Rising costs, increasing complexity, growing customer demands, and expanding global supply chains are all intrinsically linked challenges that manufacturers and distributors face on a daily basis. Meanwhile, expanding omni-channel markets are forcing manufacturers and distributors to not only change how they sell to customers, but also redefine who their customers are. And customers are exerting even further
pressure with demands for customization and personalization of products.
Global expansion adds to the challenge of maintaining visibility into inventory, shipping, and tracking—often across borders, continents, and oceans. In addition to making sophisticated warehouse operations even more complex, this all makes it difficult for manufacturers and distributors to remain competitive, keep costs down, and maintain profitability. Ineffective order management, excessive labor costs, and inefficient asset use just exacerbate the problem. To tackle these challenges, manufacturers and distributors must reconsider how their warehouse management practices, processes, and systems need to change in order to improve warehouse productivity, visibility, and costs.
Turning challenges into opportunities
While many companies remain wedded to processes, practices, and systems that perpetuate many of the warehouse management problems
mentioned here, some companies recognize these challenges as opportunities to strengthen their competitive market positions. They are taking warehouse management to new levels by adopting advanced solutions that help them deliver the perfect order, reduce labor costs, and maximize the use of space and equipment.
These solutions enhance warehouse operations by taking advantage of next-level capabilities, such as inventory management, work and task management, radio frequency (RF) and voice direction, labor management, slotting, and kitting and light assembly. Moving beyond the limitations of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, advanced warehouse management solutions position firms to operationally excel and drive profitable growth in today’s hypercompetitive markets.
To read more on how to Conquering Costs Complexity And Customer Demands With Warehouse Management, checkout the complete best practices guide.
And, as always, contact ICCG to help provide you with insight and information. Schedule a complimentary consultation to review your questions.