Recently, Twyla Morales, ShipHawk’s Implementation Project manager, and Jeff Hamilton, a partner and consultant at LIDD, teamed up for a webinar to discuss the essential steps to a successful Warehouse Management System (WMS) implementation.
LIDD plays an integral role in implementing ShipHawk’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Transportation Management System (TMS); our shared expertise on the matter has helped identify the five key steps every business should follow for a smooth and successful implementation.
Divided into phases that work in tandem with each other, these five components are necessary in order for your business to operate as smoothly as possible.
1. Discovery
The first area to keep in mind as you prepare for the implementation process is the discovery phase. Morales highlights that learning the ins and outs of your operations in the warehouse by being in person is key to fully understanding the process. By reviewing current WMS or Excel sheets, ShipHawk will examine all aspects of your warehouse processes and retrieve information from different channels: receiving and putaway, cycle counting, replenishment, picking, packing, and finally, shipping. We want to get a good sense of how everything is running—including your carriers, POS, and pack slips—in order to assess how to move forward.
Establishing discovery meetings so everyone stays in the loop is also essential. Hamilton emphasizes that it’s ideal that everything gets transcribed into a requirements document so the information remains in one place; once the document is completed, we can send the write up back so everyone is aware of how to proceed with implementation.
2. Configuration
The configuration stage works in tandem with the discovery phase. This is where ShipHawk tailors the WMS to fit your specific workflows and goals for a customer. In order to achieve this, we have to connect with your ERP; if you’re implementing a new ERP, we’ll require access to work with them to personally configure your ERP.
While ERP configurations can sometimes add complexity, Hamilton notes that this holistic approach is key to ensuring your system is reliable and fully aligned with your operational needs before going live.
3. Site Prep
It’s never too early in the process to start site prepping. While implementing software usually involves back office processes, implementing a WMS requires transporting physical components, which is why preparation is so vital. From understanding how much space is needed for things like picking versus storage, it’s important to have a site prepared for the go-live.
Morales encourages companies to think about the physical layout changes that a WMS would require, and you can have these conversations about best practices and set ups during both the discovery and the site prep phase; being heavily involved in discussion and planning will incidentally result in more efficient workflows.
It should also be noted that initiating a full physical inventory check is an integral part of the preparation process, because if your counts aren't accurate, this can throw a wrench in the implementation process as a whole.
4. User Acceptance
The user acceptance testing can impact whether or not the implementation is successful, so the best way to structure this phase is to build accuracy and confidence. Incorporating the concept of training the trainer, ensuring that experts like ShipHawk or LIDD are a part of the process, is an integral component to drive adoption and set the frontline up for success.
It’s crucial to set up expectations, especially for new customers, as coaching people and making sure they understand the process is important for the refinement period.
Likewise, Hamilton notes that a comprehensive testing document will track and list different kinds of tests you can enact. Like a script, it gives a specific outcome to compare what the actual outcome of the testing is so we can make the necessary adjustments. This back-and-forth tweaking is imperative so the implementation can run efficiently.
Additionally, for warehouse staff who may feel hesitant about the new system, properly informing them about the workflows is a great way to motivate them about the new change; when they see progress, this only motivates them further.
5. Go Live
Before pushing the ‘Go Live’ button, there are a few non-negotiables:
- User acceptance testing must be fully completed and signed off
- Warehouse staff should be trained and comfortable with the new system
- A final physical inventory count should confirm data accuracy
Before the go live, setting up realistic expectations for day one with the new WMS is also important. Plan ahead by planning a reduction in volume for the first few days, as there are certain physical processes that can’t be performed accurately before the go live; running at full volume may be too difficult when first starting out, as you’ll need some buffer time to clean up and revise.
As Morales points out, every business is different when it comes to measuring success, but a good starting point is by referring to the efficiency and accuracy in your daily process. As people learn the new system, these two aspects are going to improve. Day-by-day improvement is the key to any successful operation.
Discover Success With ShipHawk
With ShipHawk’s WMS, you can enhance your warehouse operations and enjoy tier 1WMS functionality so that your warehouse needs are always met. Optimized for omnichannel businesses, some of the benefits you’ll receive include:
- Unmatched ease-of-use
- Intuitive receiving and directed-putaway
- Effortless cross-docking
- Continuous wave optimization
- Adaptive omni-channel picking
- Dynamic and responsive scan-pack
- Unrivaled shipping capabilities
- Directed and interleaved cycle counting
- Insightful visualized analytics
When paired with our TMS, you’re able to streamline your operations with an automated shipping system built for ERP-connected companies. ShipHawk’s shipping automation software helps find the best shipping carriers and rates while saving companies time and money throughout the shipping process. With our Smart Packing capabilities, they automatically select the correct box or pallet for every order, accurately determining packing and shipping rates in real-time.
With our team of experts working closely with you, implementing our agile, highly-configurable WMS and TMS will get you closer to meeting your warehouse and fulfillment needs. Taking note of the five phases of the WMS implementation process, your business will be well-prepared for the road ahead.
If you’re interested in learning more about our WMS or implementation system, please reach out to us!