The ongoing dynamics of change also pose a challenge to intralogistics. Flexible, agile and at the same time efficient processes are a “must-have” to be able to meet these challenges in the long run. However, investing lavishly is sometimes not an option. Alternatively, great things can be achieved with a retrofit. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) play a crucial role here.
Change has always been a constant. But the pace has picked up in the face of the pandemic and changing demand patterns. In the process, it also became or is becoming apparent that systems and processes that have proven themselves over a long period of time are reaching their limits and, figuratively speaking, are showing signs of chronic exhaustion. The development in online retailing is also contributing to this. While e-commerce has been established as the “new normal” in the B2C sector for years, but has received a further boost due to Corona, this sales channel is also increasingly determining B2B business. Intralogistics must also be able to withstand the associated demands. If this is only partially successful, however, it is not necessarily a question of the existing plant or the existing storage system. Instead, the required target state in terms of performance can be achieved with comparatively little effort by retrofitting the warehouse management and control system in parallel with the reorganization of the processes.
Unlocking performance potential across the board via retrofit
This is because unrelenting cost pressure is also forcing companies to optimize their process and cost structures in the field of intralogistics. At the same time, customers are increasingly setting the pace and expect high delivery quality with short delivery times in addition to availability and permanent information capability. This is precisely where modern warehouse management systems, such as the pL-Store® WMS, come in. Based on extensive functionalities for warehouse management and control, it also offers a wide range of opportunities for improved process organization. It also allows the integration of new business models tailored to customer requirements. The system enables you to log all transactions and bookings online. Visualization creates transparency throughout, fewer errors occur, and search times are eliminated or noticeably reduced. On top of that, processes can be continuously optimized and storage space perfectly utilized with the help of calculations. Especially helpful in this context is pL-SIM, a simulation tool that allows you to run through, compare and evaluate possible processes. In this way, it is possible to gain an initial impression of what planned processes or material flow movements might look like and the extent to which they fit seamlessly into the overall process. In this way, you align your warehouse more efficiently and significantly more economically overall and have the possibility to react flexibly to changes at any time as well as to map them on an operational level. In addition, well-founded key performance indicators (KPIs) assist in accurate decision-making.
Remain competitive and secure future viability
All in all, a retrofit based on a high-performance, standardized WMS creates the prerequisites for optimal and efficient utilization of all resources, ensuring high availability in conjunction with short throughput times and excellent delivery quality. At the same time, you increase your ability to provide information and keep commitments. This is immensely important, especially in e-commerce, in order to retain customers in the long term. But even the employees benefit: Processes are simplified, tedious searching is eliminated, and operation is conceivably simple because it is intuitive. This idea of simplification is also part of the concept of “Industry 4.0” or “Logistics 4.0,” a goal that companies are getting closer to in the course of the retrofit, also thanks to digitization. Such a transformation based on adapted, modernized and sustainable intralogistics ultimately prepares the ground for increased competitiveness, growth opportunities and future security in dynamic markets.
Know-how transfer and cost-efficient implementation
proLogistik supports you on this path – with expert knowledge of more than 35 years in the field of modernization of intralogistics processes. Our offer for your retrofit measure:
- Free inventory of the current situation
- Consulting with first rough concept
- Detailed offer
- Requirements specification
- Joint planning of the changeover scenario
- Training of employees on the new pL-Store® WMS
- Commissioning (in one or more steps)
- Accompanying the ramp-up phase
- After-sales service = support secured in the long term
