Business Automation and Software Blog

In order to be competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment, you must eliminate the inefficiencies that come when your different departments don’t talk to each other. Communication needs to be automatic and data needs to be transferred in real-time. It’s time to get rid of functional silos.

Does your warehouse management system (WMS) meet your needs or are you manipulating your processes to fit your software? In order to run your warehouse effectively and – in turn – carry out your business vision, you need to have a warehouse management system that fits your business like a glove. When it comes to the technology you use to manage your warehouse, it needs to be as unique as your warehouse’s processes. And when your business vision changes, you want your WMS to change with you.

Keeping up on the latest technology in distribution and manufacturing automation is important to remain competitive and continuously improve. You need to evaluate key trends and determine which ones will impact your business and which ones will help you reach your goals. We have taken a look at the hottest technology trends for manufacturers and distributors and how these may influence your future.

Passwords are like keys to locks. If you don’t have the key, you don’t open the lock. What if everyone had keys that could open any lock? Your security, email, identity, and business data would be at risk.

Change in business is inevitable. Big and small changes happen all the time from change in personnel and products to new taxes and regulations. Perhaps your company is growing with new customers, more products, new countries and increased production. The question is not whether change will happen, but how well you respond to it. In many industries today, if you do not keep up with change, your business may be left behind.

Manufacturers and distributors are always looking for ways to lower costs and improve productivity in the warehouse. You have probably implemented some level of warehouse automation, but have you eliminated paper processes completely? If not, 2016 should be the year you go paperless. As mobile technology and warehouse management systems capabilities have advanced, eliminating paper is easier and more cost-effective than ever. Not only does paperless warehouse automation save a substantial amount of time, but it also improves order accuracy.

Mobile technology, integrated with your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, can fit into your budget. ERP mobility has become an essential capability for businesses who want the productivity enhancements that it brings. Mobility isn’t just for large companies; small and medium-size businesses are adopting the technology as well. This is because mobile technology may actually lower your overall IT budget. 

Day after day, businesses are looking to increase revenue and control costs. Meeting operational goals and budget requirements can be a challenge, especially when market dynamics and customer needs change unexpectedly. That’s why manufacturers and distributors look toward lean automation to reduce operational costs.

Mobile technology is one of the most valuable tools that you can implement to optimize your warehouse automation. Using mobile technology will result in improved performance and greater customer satisfaction. When you update and change information as it happens, you can create value-added services and a seamless customer experience. You will have greater visibility and control over inventory and stock levels, and more productive employees.

Mobile technology has become engrained in our everyday lives. More and more businesses are incorporating mobile technology into their business processes as well. (See our recent blog, Workforce Mobility is an Important Requirement in ERP Selection.) In order to facilitate mobility, business applications including enterprise resource planning (ERP), CRM, and warehousing software need to adapt to offer full web capability. We are pleased to share that the latest installment of Sage 300 places the entire power of Sage 300 onto the web and enables businesses to easily add mobile access to existing processes.