Cloud WMS & the key insights that all supply chain directors must know

Warehouse management systems driven by the digital revolution

The digital revolution has spurred immense growth when it comes to Warehouse Management Systems. As per one of the published reports, it could be found that – the warehouse automation market is projected to reach the benchmark of USD 64,639 Mn by 2030 and that too at an exponential CAGR of 14.8% by the end of 2030.

With the rise in the need for warehouses across the globe, there’s been a growth in the digitization of warehouses. It’s also not astonishing to know that the quantity of new warehousing space needed by 2035 is expected to be 2.3 billion square feet.

This is an interesting time for businesses that have warehouse operations. However, those who rely solely on obsolete solutions and human endeavors to meet their warehouse management requirements can only expect one thing: a limited shelf life. To stand out and stay on the top in today’s digital marketplace while satisfying increasing customer demand for expedited delivery, warehouse automation requires time, effort, and money.

The use of technology and automated systems to perform repetitive processes and tasks and eliminate manual data entry is referred to as warehouse automation.
With many surveys being conducted to map the foundations of Cloud WMS, it has been found that Warehouse Automation is what lies ahead for the Supply Chain Industry.

Given a range of strategic advantages that digital transformation of warehouses brings in, businesses, nowadays, are making an active shift toward the comprehensive cloud-driven SCM solution. The key benefit that the supply chain directors receive is operational efficiency, followed by customer-centricity and innovation.

The prime motivator for the adoption of Cloud WMS is the cloud-based SCM processes like global trade logistics and product lifecycle management, that’s already being used by companies globally. But, then too, many companies are still left in entering the loop of warehouse digitization, given its challenges.

Aspects such as operational disruption and security are among the major challenges that top-level supply chain management faces. But, this must not be considered a mountain-sized obstruction, but only a small stone in the way to completing the digital transformation of the systems in the warehouse. It is essential for the Cloud-based SCM vendors to convince the companies to go for the digital transformation of the warehouse. And, how does one do that? Well, there are a whole lot of features that overshadow its challenges and promise to offer immeasurable benefits.

Let’s explore some amazing features of Cloud WMS

Quick Stock Picking:

Cloud WMS creates pick orders that help get the inventory goods out for delivery in an efficiency-driven quick manner. This system is capable of conducting activities like multiple pickers on a single order, zone picking, and also providing support for the new picking technology like voice-based controls.

Inbound Shipments Processing:

With Cloud WMS, you can have the support of seamlessly handling the physical goods put away. It enables your firm to instantly process inbound shipments and integrate them into your inventory and warehouse.

Automated Inventory Checking:

The automated Inventory counting feature of Cloud WMS offers you time efficiency. It assists you with mitigating human errors while also executing various stock inspections without interfering with everyday routines, and provides various counting options to help you stay on track.

Goods Locator:

Using the goods locator feature, you will be able to locate the exact location of your product in the warehouse. It also helps you to keep the count of stock with its sequential and lot traceability processes.

Flexible Order Management:

This feature works to route the different orders via various sources from the ERP to the storage facility with all of the required information, tags, and customer profiles. It also assists you in keeping appropriate inventory levels and orders.

New Product Kits:

This feature is also one of the simplest approaches for businesses to expand their options by creating good kits that could be sold together. It enables you to develop new kits whilst also keeping an appropriate stock count, preventing you from running out and taking orders you can’t accommodate.

Personalized Planning & Picking:

With this feature, you will be able to create distinct order groups as well as set priorities to better match orders or product demands, in addition to adapting to your personnel during various shifts.

And there is more to come..

Cloud WMS is packed with functionalities – Check it out here!

Warehouse management systems prove to be a great advancement when it comes to supply chain operations. Everyone from Directors of Global Procurement to Sourcing Specialists highly cherish the Cloud WMS as it efficiently manages the entire supply chain fulfillment process.

With warehouse automation, you enjoy the merits such as those real-time insights into a company’s inventory, market response, and manageability.

Functionalities that it can offer:

1. Work with ease as it provides seamless flexibility: The digital transformation of the business is becoming one of the popular choices for Distribution and Operations Managers across the globe. Not only can it be implemented on the go, but it also aids the supply chain systems.

Overall, it offers identical warehouse management functionalities as a dedicated server, without getting into the fuss of monthly updates, firmware upgrades, or IT professionals. This definitely results in lower upfront expenses and an accelerated return on the investment. Additionally, the cloud warehouse management system is fully prepared for integration with different systems to connect logistics operations from concept to execution.

