How integrated WMS technology negates errors and drives efficiency for retailers

Customer expectation is continually increasing, with product availability, transparency around order progress, and speed of delivery being high on their agenda. As a result, many businesses have turned to technology to tackle pain points within distribution processes and to increase customer satisfaction; having a unified omni-channel commerce platform that provides a real-time, 360-degree view of activity paves the way to success. We look at two key areas where an integrated cloud solution can transform internal processes and customer satisfaction. Negating the risk of inaccuracy With half of retail and wholesale distribution businesses still relying on traditional methods – such as spreadsheets and paper to manage orders and stock – processes like manual data inputting pose a much greater risk; the manual transcription of notes made when receiving a delivery, for example, can be easily mis-recorded. This risk of inaccuracy spreads right across all processes when handled manually. Inaccurate picking can be a huge issue; when an item is manually located, there is more opportunity for the wrong item to be picked. One development in this area is mobile scanning, transforming the management of storage and the movement of goods. Now less expensive and therefore more accessible than ever for businesses – the benefits far outweigh the cost when used as part of a Warehouse Management System (WMS) like Oracle NetSuite. Using mobile scanning within a WMS ensures the right details are inputted on receipt of a delivery, and as the stock is logged, data such as the lot number, serial number, bin location and inventory status is transferred to the item record; when it comes to future picking, the right information and exact status are available – with inaccuracies abolished. The time involved in executing processes manually cannot be underestimated, and the inefficiencies are significant in a business whose main objective is to get the correct products to customers fast. When optimising the NetSuite Pack Station feature, full accountability is provided, as data on who scanned and packed which item is recorded. Additionally, there’s no risk of committing the same inventory to multiple orders, as inventory status is in real-time – which the operative can see on their mobile scanning device. The real-time inventory visibility is crucial for subsequent processes such as quality assurance and understanding its exact status in the warehouse. Cost savings through greater efficiency In the case of dealing with multiple shipping carriers, most WMS require the operative to switch between screens and navigate multiple processes and requirements. Label formats, packing slips configuration, sales order details or tracking information via separate log-in screens can not only cause delays for operatives, but make the prospect of creating efficiencies far less likely. As shipping carrier numbers grow and firms shop around for the best package, it can be difficult to find a ready-made solution that facilitates integration of a wide number of carriers in one application. Creating efficiencies in the shipping process was one such challenge faced by craft supplies retail giant Crafter’s Companion – the brainchild of Dragon’s Den regular Sara Davies. As an existing NetSuite user, the need to create efficiencies around the complex area of shipping carrier management involved us developing a custom-made solution. Having previously handled this manually, the business can now create order details and specifics into the carrier portal, sending details such as barcodes, delivery address labels, carrier link, tracking information and returns labels. For businesses using multiple carriers, such a solution negates duplication of this process across carriers, thus reducing risks and generating cost savings. From facilitating carrier account setup to shipping item mapping, such a solution also handles shipping label and packing slip configuration for separate and combined orders, and item fulfilment integration, which allows the submission of sales order data to carrier, store carrier tracking information and store carrier shipping label. These highly functional features are invaluable for a retailer such as Crafter’s Companion – handling around 15,000 online orders per month is no mean feat! Author bio - Ian Robertson is the Sales and Marketing Director of BrightBridge, a UK-based technology consultancy offering Oracle NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions. Ian has over 30 years of experience in ERP and CRM implementations. Prior to forming BrightBridge, Ian worked for a major US IT corporation, where he acquired a depth of knowledge around time saving efficiencies through technological integration and automation.