Peak Time Pain Relief for Retailer Warehouses

Every day of the year should be a ‘Black Friday’ when it comes to operating an efficient and productive warehouse environment.  

By optimising the layout of their warehouses and equipping operatives with fit-for-purpose WMS systems with precise inventory data, retailers can be assured that all orders are being fulfilled efficiently and profitability. 

Key to this are the warehouse personnel, the pickers, packers and despatchers who need increasing agility to keep in step with peaks either deliberately triggered, or when reacting to seasonal demand from consumers. In the end, it is they who must ensure the right items are picked and shipped on time. 

At the same time, easing the burden on warehouse personnel reduces the risk of high staff turnover, a headache to be avoided at any time of year.

1. Save their legs:

The WMS should map optimum picking routes to avoid pickers unnecessarily crisscrossing the warehouse floor, thereby improving productivity.

The WMS must also allow stock to be placed by operatives anywhere in the warehouse in any location and then remember where it is.One of the main problems with warehousing is if you try to store products in the same location all the time. Sometimes you’ll have more stock than there’s space for, at other times you’ll have lower stock and wasted empty shelf space.

2. Save their time:

With mobile access to the WMS, operatives will quickly see and filter all orders placed, enabling them to prioritise based on order type (e.g. single, multiple, batch) and delivery requirements. To help with picking accuracy and productivity, it is often beneficial to store dissimilar products together rather than, for example, putting all sizes of the same shade of hat on the same shelf, making them hard to differentiate.      

3. Don't waste their time:

Ensure the WMS prevents sending pickers off on a wild goose chasing and searching for items that don't exist; there should be up to the second status reporting on available stock to sell, including items still to be unpacked and awaiting put away, as well as items yet to arrive but can be sold direct from your suppliers’ warehouses.

4. Recognise they’re human:

Double-checks at Despatch will be the last chance for ensuring the right item will be delivered at the right time to the right customer at the correct address. Integration of the WMS with your order processing and shipping software systems will allow staff faster and accurate double-checking of these vital details and make the difference between a happy customer and a disgruntled one, reduce the frequency of returns, and help protect your profit margins.         

5. Reduce their ‘where’s my order’ workload:

Being able to quickly and accurately track and trace individual orders will reduce stress for customer services personnel dealing with high levels of inbound customer enquiries. The WMS should be able to pinpoint who picked it, when, and which carrier is shipping it.      

If your warehouse and WMS system already tick all of the above boxes all well and good. If not, hopefully these ‘stressbusters’ will provide some food for thought.