Due to the lightning-fast developments in logistics,n many companies are now forced to replace their old warehouse management system (WMS). What do you look for when choosing a supplier and a new system? Independent WMS specialist Jos Koenders explains. "Ask yourself: where do I want to be in five years' time?"
The current WMS market is primarily a replacement market. Many companies in logistics made the switch to a WMS about 15 years ago. Due to developments in robotisation and mechanisation, those systems are now in need of replacement. "There is an awful lot going on in the logistics world," states Koenders, who works at Van den Elsen Logistiek Advies. "Developments in ICT are happening at lightning speed, but there are also all kinds of external factors that play a role: the Brexit and an impending international trade war are threats to the economy, logistics service providers struggling to implement rate increases and thus unable to take sufficient advantage of the booming economy, international web shops expanding their operating area considerably. As a company, you have to respond smartly to this. The WMS has a pivotal role in that big picture."
Define vision
Van den Elsen Logistiek Advies advises companies when buying a warehouse management system. The first thing companies should do during their search? Take a good look at their processes and define a vision. "Where do you want to be in five years? Do you want to grow? And will you invest in people or in processes, so that you can do more with the same number of people? Are you in a sector where you have to meet the latest requirements? Actually, every choice in ICT should be focused on the future."
Click with supplier
An important factor in choosing a WMS is the supplier itself, argues the consultant. There has to be a click between the customer and the supplier. "Meet different suppliers and visit references. One supplier will go for a delineation of needs and requirements. The other looks at the budget and the wish list and then goes with an agile method. It has to suit your company," advises Koenders. With providers who have separate sales and implementation teams, good cooperation between them is a point of interest. "You find this out when you talk to the supplier's customers"
Standard or customised?
Then there is a choice between a standard package or customisation. There does not seem to be an unequivocal answer to this, although most companies can get by with a standard package, according to Koenders. "But there are also companies that have a specific demand. A standard WMS will then not suffice." One example is bol.com, which chose Hardis Group's Reflex WMS. The basis of that WMS is standard, with the possibility of a shell of customisation around it. Hardis provides the basis; bol.com's ICT department can make its own changes to the shell. Upgrades to that base also do not affect the customisation that is put in place around it. "If, as a customer, you do opt for customisation, make sure it can be included in the upgrades. A point of attention here is that this is included in the annual fee to the supplier."
WMS in the cloud
In recent years, there has been a shift towards cloud-based systems. This has advantages when, for example, you want to set up remote warehouses and use the system from multiple locations. "So here again you have to look to the future," concludes Koenders. "There are companies that don't trust the cloud (yet) and are conservative about online security. That security is also quite a thing, but that has been recognised by vendors in recent years. So steps have been made in it."
ICT & Logistics
On 7 November, Jos Koenders will give a seminar on choosing a WMS during ICT & Logistiek. Anyone who wants to know what is going on in the WMS world is welcome there. "I and my colleague René van den Elsen will show how we proceed with a WMS selection and give an overview of the differences between packages. Furthermore, we discuss the latest trend in the WMS field. Here you can think of algorithms to optimise schedules, robotisation and mechanisation."
Register for ICT & Logistics and this seminar here.