2. Matches and fulfills the market demands: The only thing that could be guaranteed about the coming years is that no one can predict them. As a matter of fact, projections, scenario advancement, and contingency planning are critical. Crafting a digital twin, also known as a digital model of a physical system, is a technique for evaluating significant differences without having to perform them in actual situations. This entails being able to imitate the consequences of upcoming shifts in demand or business strategies by replicating warehouse configurations, operations, and events. Using advanced 3D modeling technology, the instances can then be observed clearly and relayed to management and partner organizations as a component of strategic planning.

The Robust In-House Server:

As the term suggests, an in-house server is a tangible infrastructure and hardware that requires actual storage space, particularly for solely dedicated IT assistance. Even though this setup does not require web access and can offer security infrastructure since no third party has easy accessibility to in-house information, it is significantly susceptible to information loss during shutdowns and there’s no guarantee of re-uptime or retrieval timespan.

Pioneering Cloud-Based Server:

A cloud-based server, in contrast, does not require onshore hardware, as well as stock can be introduced as required to meet the particular requirements of each corporation. As a natural outcome, companies are more adaptable and can eliminate unwanted data storage costs. Besides that, access to data, backup systems, and retrieval can be initiated from any location with an internet connection. Personnel no longer are required to be physically available to make evaluated data-driven decisions, which is a highly valued capability in today’s world where so many folks work from their home. Moreover, information can be saved in the cloud as commonly as every fifteen minutes, lowering the chance of losing it to a bare minimum.

Cloud WMS is the future of supply chains- here’s why!

Excellent Results For On-Premise WMS:

Response times are indeed very exactly equivalent to on-premise, given the proper networking environment. It also requires the data channels of communication to not be overloaded with traffic from other external services such as e-mail and Customer Relationship management systems. For instance, the irms|360 cloud application, one of the cloud WMS can handle real-time needs for rapid scanning. It is built to mitigate payload as well as optimize the traffic flow for different platforms.

Safe & Secure As Hosting On-Site:

Cloud vendors invest significant monetary and human resources in guaranteeing the cloud ecosystem’s reliability through numerous levels of safety and intrusion prevention techniques.

Large-scale Organizations Hoot For Cloud WMS:

Not just small and medium-sized businesses, but also large corporations, are attempting to implement innovative warehouse technologies in order to compete in the current economy. The cloud enables businesses of all sizes to offload time-consuming functions like connectivity management, upkeep, and software updates, in addition to all other obligations that come with on-premise software.

Cloud WMS For Legacy Technology:

Cloud computing allows businesses that are using legacy innovation to migrate to a channel that will assist both their own and their client’s business requirements. The irms|360 WMS’s open system facilitates bi-directional interaction via a wide range of protocols. This has proven critical for our clientele in ensuring their holdings of operational functionalities all through transitional periods.

Let’s see what the future of the supply chain holds with Cloud-based WMS

Cloud WMS is the very nucleus for the smooth working of the supply chains! Supply Chains, as we all know, are the heartbeat of businesses that enables them to increase their clientele base, while fulfilling the needs of the existing clients.

Not only a strategic move, but Warehouse Automation is also the key to optimizing the supply chain operations. What’s the proof!? Well, there are many surveys, studies, and research that suggest the same…Let’s take a look –

• Scalability: As per one of the IDC’s research notes, the Cloud WMS brings in high-level scalability unlike the conventional on-premise one where it is not possible.
• Acceleration: It has been predicted that the cloud-based systems have accelerated the WMS at a CAGR of 26.5% through 2019. Hence, also boosts businesses with inventory management as well as supply network optimization.
• Expansion: According to the reports floated by Transparency Market Research, the Cloud WMS market would boost from $1.2B in 2015 to $4.1B by 2024.
• Reasonability: As per IDC, Cloud WMS mitigates infra costs while also driving productivity improvements by allowing IT resources reallocation.

With a focus shift from a cost-based approach to a growth-based approach, Warehouses of the future are backed by higher-speed business models. This is how you get matchless speed, high scale, and utmost simplicity of operation.

Regarding foundational tweaks to the supply chains, we can say that the dynamics driving the rise of Cloud WMS is also the one influencing it. With the advent of on-premise WMS, Warehouse Management Systems are decked with better traceability and improved visibility within the supply chain systems.