Logistics Insights Podcast

Why You Need a True Platform for Autonomous Mobile Robots

Autonomous mobile robots are coming to a DC near you - likely your facility - and probably soon. A.M.R.’s have taken the distribution world by storm, driven by both operational efficiencies and the challenges with finding enough labor in most US markets.
This podcast dives into the benefits that can be achieved, the challenges, and the keys to making your investments future-proof.

The Core Benefits of Warehouse Management Systems

Warehouse Management Systems are well-known, yet we still continue to find many companies that are new to WMS. 
Even for managers with some WMS experience, we’ve found it useful to review the core benefits that a WMS delivers. Here they are...

Building Direct to Consumer Fulfillment Capacity and Capabilities

Direct-to-Consumer (or DTC) strategies are very popular right now in retail and consumer goods companies and it’s easy to understand why - no company should be missing out on this megatrend with the numbers skyrocketing over the past year and COVID-19 pandemic.

Lessons Learned from Dozens of Cloud Warehouse Management System (WMS) Implementations

Warehouse Management Systems – from some vendors at least – were a little late to move to the Cloud. Softeon has been doing Cloud WMS deployments for many years, but has really seen adoption take off in the past two year. 
This is due to the major advantages from Cloud deployments in such areas as time and cost of the implementations and ease of system management post-go live, requiring little internal IT resources.
After a significant number of Cloud WMS deployments, Softeon has gained insights that are potentially of interest to prospective WMS adopters, which we’ll summarize in this broadcast.

Warehouse Execution Systems - Not ONLY for Automated DCs

Most WMS systems in the past did not concern themselves with utilization of materials handling equipment.
The result: big peaks and valleys in volume, resulting in lots of wait time and reducing total system throughput.
WES was developed to address that challenge, using algorithms to level-load cartons on to the equipment, and using techniques such as waveless order picking to meet that goal.
That capability can deliver real value and either increase throughput from an existing system, or reduce the size, floor space and cost of new equipment being planned.
But there has been little focus on WES for manual or only modestly automated facilities. Softeon is working to change that.
 
https://vurbl.com/station/4Hg29rMKQY0/
 

Understanding the Opportunities for Put Walls in Order Picking - Part II

Why are put walls becoming so popular?
Order picking efficiencies are gained through use of batch picking, where picks are grouped so that all items needed for orders to be processed in a given wall module or modules are picked in one stop in the picking area. This is generally much more efficient than discrete order picking

Understanding the Opportunities for Put Walls in Order Picking

An introduction to the increasingly popular use of Put Walls for order fulfillment.

Trends in Distribution Center Labor and How Technology Can Help

Before the virus pandemic, labor challenges in distribution centers were almost at crisis levels.
The reality is there are many tools available to take on the DC labor challenge, whether your issue is labor costs, labor availability, DC throughput or like many all three.

Understanding Distributed Order Management (DOM) Part 2: The Top Use Cases

In our previous episode, we discussed Distributed Order Management or DOM software solutions. In great summary, traditional order management systems are order processing oriented, while DOM is more focused on order fulfillment.

Understanding Distributed Order Management - DOM

A DOM system serves as a powerful hub that enables omnichannel commerce; integrates the extended supply chain; optimizes inbound and outbound order routing; provides real-time network inventory visibility, allocation, and management; automates complex channel and customer requirements; and maximizes profitability while meeting customer service commitments.