Industry Focus – How to pick the right WMS supplier – a checklist

How to pick the right WMS SUPPLIER:

Anyone who works in it will tell you that the warehouse management industry has some very unique challenges and requirements. It’s complex, and made up of lots of different, often quite fast-moving parts – each of which typically interfaces in some crucial way with another part of the supply chain. When it works, when it flows, it’s a thing of beauty. 

When it doesn’t, well… let’s just say that it’s not.

Which means that when you’re ready to move your business to the next level, by, say, installing a new WMS, it’s really important to find the right people to help you do it. But how do you know who the right people are? Here’s a checklist that explains how to pick the right WMS Supplier.

There are some criteria you can use to identify them, and some questions you can ask yourself (or them).

1. Do they have deep industry knowledge?

Seasoned WMS providers have a thorough understanding of the moving parts involved in the warehouse management industry. They possess deep industry knowledge and insights that they’ve gained over years of working with diverse clients across various sectors. Expertise like this allows them to see common problems before they arise – saving you time and money, and minimising stress. How long have they been doing what they’re offering to do for you?

2. Do they have a proven track record?

Experienced WMS providers will have a proven track record of successfully implementing WMS solutions for lots of different clients (and different types of clients). A track record of delivering successful projects demonstrates an ability to understand individual client requirements and to effectively deploy WMS systems that achieve tangible results. Can your prospective provider point to a long line of previous successful installs?

3. Do they employ industry best practices?

With experience comes a wealth of knowledge about what actually works – AKA industry best practices. Experienced WMS companies will already have encountered (and solved) a wide range of warehouse management-related challenges. They’ll bring knowledge of efficient workflows, optimized processes, and industry-specific best practices to the table. They’ll recommend software that works. Leveraging their previous experience and expertise can significantly improve operational efficiency, reduce errors, and maximize the benefits you’ll get from implementing your new WMS. Can they tell you what could go wrong, and how they mitigate against it? How robust is the product that they are suggesting?

4. Do they work with a product that has integration capabilities?

These days, WMS systems have to be able to talk to other systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), or Customer Relationship Management (CRM). This kind of integration is a given if you’re looking for seamless data flow and streamlined operations (which is the point of installing all of the above systems). Experienced WMS providers will probably have worked on lots of different integration projects with lots of different systems. Experience like this means that they can handle the kind of complex data that you’ll need to. Do they have a list of the products that their product talks to?

5. Do they have an industry network and partnerships?

Experienced people tend to like to work with other experienced people. Which means that established WMS companies will often have quite an extensive network of industry partners and collaborations. These partnerships can provide additional resources, specialized solutions, and integrations that further enhance the capabilities of your WMS. And having access to a robust network means that your selected WMS company can deliver comprehensive solutions that addresses your specific business needs. Take a look at the partner page on their website – who do they work with? Have they been recognised by their partners with any awards or commendations?

6. Do they provide ongoing support and maintenance?

An experienced WMS provider will understand the importance of ongoing support and maintenance. They’ll have established support processes, documentation, and customer service structures in place to ensure that if anything untoward happens, their customers get prompt assistance and resolution of issues. Their experience will enable them to provide reliable post-implementation support and timely system updates to enhance the functionality and efficiency of the WMS solution they installed for you. Do they offer support and maintenance that will suit your operation?

7. Can they offer customization and scalability?

Every warehouse operation is different – even if they are run by the same business. Experienced WMS providers understand the importance of customization and scalability that’s required to meet the unique needs of your business. They have likely encountered various business models, warehouse layouts, and industry-specific requirements. This experience enables them to tailor their WMS solution to specific client needs, ensuring a customized and scalable system that can adapt and grow with your business. Ask them what kind of future-proofing the solution they’re installing can give you. Can it grow when it needs to? What additional infrastructure would that require? How configurable is it? Can it change the way that you want your business to change?

If you have any more questions about how to pick the right WMS Supplier, please feel free to contact us on info@socius24.com