Warehouse Management System
Our feature-rich WMS takes your operations further
a2b Fulfillment's Cutting-Edge WMS Solution - Built for Your Business
A 3PL's WMS is designed to manage and control the daily warehouse operations. It is the key differentiating factor when it comes to fulfilling orders quickly, accurately, and with care. A WMS handles all warehouse processes, including receiving, inventory management, picking and packing, and interfacing with ancillary systems like shipping. A 3PL’s WMS is designed to manage multiple clients with different configurations for each one. The sophistication and functionality of the WMS can set a 3PL apart from its peers.
3PL WMS Software – Functionality that Matters
Most 3PLs utilize WMS systems that are considered adequate, but very few incorporate tier-one systems that are packed with highly advanced functionality and flexibility. Understandably, most companies looking for a 3PL don’t know the questions to ask or even why they are important, but the capabilities of an advanced WMS will result in higher efficiency and the ability to operate with more flexibility, saving you costs and headaches. Below we break down WMS functionality between basic and advanced, to help guide you on what to look for.
| Basic WMS Functionality | Advanced WMS Functionality (a2b) | |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving | Blind | ASN with variance reporting |
| Putaway | Manual - look for empty | Directed |
| Inventory Control | Basic in/out | FIFO |
| Inventory Statuses | No | Yes - On hand |
| Lot Number / Expiry Control / Serial Number | No | Yes |
| Cycle Count | Manual | Scheduled and exception-based |
| Slotting and rewarehousing | No | Automated |
| Warehouse Selection (DOM) | No | Yes except for handling |
| Allocation | Hard only | Soft then Hard |
| Back Order Management | No | Yes |
| Order Waving | Manual | Automated |
| Waving Logic | None - all open orders | Dynamic - Groups orders with the same or nearby items to reduce travel |
| Order Priorities | No | Yes - automatic based on logic (ex. Amazon Prime) |
| Discreet Pick | Yes | Yes |
| Group Pick | No | Yes |
| Single Unit Pick Process | No | Yes |
| Put-wall capable | No | Yes |
| Batch Processing | Possibly - manual uncontrolled | Yes with system-driven controls |
| Picking | Paper and RF | RF |
| Pick Sequences | Alpha-numerical by location name | Custom path sequences |
| Packing | Basic scan verify | Scan verify with supply capture |
| Packing Slip | Basic | Customizable |
| Custom Labels | No | Yes |
| Cartonization | No | Yes |
| Dimensioning | Manual - susceptible to inaccuracies | Automated |
| Weight Capture | Manual - susceptible to inaccuracies | Automated |
| Integration with shipping | Yes - basic | Yes with advanced rate-shop |
| Equipment Management | No - results in wasted time | Yes - tasks married with the appropriate equipment |
| Quality Control | No | Yes - QC screens |
| Replenishment | No or basic | Yes - min/max |
| Kitting and Assembly | No | Yes - Work Order with Bill of Materials and auto inventory conversion |
| UOM Support | No | Yes - Each |
| Pickfaces | Yes - Fixed | Yes - Fixed and Dynamic |
| Cross Docking | No | Yes |
| Alerts | Possibly | Yes |
| Notifications to client | Possibly | Yes |
| Labor Metrics | No | Yes |
| Integrated with conveyors | No | Yes |
| Integrated billing | Possibly | Yes - highly customizable |
| Online reporting | Yes - canned reports | Yes - built in a business intelligence platform. Detailed and highly customizable |
| Pushed reports | Possibly | Yes - highly customizable |
| Auto-add items and inserts | No | Yes |
| SKU and SKUs/items | No | Yes - automatic |
| Alternate SKU mapping | No | Yes - automatic |
| Auto-carrier mapping | No | Yes |
| Returns Management | Yes - basic | Yes - advanced with reason codes |
| EDI capable | No | Yes |
a2b’s 3PL Warehouse Management System Integrations
Warehouse management systems are only as good as their integration capabilities. a2b’s WMS is designed with cutting-edge Universal Integration Adapter technology, allowing a2b to integrate quickly and efficiently.
Our WMS integrates with all major shopping carts and ERP platforms, which fully automate exchanging order, item, and inventory data between your systems and ours. We integrated receiving, order fulfillment, returns management, and inventory, keeping our systems in sync.
When you partner with a2b Fulfillment, you’re getting a partner invested in your success, with a feature-rich WMS that will save you costs and run your distribution professionally.
The Benefits of a Warehouse Management System
Can a robust WMS save you money while gaining efficiency? At a2b, the answer is Yes!
While there are many benefits to outsourcing your fulfillment services to a2b, leveraging our WMS is high on the list.
The top benefits of our WMS include
- Improved operational efficiency: our WMS automates and streamlines warehouse processes. From inbound receiving to outbound shipments, you will notice seamless operations and most importantly, the ability to scale and handle higher volumes.
- Reduced waste and costs: From optimizing warehouse space and travel paths to managing expiry stock, our WMS minimizes waste. This enables us to quickly scale our facilities to meet our clients’ demands, while keeping your costs to a minimum.
- Real-time inventory visibility: Inventory visibility in real-time provides valuable insights into your business. It quickly identifies SKUs with high or low turn rates, so you can adjust your sales metrics. With this visibility, demand planning and forecasting are easier.
- Improved labor management: As labor costs have soared in recent years, a2b’s WMS helps us monitor labor performance against standards. This higher efficiency leads to lower costs.
- Better customer and supplier relationships: With our WMS, clients enjoy quick and accurate order fulfillment – which increases their satisfaction and loyalty. This directly improves your brand reputation.
Why a2b Fulfillment
a2b Fulfillment has invested millions of dollars in constantly upgrading our warehouse technology and automation. We understand that these tools lead to cutting-edge order fulfillment services.
Our 3PL WMS has been designed with our clients’ needs in mind. As a customer-centric 3PL, a2b is committed to providing the latest WMS technology. Our WMS provides our clients with the efficiency and scalability they need to grow their business, reduce waste, and improve accuracy.