The Material Handling Blog

While automation equipment is certainly a large factor in optimizing warehouse operations, it’s important to remember that the software managing the system is just as vital. For automation, the WES can help expand on WMS functionality, helping to improve total warehouse communication, simplify integration, enhance visibility and more.

The term ‘Warehouse Management System’ (WMS) is synonymous with the management of operations within a distribution center. But there can be gaps within the WMS’s broad scope that require another layer of integration to truly allow the system to operate as designed, especially when it comes to automation. Warehouse Execution Systems (WES) have been created to operate under the WMS to help fulfill business needs not easily managed by the WMS. In fact, it is a crucial element to enabling more automation in warehouse operations.

Downtime for fulfillment operations quickly adds up to lost revenue and the ability to restore operations is critical, especially for systems that rely on heavy automation. Don’t get caught in a tough situation. Here are six details worth knowing about warehouse software support plans.

Automation in software can be a very powerful thing, when done correctly. Here are some tips on how to analyze whether automating a process is the right decision.

Velocity slotting can drastically improve order pick time and operator productivity, if used correctly. Here's what you should keep in mind.

One of the most important questions you should ask before choosing your material handling systems provider is: do they program in an open controls architecture?  The implications of the answer might surprise you.

If your warehouse management system provides countless amounts of raw data, a database management program such as Microsoft Access can help you maximize all that valuable information.

In 2009, in an attempt to appeal to a younger audience, Pizza Hut began to market itself as “The Hut.” Now, Pizza Hut themselves would admit that nothing about the company, their pizza, their restaurants or policies had changed. This was simply a way to get into the conversation of the “texting generation.” This rebranding or renaming practice is performed in every type business, and it is currently taking place in the material handling industry.

As pressure mounts, retailers are depending on automated facilities with material handling equipment for efficient processing of large volumes of orders. But aside from the equipment, software is taking center stage for ensuring order deadlines are met.

In the past, warehouse and distribution products fell into two camps--material handling equipment and warehouse software. However, companies soon found it advantageous to offer both, allowing them to implement end-to-end warehouse systems for their customers.