Warehouse Management Systems for Seafood Processing

To keep up with the dynamic changes in the global seafood trade there is a need for better management of warehouses. It is to facilitate this need that the warehouse management system (WMS) comes into play. 

In hindsight, WMS is basically a software application whose main purpose is to aid in controlling and managing day-to-day operations. The WMS software eases the job in the warehouse by not only guiding seafood received but also optimizes the picking, shipping of orders and provides guidelines on inventory replenishment. For Seafood processors, WMS is a cash cow when integrated with seafood ERP solutions. 

Challenges

Some of the challenges faced by seafood processors in respect to storage and transport of inventory are as follows:

1. High operational costs
2. Lack of availability and high cost of labor.
3. Changing taste and preferences of customers
4. Stock outs owing to short lead times and irregular demand
5. Lack of traceability 

Solutions

To accommodate all these challenges, seafood processors need a comprehensive and effective seafood ERP system with an integrated WMS software. A seafood ERP system brings to the table the following solutions:

Optimization of the process of carrying operations by choosing the correct WMS will result in the warehouse working seamlessly. It helps take away the burden of seafood processors in regard to outgoing shipments, and now at the same time can be used to address the highly variable aspects of inbound freight and inevitable-in-house snags.

Efficiency at each stage of workflow is the key to the smooth working of a warehouse. As the WMS provides seafood processors with significant data in order to aid the decision-making process for the utilization of all the resources at work. But sometimes without proper management most of the manpower is not utilized to its best and therefore incurring unnecessary expenses. It is to avoid these expenses; WMS becomes a prerequisite. 

A warehouse working efficiently not only helps in reducing the delivery lead time but also reduces the order accuracy errors. This not only improves customer satisfaction but at the same reduced order errors. An effective WMS will help suppliers garner operational efficiency in turn leading to happy customers making it a win-win for all. 

WMS helps to avoid losses incurred due to improper management of inventory. As and when the inventory or stock is utilized properly not only can seafood processors eliminate the factors of scrap, waste and obsolescence but also work to maximum volume. WMS helps in better management of this kind of stock, because if not dealt with in time this kind of inventory can give birth to huge losses.

Accountability is the key to security and safety as with the help of a WMS seafood processors can provide each employee with a unique user account. Because of this, seafood processors can link transactions to a particular worker as usage of WMS results in audit trails. This level of transparency and accounting brings to the table invaluable goodwill and at the same time accurate accounts for seafood processors. 

A classic example of a seafood ERP player bringing in a WMS system onboard is INECTA. With a 24/7 customer service team and flexible pricing mechanisms INECTA ensures all its seafood processor customers have a smooth supply chain and get a high return on investment in seafood ERP. 

Having seen the losses incurred by seafood processors without a WMS system, seafood ERP has its weight worth in gold. The benefits are not only on a supplier front in terms of storage and transport costs but consequently result in quality.