in: Company News
Your warehouse management system may not be the most exciting item in your business, but it’s probably one of the most important. It’s software that helps you manage one of the most significant investments in your business: your inventory.
When was the last time you reviewed your warehouse management system? If it’s been a while, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Here are three signs it’s time for a new warehouse management system, plus some tips to get you started on your search.
Mindover Software also provides several free resources, such as white papers you can download, to help you with your warehouse management review. Take a look and download what you need at Mindover Software.
Signs You Need a New Warehouse Management System
#1 You keep adding custom programming to make things work the way you want them to.
When you first installed your warehouse management system, it was everything you dreamed of, and more. It worked perfectly.
Over time, new systems added to your business forced you to hire a programmer to build customizations into the system so it would work with newer systems. That necessitated yet more custom programming, and so on, until now your warehouse management system is more customization than the base model.
When you get to the point that a system is more customized than not, it’s a sure sign your current warehouse management system no longer meets your company’s needs. Adding layers of customization onto a base program that doesn’t fit your needs is like patching holes in a boat with duct tape. Eventually, it won’t work, and you’ll find yourself in deep water.
#2 Employees prefer to keep manual records than use the current system.
You’ve begged, you’ve pleaded, you’ve bribed and hollered, but to no avail. Employees won’t use the current warehouse management system.
It might not be your employees’ fault—it might be the system itself. If the system is difficult or cumbersome, doesn’t help them perform their jobs any better, and slows them down, they might turn to scratch counts and other workarounds.
Anytime your team prefers to do things the hard way, it’s time to take a closer look at the software. Software should make their lives easier, not harder. Talk with them and listen to what they have to say about the warehouse management system. It might be time for a new one.
#3 You need more robust warehouse management software to remain competitive.
Perhaps you just found out your competitors can customize their packing and shipping, and your customers are flocking to their website to order. Or, you know that if you could change a few things around in the inventory, you’d be able to offer new, better, and faster ways of packaging items that would appeal to your customers.
Warehouse management offers more than the ability to organize and track inventory. It can also provide you with ways to race ahead of your competitors and provide customers with products and services they desire.
If new warehouse management software makes the difference between trailing behind your competitors or leading the pack, it’s time to upgrade your software.
Choose Software that Makes Sense
Warehouse management software has evolved from simple inventory counts to become a sophisticated tool for managing many aspects of your inventory. New systems integrate easily with enterprise resource planning software and provide user-friendly interfaces that require less training time than older systems.
If you’re ready to make the change and investigate new warehouse software, call Mindover today. Mindover Software provides ERP and other systems for manufacturing, warehouse management, and more. Please contact us today for more information or call 512-990-3994.
