Trade isnt about goods. Trade is about information. Goods sit in the warehouse until information

Warehouse management systems

“Trade isn't about goods. Trade is about information. Goods sit

in the warehouse until information moves them.”

Introduction

As we have seen in earlier chapters, the introduction of technology can

significantly improve warehouse productivity, increase utilization, reduce

costs and increase customer satisfaction.

As customers become more sophisticated, requiring accurate, secure,

fast

data exchange, and as the competition becomes more intense, companies need

to have the information-technology tools to support the business and build

reliability, speed, control and flexibility into the warehouse operation. The

ability to communicate in real time is crucial in today's fast-moving

technological world.

Paper-based warehouse management systems or even spreadsheets can

fulfil a need and manage stock accurately if managed well. However, I still

find it incredible that companies can operate a warehouse without a location

system, relying on staff knowing where the items are located in the

warehouse.

Other warehouses have stock control systems that tell you where the

stock is and how much there is of it, but don't provide optimum pick paths or

slotting functionality.