Retail Distribution Warehouse Functionality

Retail Distribution Warehouse Management System

Optimising stock location, picking, purchase order matching, load bay management and more

Retail Distribution 3PL warehouse businesses are always looking for increased profit margins and reduced operating costs via process improvement, stock picking and location efficiencies. Success also requires maintaining high levels of partner and customer satisfaction in order to keep ahead of competition. Additionally, their chosen WMS Warehouse Management Software must deliver functionality such as Cross Docking, Load Bay Management, device integration, Bulk Picking and Task Scheduling – to name a few.

Warehouse management teams demand robust and flexible WMS to keep their operations optimised. A constantly reviewed success metric is improved service levels – both internally and via partner operations – in order to reduce OpEx and drive revenue growth.
 
 

Retail 3PL Distribution Warehouse Operator Challenges

• Retail Warehouse Layout & Space Allocation:
  Every metre of warehouse space able to take stock represents a potential revenue opportunity so racking and storage systems must be continuously optimised. Goods In areas also need to be designed for smooth running with well-designed pick paths.

• Stock Tracking & Accuracy:
  Purchase order data should be trusted and easily accessible, and any manual data must be verified before its entered into the WMS or ERP system. Anything less than 100% accuracy can translate into poor customer service – with a negative affect sometimes evident in minutes.

• Seamless Compatibility:
  An optimised Retail Distribution warehouse operation runs best when all its systems – legacy or otherwise – work as one. Most importantly, WMS and ERP systems must integrate perfectly.

• Multiple Locations:
  Often multiple warehouse locations exist and when more stock is in transit the need for inventory tracking increases exponentially. Warehouse managers need to rely on real-time and accurate data – so they know where the inventory is at all times, whether in a warehouse or in transit.

• Partner & Customer Satisfaction:
  Today, ‘the customer is king’ and they demand fast delivery, 100% order accuracy and 24x7x365 accessible customer service. Anything less risks losing them to a competitor – and, its said to cost five times as much to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one.

 
 
A Warehouse Management System must be robust and flexible and able to capture stock location and movement data accurately. They must operate in real-time and be deployed with individual business rules applied, aligning with customer and partner policies.

Efficient stock routing and control from inbound pallet scanning to putaway – then pick and despatch – are key requirements as are faster goods inwards processes, reduced paperwork and administration times. And, a drive to increase warehouse operator consistency and efficiency remains a constant challenge.

Our in-house developed ProWMS Warehouse Management Software technology provides a robust management platform and optimises Retail Distribution Warehouse operations by enabling a unique set of value-added functionalities.
 
 

WMS functionality for Retail Distribution Warehouses

• Full Real Time Stock Traceability, Visibility & Control
• Live Interfaces to ERP Systems (e.g.: MS Dynamics, SAP, Oracle)
• Comprehensive Purchase Order Matching – Back Order Management
• File Interfacing to Older or Legacy ERP & EPOS Systems
• BRC Accredited Processes on Hand Held Units
• Supplier & Other External Paperwork can be Removed from Process
• Load Bay Management with Slot Management & KPI’s
• Wireless Image Capture on Hand Held Devices for Damage Capture
• Cubiscan Scanner Interfacing
• Management of Multi-temperature Products – Ambient, Chill, Frozen
• Dynamic Field Capture Based on Product Record
• Minimum BBD Goods In Date Checking – Prevents Receipting of Short Shelf Life Stock
• Sales Orders Automatically Received
• Auto Selection of Stock to Pre-defined Picking/Rotational Rules
• Allocation of Available Stock Across Stores
• Interfaces to Routing & Transport Systems
• Confirm Stock Picked & Shipped Time & Details Including Loading
• Task Scheduling – Automatically Alerts Products Close to Short Shelf Life
• Interface ASNs with Retailers (e.g.: Tesco TIMS, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Iceland)
• Product Configuration Management

READ MORE IN OUR WAREHOUSE OPTIMISATION CASE STUDIES