7 Qualities of Great Warehouse Execution Systems

In the dynamic world of warehouse management, where efficiency and optimization are paramount, the key to unlocking operational excellence lies in understanding the essential qualities of great Warehouse Execution Systems (WES).

These sophisticated software systems play a crucial role in streamlining warehouse operations, improving productivity, and maximizing customer satisfaction. For warehouses striving to stay competitive in today’s market, WES solutions have become indispensable tools for coordinating and orchestrating various tasks, from inventory management to order fulfillment. If you recognize the pivotal role of WES in optimizing warehouse operations, here’s an overview of the top benefits you can expect when leveraging these solutions in your facility.

Top Attributes of Warehouse Execution Systems

1. Improves Operational Efficiency

WES Solutions is the essential bridge that connects and coordinates various components of a warehouse automation infrastructure. Their primary objective is to ensure all operational elements work together seamlessly, promoting efficient information and resource flow while eliminating silos. WES achieves this by harnessing data from multiple sources and providing supervisors with real-time insights to effectively manage warehouse operations. With this level of visibility and control, supervisors can:

• Make informed decisions
• Optimize workflows
• Allocate tasks
• Address bottlenecks promptly

By integrating and streamlining automated technologies and systems within the warehouse, warehouse management systems play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency. They act as a vital link that facilitates the flow of information and resources by leveraging robotics, conveyors, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to automate various warehouse tasks (e.g., inventory management, order picking, and goods movement).

2. Boosts Facility Scalability

Warehouse execution systems are designed to be highly adaptable to growing warehouse layouts and workflows. As the warehouse footprint expands or operational processes are reconfigured, WES can easily adapt to the new layout and ensure optimal efficiency. The WES integrated emulators allow changes and modifications to be vetted to help assure reliability and achieve expected results. This modular flexibility can eliminate or reduce the need for costly and time-consuming reengineering efforts, enabling the warehouse to scale without significant downtime or disruptions. In the case of evolving warehouse operations, the modularity of WES enables a high degree of scalability needed for a growing company. Additional functionality modules can be integrated at any time to meet growth and changing needs. Therefore the flexibility of WES allows warehouse managers to easily integrate new technologies, reconfigure processes, and scale operations to meet the evolving changes and demands of the business.

3. Allows for Seamless Integration

The integration capabilities of warehouse execution systems are paramount in achieving operational excellence. As a result, they are often implemented to establish effective communication with various systems to effectively adapt to the preferred interfaces utilizing WES. To accomplish this, Conveyco has developed an internal emulator, which is capable of modifying existing interfaces to seamlessly integrate with new systems, regardless of interface specifications. This approach ensures the right integration is implemented, mitigating potential issues and ensuring a smooth operational transition. Some examples of common supply chain technology warehouse execution systems can integrate with are:

• Conveyor Systems
• Automated Storage And Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)
• Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)https://www.conveyco.com/blog/warehouse-management-system/
• PandA (Print and Apply Labeling Systems)
• Sortation Systems
• Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
• Putwalls

4. Upgrades Real-Time Visibility

Warehouse execution systems offer a distinct operational advantage to warehouse facilities by providing exceptional real-time visibility to key performance indicators (KPIs) and critical metrics. Since Horizon WES excels in delivering this crucial feature with a user interface that’s compatible across various devices using Google Chrome. Users can utilize devices ranging from laptops, phones, and tablets for ease of use. Likewise, up to four active screens can be open on these screens allowing users to see or compare more information at a time. The unparalleled real-time visibility of WES can also empower supervisors in decision-making by providing key information on system speed, performance, and workloads, as well as monitoring predefined goals that need reassessment. With this comprehensive awareness, supervisors are well-equipped to make informed, data-driven decisions in areas like resource allocation, labor utilization, and equipment optimization.

5. Expands Operational Adaptability

From configuring module functionalities to integrating with existing systems, WES’s modular nature empowers warehouses to adapt and evolve alongside changing facility requirements. This seamless flow of information and analytics within WES contributes to improved operational efficiency and better decision-making throughout the warehouse management process. Some examples of WES modules that vary significantly in their functionality are:

• Putwall System: Manages put walls by intelligently routing the orders to the correct put walls.
• Container Printing: Ensures the right label data is printed correctly and is applied on the right carton, in the right location.
• AMR Management: Allows multiple autonomous mobile robot manufacturers’ robots to be integrated into one system.
• Pallet Building: Ensures accurate and fast pallet building to be executed, tracked and reported on.
• Order Fulfillment: Improves performance by directing orders to the optimum zone based on inventory, labor and utilized technologies to maximize efficiency and minimize order processing time.

It is important to note, again, that a truly modular solution will only provide you with software that includes the modules your operation needs to function today and have additional functionality for tomorrow.

6. Enhances User Experience

Warehouse execution systems are designed with a strong focus on accessibility. It prioritizes factors such as user-friendliness by offering a UI that is customizable, clean, and easy to use. This allows operators to see and interact with the screens with ease and little training. Some additional benefits are:

• Creating an effortless navigation
• Speeding up response times

In fact, Conveyco’s WES solutions offer on-site support to ensure your system responds within an impressive 20-millisecond time frame.

7. Increases Accuracy

WES solutions are instrumental in enhancing accuracy in nearly every aspect of warehouse operations through its quality assurance features. For example, Conveyco’s WES platform incorporates robust quality control (QC) functionality that enables you to implement stringent auditing processes, determine the audit percentage, and focus on high-value products that need close attention. Through the implementation of error reduction measures, WES ensures heightened accuracy and superior quality assurance in warehouse operations. By leveraging these capabilities, you can significantly reduce errors, enhance overall order quality, and instill confidence in your customers, ultimately driving operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Improve Your Warehouse Operations with Warehouse Execution Systems

Great warehouse execution systems are the cornerstone of efficient and optimized warehouse management. These sophisticated software solutions bring forth a multitude of essential qualities that empower warehouses to achieve operational excellence. With their scalability and flexibility, WES adapts seamlessly to evolving needs and processes. They integrate harmoniously with various systems, allowing for efficient automation and streamlined operations. A trusted systems integrator and software provider can help you understand your options and guide you to the solution that makes the most sense for your business. Contact us today to speak with a member of the Conveyco Team.