In the Air - HRAI Industry News

The warehousing and distribution space is awash in new technologies and innovations. Sometimes, however, the fastest (and most budget-friendly) way to upgrade operations is to extract full value from existing tech. 

It’s a strategy worth discussing, says Will Quinn, industry veteran and author of How to Unlock the Full Potential of Your Existing Technology in Distribution. When it comes to the tech with the most potential, look no further than enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and warehouse management system (WMS): “Based on my observations and experience, most companies seem to use only a fraction of these systems’ capabilities. Organizations spend a lot of money on the software and implement it enthusiastically, only to fail to exploit all its features. They simply replicate what they have always done in a new system.”  

Indeed, companies can fall short of using their ERP or WMS systems to their fullest. This can be due to a lack of employee buy-in, training, or ongoing support. It can also be that a company has not explored all the ways its ERP and WMS investments can benefit its business in terms of streamlining processes, optimizing warehouses, forecasting demand, and saving resources. "Encourage system exploration," says Quinn. "Set aside time to dig into features you haven't used. You might find automation tools or predictive analytics waiting to be leveraged." 

It pays to take a fresh look at what current systems can do. That begins, says Quinn, with documentation: "One of the best things a company can do is document its systems completely. That means creating step-by-step descriptions of your essential processes, with screenshots, so that employees know what to do and how to do it efficiently. It also means promoting the culture of using the system and taking some time to navigate through the menu, settings and features to see if any preferences or tools can help increase productivity." 

This documenting process doesn't need to be a time-sink. In fact, artificial intelligence (AI) can help make documentation a breeze by translating rough notes into official documents and training materials. For example, Quinn writes: "Start with your raw workflow. Type in the step-by-step process, like 'scan bin with handheld, verify quantity against ERP, update system with confirmed count' and (use a) GenAI tool to polish it into a professional training document formatted for Microsoft Word."  

You may be surprised what a little exploration and training will uncover when it comes to existing tech. That's not to say investing in new technologies isn't an effective strategy; rather, there is value in maximizing what you have before making a replacement or upgrade. 

"Imagine two distributors using the same ERP system," adds Quinn. "One struggles with outdated technologies and achieves 90% inventory accuracy. The other has documented its processes, unlocked the system's potential, and achieved 99% accuracy. Who secures the big deal in the next round? The gap is not in the software. It lies in how the software is used."  

Learn more about unlocking the full potential of your current warehouse and distribution technology. Read Quinn’s full article at the Distribution Strategy Group website.