Warehouse space is hard to come by especially as real estate costs rise. Even finding adequate locations and a proper space can be a challenge. These obstacles make maximizing current warehouse space and capacity even more critical. Unfortunately, many warehouses are using separate WMS systems that are ineffective and limit the ability to optimize space.Â
Many are choosing to upgrade or integrate their management systems to a unified system that integrates Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Warehouse Execution System (WES). Unified systems provide real decision-making power by combining the warehouse functionality and distribution management of WMS with the ability of WES to orchestrate real-time operational processes.
A unified system provides the flexibility to scale operations without the immediate need for physical expansion, helping you get the most out of your space. By integrating WMS and WES systems, you can optimize warehouse operations, minimize the need for additional storage space, and ultimately, improve your bottom line.
A unified WMS and WES offers several ways to optimize warehouse space and capacity:
1. Enhanced Inventory Management
A unified system offers better inventory management by providing real-time tracking and dynamic slotting. With real-time tracking, businesses can maintain accurate inventory levels, reducing the need for safety stock and minimizing excess inventory.
Additionally, this type of system can dynamically assign storage locations based on the real-time data, ensuring optimal space utilization and reducing travel time for picking. A unified system provides a deeper understanding of your inventory, allowing you to make more informed and quicker decisions.
2. Improved Order Fulfillment
Improving how orders are fulfilled is critical for saving time and reducing potential errors. A unified system allows more complex wave and batch picking by grouping orders and creating efficient picking strategies. This streamlines the picking process, reducing the space needed for staging and temporarily held items and cuts down on potential confusion.
Plus, dynamically prioritizing, and reprioritizing order fulfillment ensures reduced inventory carrying costs and storage requirements.
A unified system also accommodates task interweaving, which is a huge time and space saver. Task interweaving allows workers to perform multiple types of tasks (e.g., picking, replenishing, and cycle counting) in a single trip, minimizing unnecessary movement, which can help reduce fatigue and injury, and freeing up space.
3. Efficient Space Utilization
A unified system, especially one that integrates well with robotics or other automation, optimizes vertical space in unique and creative ways. By leveraging advanced algorithms, a unified system can maximize vertical space usage, ensuring that every cubic foot of warehouse space is utilized effectively.
The fact that a unified WMS and WES can integrate easily with AS/RS means you can manage automated storage solutions and other Goods to Person (GTP) robotic technologies without using several different applications.
Using a Goods to Person (GTP) robotics solution, such as Exotec, Geek+, or Autostore, lets you make use of every cubic foot of warehouse space. Whether it’s a tote to picker solution or a shelf to picker, using a GTP system enhances the storage density of a warehouse. Optimizing space and increasing storage capacity without physically expanding your space is made easy with a unified system.
4. Reduction of Redundant Processes
Redundancy is a time and cost drain. A unified system eliminates redundant processes by coordinating tasks and ensuring that resources are used efficiently. This reduces the need for additional space to manage overlaps in workflows.
The data provided by unified systems puts the power into your hands with data-driven decision making. With comprehensive data analysis, businesses can make informed decisions about inventory placement, order fulfillment strategies, and space allocation, all contributing to better space utilization.
Investing in a unified system helps to optimize warehouse space and capacity, which translates into huge cost savings and creates an efficient supply chain. Embracing this integrated approach not only drives operational efficiency, but it also supports long-term growth and sustainability, making it clear that a unified system is the way businesses will compete in the future.
It’s no wonder many businesses are investing in unified systems or full stack systems like IntraOne™, which unifies WMS, WES – and it goes a step above with the ability to also integrate Warehouse Control System and Transportation Management System, making it a cutting-edge tool for any warehouse.
Discover how the powerful, full-stack IntraOne™ can enhance your warehouse capacity and your business.
