By Ian Hobkirk,
Managing Director of Commonwealth
Historically, mid-tier WMS packages provided companies with a limited set of functionality for a lower price. Only companies with fairly basic distribution center requirements were good candidates for these systems. However, the WMS landscape is changing rapidly. Mid-tier WMS system functionality is expanding and many companies with moderately complex operations are turning to these providers because they now offer the required functionality without the added cost of “all the bells and whistles” of a Tier 1 provider.
To help you decide if a mid-tier WMS is worth evaluation for your company, we created a list of 25 common functionality points, which have traditionally been challenging for mid-tier WMS providers to address. We then asked mid-tier WMS companies whether this functionality was:
- Standard Functionality
- Configurable Functionality
- Customization Required
- Not Available Currently
We also asked about actual usage among their client bases. Was the functionality:
- Currently in use with referenceable clients
- Available but not currently in use
- Not available
Below are the 25 functionality points and our findings:
1. Cluster Picking
Pick multiple orders at the same time and put them in discrete containers by order
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- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
2. “Tandem” Picking
When case picking, two different orders can be picked at the same time utilizing a double-length electric pallet jack or tugger vehicle
- Available but often with some customization required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
3. Receiving Staging By Zone
At receiving, direct inbound product to be staged on a pre-defined movable unit based upon its destination zone
- If available at all, customization is required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
4. Clustered Put-Away
Allow multiple SKUs to be put away in the same trip through the warehouse in a logical pick path
- Available but often with some customization required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
5. Put-Away By Movable Unit
Allow multiple SKUs to be placed on a license-plated movable unit; allow the movable unit license plate to be scanned once at put-away, and direct the put-away of all SKUs on that movable unit in a logical pick-path
- Available but often with some customization required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
6. Pre-Shipping
Calculate weight and quantity of all the multi-SKU pallets on an order before picking
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
7. Dynamic Label Application
Apply a retail-compliant (or other) label to cases at the time of picking with scan confirmation
- Available but often with some customization required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
8. Cartonization
Determine the optimal size shipping container based on the cube and longest dimension of the items which are to be picked for an order
- Available but often with some customization required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
9. Palletization
Prior to case picking, determine the number of cases to be picked to each pallet based on cube
- If available at all, customization is required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
10. Weight-Based Accuracy Confirmation
Weigh a carton or a pallet and compare it to a database of the actual weights – verify if the carton or pallet is within tolerance
- If available at all, customization is required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
11. Two-Tier Bin System
The same SKU can exist in two different bins in the distribution center
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
12. SKU Mirroring
The same SKU can exist in two different bins in the same ZONE
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
13. Pick Restriction
The system can limit picking only to bins designated as “forward pick bins”
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
14. Large Quantity Override
If a single pick exceeds x quantity and will drastically deplete the forward pick area, the system will direct the pick to be made from the overstock bin
- Available but often with some customization required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
15. Min/Max Replenishment
Replenish to a bin if the quantity falls below a pre-set minimum level
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
16. Demand-Based Replenishment
Proactively replenish to a bin if known demand for the item will exceed the quantity in the bin, EVEN IF the bin is not currently below its minimum stocking level
- If available at all, customization is required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
17. Basic Productivity Tracking
Track lines picked per hour by worker regardless of pick type
- Available but often with some customization required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
18. Advanced Productivity Tracking
Track lines picked per hour by worker by pick type (i.e. distinguish between piece picks, case picks, pallet picks)
- Available but often with some customization required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
19. Task Interleaving
Combined put-away/picking cycles – when full pallet is put-away, search for full pallet picks which need to occur in proximity to the put-away bin and place this pick as the next task in queue
- If available at all, customization is required
- Might not be currently in use by any companies
20. Pick Confirmation
Using some form of automatic data capture technology to confirm that the correct item was picked (at the time of pick)
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
21. Cycle Counting
Counting portions of the inventory each day to ensure bin and item-level accuracy
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
22. Track Product By Lot #
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
23. Pick Product By Lot #
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
24. Track Serial Numbers
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
25. Track Country of Origin
- Generally available with minimal customization required
- In use by at least some referenceable companies
In conclusion, savvy companies who conduct a thorough evaluation of technology can often find that improvement is not as expensive as they thought.
Read more about WMS Selection and implementation in these free guides: