We hear regularly about Industry 4.0, Digital Transformation 2.0 and how organisations are adopting AI to help run their businesses more efficiently. These changes are happening at lightning speed and yet the reality in many warehouses across the UK is very different. These are warehouses managed with paper processes, where operatives input the day’s transactions manually using spreadsheets. Warehouses where knowledge is power and information is always slightly out of date. Places where if an operative leaves the business, they take all their knowledge of processes, stock locations and customer special requirements with them, leaving an efficiency gap to fill.

Our message to warehouse managers across the country is simple. If you haven’t transitioned already, make 2024 the year you implement Warehouse Management System (WMS) technology. And when you do, here’s how you can expect to benefit:

Better accuracy and fewer errors
Relying on operatives to manually input the day’s transactions comes with a high risk of human error, it’s a boring task and very easy to make mistakes. By automating key processes like inventory management and order fulfilment, the likelihood of stock being misplaced drops dramatically, further improving overall accuracy levels.

Up to the minute visibility and real time tracking
Alongside the inevitable mistakes made when data entry is manual, there are delays which, when running a busy sales operation, are unacceptable. Switching to paperless systems means management have a real-time view of what inventory levels are. They can see the status of the day’s order pool and know exactly where shipments are in the dispatch dock. Having this level of information available translates into better, faster decision making and improved all round business agility.

Rein in and reduce operating costs
Eliminating warehouse paper processes allows employees to work much more efficiently and follow highly optimised workflows delivering significant business cost savings.

Cut your warehouse carbon footprint
Businesses are setting net zero targets and going paperless will reduce your warehouse’s consumption of paper and help cut waste. For example using technology in a fresh produce environment means stock can be rotated more efficiently and shipped more quickly. The result is faster, fresher deliveries to consumers and less stock being wasted because of sell by date issues.

Poised for business growth
Paper based processes are viable up to a point but once a warehouse reaches a certain throughput, they become unsustainable. In contrast, a paperless warehouse driven by software can scale easily as the business grows. If more operatives are needed for a busy period, there’s no real learning curve to climb before they become fully efficient.

Better place to work
Almost without exception, when a warehouse switches to paperless working, even the most sceptical operatives admit they wouldn’t want to return to the old way of doing things. Technology creates a much more ergonomic and pleasant working environment. Workers can reach their targets more easily, which means higher pay and enhanced efficiency.

Implement ongoing warehouse improvements
Efficiency and accuracy aside, one of the most powerful benefits of going paperless comes from the business insights that are captured automatically whenever a transaction is completed. Over time, this data can be analysed to further optimise warehouse processes, resource utilisation and to enhance warehouse layout.

What are you waiting for?
At a time when many businesses are continually seeking ways to enhance operational efficiency, be more innovative and reduce their environmental impact, it is surprising that many warehouses still haven’t switched to paperless working. Don’t be one of them.

Why not make 2024 the year your warehouse finally ditches paper and spreadsheets? Indigo Software offers a unique rapid results WMS, Indigo QuickStart to help ease the transition for even the most paper driven warehouse.