level of complexity and maintenance which is not ideal in smaller environments.
The relative importance of these considerations for you will depend on how your distribution operations work. In our experience, many companies receive a higher rate of return from simpler WMS solutions which are directly integrated to the corporate ERP system.
The Alba360 WMS Warehouse Management system was developed to enable small to mid-sized businesses to track inventory operations without unnecessary complexity. Functionality includes receiving, put-away, transfers, stock counting, picking and shipping operations. Direct integration with Dynamics GP allows all activity to be captured and visible in real time within the Dynamics GP environment.
Next Steps:
If you would like to speak to a consultant to find out whether Alba360 WMS is the right system for your organization or for general advice on handling distribution operations within Dynamics GP, please give us a call at 1-866-528-0577 or email us at [email protected]. You can also visit us on the web at www.albaspectrum.com and request more information through our website.
About Alba Spectrum: Alba Spectrum Corporation (www.albaspectrum.com – 1-866-528-0577 – [email protected]) is a solution-oriented Gold-Certified Microsoft Dynamics Partner. We specialize in developing solutions for Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains Dynamics) for System Integration, Financials, E-Commerce and Distribution. We also offer strategic advice to GP clients and Microsoft Partners on the use of Dynamics GP within a variety of industries. We serve Microsoft Dynamics Clients and Partners worldwide including United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East & Australia. Regional offices are located in Chicago IL, Irvine CA, and Houston TX.
About the Author: Rod Bergl is the CEO of Alba Spectrum Corporation (http://www.albaspectrum.com |1-866-528-0577 | [email protected]). Rod has been working with ERP and accounting systems since 1990 and is a cofounder of Alba Spectrum. He can be reached at [email protected].
Related Medical Coding Articles