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If you're thinking about switching to a new WMS, you're probably
more than a little intimidated. That's normal – it's a vital business
decision, and you want to be sure you're making the right one.
Replacing your WMS might pay off in the long run if the new
system offers enough improvements over the old one to make the
implementation process worthwhile.
The following seven questions will help you navigate the selection
process:
This is the most obvious question. Many smaller WMS providers now support
major ERP systems, so you're no longer locked into the WMS provided by your
ERP vendor.
Switching to a new WMS may involve changing warehouse processes, retraining
employees, and adapting to the new system, but a well-planned and executed
implementation makes this much easier. Ask how much experience the vendor's
implementation team has and how their past implementations have gone. This
will give perspective to help make the WMS migration as minimally disruptive as
possible.
This question is vital. Every company has its own unique business processes and
the WMS will usually have to be tweaked to fit them. How responsive is the
vendor? Make sure to take the cost of enhancements into account when
calculating the overall price of the upgrade. If it's difficult to modify the WMS,
how will that affect your workflow? On the other side, an easily customizable
WMS can improve your warehouse in ways you might not realize. As examples,
we have customers that have created unique will-call systems or customized
modules for managing cut items, such as wire.