Modern requirements for warehousing services imply more service in less time. The speed of handling can be increased dramatically, and the number of errors can be significantly decreased as the result of the implementation of the productivity software package WMS.Management, an automated warehouse management system

Main functions of the WMS.Management software package:

• Automated receipt and issuing of goods, including pre-scheduled receipt and issue, on the basis of electronic data exchange;
• Manual receipt and issue of goods and the adjustment of any data, including the customs code and weight;
• Automated direct transfer to the warehouse when the “TRANSFER TO WAREHOUSE” button is clicked, which means that it will now take mere seconds to register, for instance, the transfer from the terminal to the customs warehouse or from the customs warehouse to the free warehouse in the software regardless of the amount of goods;
• The standard goods nomenclature reference for faster manual entry;
• Option of entering the data on arrival and issue into the software beforehand;
• A reporting system providing real-time information about the current inventory balance and the inventory balance on a particular date, warehouse turnover for arrival and issuing, including the features of goods, business lines, warehouses, departments, declaration and settlement card numbers, owners’ orders, invoices, etc.;
• Standard warehouse documentation in conformity with the requirements of the particular company;
• Lot management, management of sell-by dates, working with quality certificates and other functions;
• Stock placement optimization: ABC analysis, rack reconfiguration, layout management (warehouse optimization graphic model);
• Warehouse reporting broken down in terms of business revenue performance: profit per square metre, per cubic metre, per customer;
• Remote access for customers to the information about their goods;
• Functioning as a customs terminal and customs warehouse with automated preparation of current and reporting documents for the Tax and Customs board.

A special version of WMS.Management software has been developed for warehouse complexes operating as parts of supply chains (SCM - Supply Chain Management). Special needs of companies that comprise elements of supply chains require changes in the automated management model. Such changes have been made to the software and implemented in a range of companies. Options like data import and export within the supply chain allow the necessity for the manual entry of goods information to be virtually eliminated and personnel errors to be minimized. Data exchange structuring allows warehouse operations to be performed promptly at low costs while retaining high quality. This version of WMS.Management wan the procurement tender held by TTK University of Applied Sciences for purchasing warehousing software for academic purposes in 2010.

The functional supports three customs status: the customs terminal, customs warehouse and free warehouse modes. Electronic document interchange with customers and the Estonian Tax and Customs Board for the purpose of filing declarations and monthly customs reports is also supported (Complex and NCTS).

The bin location warehousing module and the mobile terminals connected to it work around the problem which arises when it is impossible to pick up or place the cargo and to make changes to its documentation at the same time. Now the cargo can be warehoused upon arrival or picked up before dispatch while it is simultaneously getting customs clearance because information is available in two databases: the data concerning documents and the data concerning the physical location. Please click the link for more detailed information: Bin location warehousing module and mobile terminals
Barcode data scanning is used for faster processing of goods. Barcode scanning also reduces the human error risk considerably because the error risk in the process of barcode scanning is merely 0.03%, and that only if the employee has scanned one label and picked up another item. This is the human factor that unfortunately cannot be eliminated entirely. Still, even in such case the error will be identified by the inspector during the inspection at dispatch, and the customers will receive what they have ordered. Upon the customer’s request, the software can be customized to function with RFID equipment.

The WMS.Management software package uses the bin location warehousing system. The user can receive information about stock balance and the actual location where the items are stored at any moment, including the precise specification down to the end bin on the graphical diagram of the warehouse. The implementation of bin location warehousing technology is necessary so that the storage of items can be streamlined, stock optimization methods can be devised and interwarehouse hauling can be reduced. Graphic reports clearly demonstrate the location in the warehouse, optimizing the pick-up of items in accordance with the actual location of the item in the warehouse. The bin location warehousing technology is based on barcoding and is organized by means of numbering the bins, pallets, items, etc.

Analysing the operation of a warehouse with a broad range of items and large turnover is rather complicated and requires a lot of time. One way to determine priorities is to use the ABC analysis, which will help to define the 20% of items that generate 80% of income and to determine the 20% of items that generate 10% of income but take up 80% of space in the warehouse.

Remote access allows clients to receive real-time information about the status of their items in the warehouse 24/7.

Full integration with the CargoPro software package, a special development for the automation of the management of transportation activities. CargoPro can be customised for any means of transport (motor, railway, marine and air) and the shipment of any cargoes.

There is an option of integration with Marketing and CRM modules, which allow the marketing activities of the enterprise and the activities related to each particular customer to be systematized. In this case, coordinated operation of software modules is ensured, starting with the request preparation stage.