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Companies often see their warehouse as a necessary expense. They might recognize that poor warehouse performance leads to costly problems, but they rarely imagine how good warehouse management could improve their customers’ experience. Optimal warehouse management could result in significant cost savings that the company could pass along to the consumer. However, other valuable benefits to quality warehouse management make a discernible difference in the customer experience. The bottom line for every business is happy customers who come back again and again and tell their friends about your great service. Improving warehouse operations could enhance your customers’ shopping experience and send your reputation for service...

If your warehouse management system (WMS) is terminal-based at your facility, you may be considering moving to a cloud-based system. Cloud-based systems offer more adaptability, are better-suited to e-commerce warehousing operations, and will significantly reduce your IT expenses, allowing you to devote more resources to your company’s actual business. However, comfort with your legacy system, implementation costs, and the fear of disrupting operations—even temporarily—might be holding you back from investing in this technology. While implementing a new system will require some changes, they might not be as difficult to manage as you think. Here are some pointers on switching to a cloud-based warehouse management system....

Companies trying to build resilience into their supply chains increasingly recognize the need to introduce or upgrade their warehouse management systems (WMS). The right WMS could help companies adapt to rapidly changing external conditions, meet customer demands for quick and efficient order fulfillment, and address the perpetual labor shortage in the warehouse industry. A WMS is an investment in your business’s future, but implementing it requires significant money, attention, equipment, and time. You can maximize your benefits by considering specific issues before introducing your new system. Evaluate Your Wireless Connectivity Your WMS depends on a strong wireless connection throughout the facility. A wireless site survey...

You can produce a quality product, market it well, and have the best customer service in the business, but if your supply chain fails, your company suffers. Building a nimble and resilient supply chain requires focused effort. The following strategies could help you optimize your supply chain to ensure it does not disappoint when you need it most. Invest in Supply Chain Staff Labor shortages are real, and most companies are having difficulty finding excellent workers. This is especially true in the warehousing and logistics side of a business. Companies can improve the quality of their supply chain workers by offering valuable training and a...

Inventory errors can increase your costs of doing business in various ways. Understanding how expensive these errors can be could reveal how investing in a modern inventory control system is a wise use of resources. More Accurate Inventory Data with Less Effort Taking an annual inventory is a burdensome process that could require shutting down normal operations or paying overtime to have workers conduct inventory when the warehouse would typically be closed. Either way, an annual inventory is not cost-effective, and the information it produces has limited utility. An inventory management system uses a cycle counting system. It could be customized to suit the customer’s...

Staffing challenges are not new to the warehousing industry, or any industry for that matter. However, the increased need for workers during the e-commerce boom brought on by the pandemic plus the very low unemployment rate makes attracting good warehouse workers especially critical in 2022. There is no indication that the situation is likely to change any time soon, so savvy warehouse managers should already be refining their approach to overcome the labor shortage in 2022. Working with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) like Brown West Logistics could be one the best ways to improve your staffing capabilities. 3PL’s have strategies for recruiting, retaining, training,...