WMS Software Checklist - don't start an upgrade without it!
Posted by Brigitte Casemyr on Fri, Jun 18, 2010
Here's a great tool for you to use before you get started on an upgrade project for your warehouse management system (WMS). And certainly you should use it if you are planning an implementation from scratch.
The whole idea behind our wms checklist is to give you categories to ponder and to add to, based on your particular situation.
Could you also use suggestions for how to divide up your planning schedule? Here's a five-step process that we have used with our clients, and it seems to help because it also allows companies to identify the right staff for each step:
Preplanning
This includes a review of your current system's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as the initial list of what you want to do with your new system, but were unable to do with your old system (use our checklist for this stage!)
Intelligence gathering
Information is critical to sound decision-making. The more thorough you are in the information gathering process now for the various systems being considered, the greater the benefits in the long run. We published a guide to evaluating a WMS system, to help with the the WMS systems evaluation process, here's the link again.
Analysis
You'll need to carefully review the information you gathered, so that you can make a sound decision. Make sure to include actual system demonstrations, vists to businesses with the WMS solution already installed, and perhaps even a visit to the vendor's headquarters.
Implementation
Once a WMS solution has been chosen, implementation should begin. This may last weeks or months, and include data conversion, user training and other elements. Since we've done hundreds of implementations, this is something we've become really good at. And if we had only one recommendation, it's to allocate sufficient resources on your end to ensure a smooth and speedy process.
Post-implementation review
This step includes the ongoing monitoring and reviewing of the system. Is it performing as expected? What elements need to be modified, changed, or customized? What optional elements can be added to further enhance system performance?
When done, make sure to benchmark your new wms carefully and to compare it against the old system. Keep benchmarking in order to put employee incentives in place for instance, or to compare your results against industry averages, and to set targets for coming years.
We hope you find this list helpful. Start by downloading our WMS evaluation guide. For more immediate help with the evaluation process, please fill out our contact form for WAC Consulting Group or call us directly at 508-393-7731.