India is one of the first 4 largest economies. By purchasing power parity it could be the 3rd. What it means is that the scope for warehousing and distribution is immense in India. There was a time when under the previous taxation system that warehousing was developed lopsidedly in those areas where taxation was relatively less or where relaxations were more. With the GST coming into force, this advantage that certain places had, is lost forever. The entire country is one flat earth with similar taxation all over. What it means is that the only reason one place could be preferred over the other could be due to distances and quality of warehouse management. With distance being catered to with the best transportation system in place, WMS software in India is making waves. It can either make a warehouse system top class or it could ruin it entirely. With so much riding on the back of great warehousing, WMS software in India does seem to be a great, great asset to procure, use and grow. As to what and how it can be made great, the following points should be given due consideration!
– Know what the customer wants
The best warehouse and the best warehouse management software in India is as good as a warehouse operator’s knowledge of what the client wants. Customers of warehousing have needs as diverse as humanity itself. Some could be into perishables, others could be dealing in industrial machinery, automotive, cement, ceramics, cotton, wool, and so on. The list of products that need to be warehoused could be more than the stars visible on a clear winter sky. That said, no two clients can ever have needs which are exactly the same- even when they happen to be in the same industry! For that reason, before implementing a WMS Software in India, the operator should do a detailed study and analysis of what is needed right down to the last and minutest of details.
– Evidence (thru data) based management
Warehousing operations are a very significant and important part of any organization and bringing about any changes therein calls for a detailed analysis of existing functionalities as also mapping what there shall be in future as a replacement to the present. In all this, a detailed evidence-based view should be taken thru the WMS software instead of doing things simply on a hunch or as per clients’ express needs. Blaming others for one’s own shortcoming doesn’t take anyone anywhere. Instead, a balanced approach taking actual facts into account can win the day.
– Know each part of the warehouse and what goes on there
A WMS software in the Indian or international context asks the WMS user to know each part of the warehouse and what it does to the whole system. This comes about due to mapping of the WMS with the real-world warehouse. In doing so, the whole facility can be much better used than it ever was in the past. For this reason, before a WMS software is used in the Indian or foreign context, the users should have a very clear and technical knowledge of all their physical assets before committing anything onto the system.
– Remain flexible to changes to make things better
A warehouse, how-so-ever awesome, these days is a variable asset. With time, it may have to be disposed of in favour of a bigger or smaller place as per the client’s convenience. The same applies to the services that are provided in a warehouse which too should be capable of being scaled upwards and downwards as per need. Sometimes, things and activity even though unsustainable, are done to attract business which with time, may have to be left by the wayside. Flexibility in operations is what shall make any WMS software more ideal to the situation.
– Be realistic and talk accordingly
You might have the best WMS software in India and the best warehouse to back it. But there’s always a slip between cup and lip which can sometimes undo the best of WMS and warehousing operations. To be on the safer side, it thus makes sense to first map one’s needs and match with one’s assets, know the gap and bring it up objectively before the client instead of the latter knowing it much after a problem might arise. Truth spoken at the right time sometimes helps strengthen business bonds better than brining the right results later!