A warehouse isn’t just about boxes, pallets, and forklifts. From receiving items to storage and tracking, picking and packaging, and outbound transportation, data flows across a wide variety of warehouse business operations.

The effectiveness with which a company uses such data has a significant impact on warehouse and supply chain performance. Inefficient warehouse operations are often caused by outdated, unreliable data that is stored in disparate systems.

Real-time data flowing via a centralized warehouse management system (WMS) to coordinate all warehouse activities can help businesses maximize warehouse performance. The cornerstone for the perfect linked warehouse is real-time data on inventory, goods, and customers, which minimizes waste, allows for informed decision-making and simplifies operations.

Value is driven by visibility

Internal enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems, as well as supply chain partner apps, are all integrated into the connected warehouse. Smart forklifts, robots, and voice picking are all examples of Internet of Things equipment that can be integrated into the linked warehouse.

Companies may provide real-time information to sales and service workers by integrating warehouse operations into a CRM. With insights into stock levels, inventory turns and carrying costs that affect the bottom line, warehouse and ERP system integration allows for more precise planning and forecasting.

Integrating warehouse operations into a CRM allows businesses to give real-time information to sales and service personnel. Warehouse and ERP system integration enables more precise planning and forecasting by providing insights into stock levels, inventory turns and carrying costs that affect the bottom line.

The Internet of Things

Smart-device technologies, as well as artificial intelligence systems that optimize routes for robot or human operators, are creating new opportunities to drive warehouse and supply chain performance, from within the warehouse to around the world.

These Internet of Things technologies not only make warehouse operations quicker and more efficient, but they also provide a plethora of real-time data that all supply chain stakeholders, including the warehouse, can gather and analyse for actionable insights.

As the speed of business transformation continues to increase, more firms are focusing on future-proofing warehouse operations. Companies want the flexibility to not only respond quickly to change, but also to create change by using disruptive technologies for increased efficiency, partner cooperation, and competitive advantage. Companies are becoming more interested in agile, cloud-based WMS solutions that don’t bind them with the high cost, inflexibility, and delays of antiquated, on-premises legacy systems in order to achieve these goals.

Building a connected warehouse is a significant step toward increasing warehouse efficiency and preparing a firm to successfully navigate supply chain disruptions. Real-time data intelligence gives you the insight and control you need to make significant changes throughout your extended supply chain. 

Companies that prioritize data as much as forklifts and daily shipments enjoy a competitive advantage.