Technology improvements are continuously changing how we work in warehouses. The largest significant improvement has taken place in the management of goods. Wireless scanners and the warehouse management system software have replaced manual entry. It’s a no-brainer that scanning is not only faster, but it also reduces manual entry errors.
Smart technology is helping to get the job done better and more efficiently. We’ll have a quick look at some of the darlings of warehousing below:
Barcodes and RFID
Barcodes are standard in most warehouses. Not surprisingly, they are easy to create and easy to use. Barcodes help to automate processes and eliminate human error from manually entered data. The barcodes make it possible to track items more accurately, and as a result, inventory costs are reduced. They can be placed on individual items, cases, boxes, or pallets to make tracking inventory scaleable.
Radio Frequency Identification or RFID helps track physical inventory without having manned scanners. As far a locale goes, the readers can be placed at entrances, exits, or checkpoints at a warehouse to track inventory. By placing RFID tags on pallets and the RFID readers at dock doors, the pallets can be automatically scanned on their way in or out of a truck.
Some of the major benefits from warehousing RFID systems are increased operational productivity, reduced costs, improved customer service, reduced inventories in the supply chain and increased product security.
Warehousing Management Systems
In a nutshell, the goal of a WMS is to improve distribution efficiency, labor productivity, customer service, decrease distribution costs, and monitor inventory levels. It should not be difficult to manage shipments that have been delivered, but that are not yet at their final location. And knowing the location of all inventories on your shelves is vital. A good WMS will ensure the accuracy of each order that is picked and reduce material costs by determining the right sized shipping carton. And finally, an effective WMS will ensure that each order is properly packaged and shipped to the right destination and delivered on the right date.
Dock Door Scheduling Software
One common bottleneck that occurs at a busy Alberta warehouse is at the dock door. The process of assigning doors for trucks to load or unload goods can be time-consuming. Using dock door scheduling software can help reduce the cost of moving goods. It provides automatic appointment scheduling, end-to-end visibility, order and shipment tracking, order prioritization, capacity management, and performance management capabilities.
When looking for warehouse space in Calgary, remember that warehouses are always adopting new technologies to improve operations. RFID and barcodes save time and money by streamlining daily activities. And of course, automating as many processes as possible increases efficiencies in the supply chain. Effective warehouse management systems and door to door scheduling are just a few more examples of tactics and technologies utilized to the benefit of customers.
