A warehouse is a headache for the head of an enterprise, accountants, and storekeepers. It resembles a pool into which the company’s working capital drowns. Warehouse accounting programs help reduce the degree of chaos. They will not replace an experienced storekeeper, say specialists from a SaaS development company, but there will be more orders. We will tell you about the advantages of using software for accounting for valuables at an enterprise
Advantages of Automation
A warehouse management program is a significant investment in your business’s development, as it allows you to increase efficiency and save time and resources.
Other advantages:
- Real-time control – employees know what is where, the number of material assets, and their movement between warehouses, sections, and write-offs.
- Efficient management of balances – the volume of missorting is reduced (ideally, this problem is completely solved), and the storekeeper or manager can replenish stocks promptly.
- Organization of personnel work: The manager evaluates the volume of work and the dimensions of the goods and can quickly decide how many loaders need to be brought out, what equipment will be needed, and how many workers can be freed up for other activities (current inventory).
- Reduction of operating costs—For inventory, there is no need to close the warehouse, store, and stop shipments. Current accounting can be conducted by section or by a specific group of goods.
- General business management: Normalizing processes taking into account material assets has a positive effect on the enterprise’s economic results.
The disadvantages of using a warehouse accounting system are the financial costs of its implementation (this includes not only software but also additional equipment—sensors, barcode scanners, etc.) and staff training.
How to Choose
There are many different offers on the software market. What to pay attention to:
- Functionality—All programs are similar. The best option can be modified or customized for a specific business with its production features.
- The ability to use various additional equipment, such as a cash register or a connection with an online store or marketplace.
- Easy to use—Warehouse workers, as a rule, are people without higher education. Therefore, intuitive visuals will facilitate training and reduce enterprise costs.
- Access to technical support, its availability – the best option is round-the-clock support.
Other points include the country of manufacture, grace period for training, and commissioning. Sometimes, it is worth listening to user reviews and competitors’ opinions.
Stages Of Warehouse Modernization
Implementation of new software and warehouse standards takes time. The process of installation and organization of inventory control is carried out in 4 stages:
- Determine the requirements for the software and automation methods—not only choose the program you like but also purchase additional equipment and conduct the necessary communications.
- Installation and debugging are the technical side, including the period for staff training. In addition, inventories are carried out, and the balances of material assets are entered into the software (qualitatively (indicating the price) and quantitatively (based on the results of the inventory)).
- Evaluation of the system’s operation.
- Active work, including control over balances and employees.
Do you need software to organize warehouse operations? If you have a small store and do not expect development, you can refuse—at the expense of personal time. If you plan to expand your business, this is simply a necessity.