Why Opt For A Cloud Based Warehouse Management System?

Managing a warehouse need not be so hard! A Cloud based warehouse management system helps warehouses get their act together and focus on what’s most important. Overly packed workers, stockouts, overstocking, delayed order processing, disgruntled customers. All such inefficiencies can be eliminated with cloud-based WMS.

What’s in a cloud based warehouse management system that tick all the boxes for efficient warehouse management? Is it worth looking into for your business? This blog will give you all the answers you need.

What are Cloud-Based Warehouse Management Systems?

Imagine managing a warehouse on sticky notes and over the phone—chaos, right? That’s where cloud-based warehouse management systems or cloud based WMS come in.

An organization’s web-based central to track everything from inventory to order completion on the internet is called a cloud-based WMS. As in the name, the major advantage of these systems is that they are based in the cloud. This brings in many benefits in itself. It includes reliable backup and security during disasters, greater mobility for management on the go, and more. However, cloud based WMS is so much more than that. It has the astounding ability to efficiently streamline complex warehousing tasks while maintaining real-time visibility across data.

What are the Advantages of Cloud-Based Warehouse Management Systems?

Adopting a cloud based WMS is like trading in a bicycle for a sports car. When switching to a cloud-based WMS, everything moves faster, smoother, and with a lot less effort. Here are some unique benefits from cloud-based WMS:

1. Automatic Software Updates & Security Improvements

You no longer have to upgrade the software format or install fresh security patches with a cloud-based WMS. All updates are done incidentally by the service providers themselves. Your system will automatically get the latest features and security protocols without you having to lift your finger.

2. Disaster Recovery and Backup

Spill coffee all over your warehouse computer, and you’ll face a complete system shutdown. Traditional on-premise systems could result in losing important data due to accidents. However, with cloud-based WMS, the data will be securely shifted to the cloud from backups. It reduces the chance of data loss and allows quick recovery from any sudden failure. This means peace of mind to businesses during disasters or system failures.

3. Lower Environmental Impact

Running your servers requires a lot of energy, adding up to a much larger carbon footprint. The top cloud based WMS solutions are hosted on shared but optimized data centers with energy efficiency in mind. This greener route helps reduce your company’s environmental impact. It’s great for your sustainability report, too!

4. Seamless Collaboration Across Teams and Locations

A cloud based WMS is just like a shared document in a cloud-based system where multiple people can edit it simultaneously. Everyone in your supply chain, suppliers and customers, can observe the same up-to-date information. This is irrespective of where they are. You thus have better communication, quicker decision-making, and fewer errors due to obsolete information.

5. Predictive Analytics to Proactively Make Better Decisions

Advanced analytics and AI-driven tools form a part of most cloud based WMS solutions. These tools analyze historical data and predict your future demand. This way they help you get ready for stock fluctuations. It ensures you have no surprise out-of-stock issues or over-ordering. You get a perfectly balanced and well-forecasted inventory.

6. Increased Customizability and Integrations

A cloud based Warehouse Management System is not one-size-fits-all. With a good technology partner, your WMS can be fitted with custom-tailored features to fit your business. This includes your ERP, CRM, or even out-of-the-box integration with certain e-commerce platforms. It’s like a tailored suit for your warehouse that fits perfectly and adapts to the changes in your business as it grows.

7. Mobility for Management on the Go

For many warehouse managers, being on the move and not caged behind a desk is necessary. This is where cloud-based warehouse management systems help. These systems can be accessed from any mobile device, allowing managers to see, approve, and adjust operations from anywhere. It’s like having your whole warehouse in your pocket, whether you’re out there on the floor or on a well-deserved vacation.

8. Continuous Improvement with Feedback from the Community

Good tech providers commonly go into feedback loops with users in cloud based WMS to ensure that product evolution is driven by customer needs. As users point out pain points or make suggestions for improvement, over time the system gets smarter and better. It is like a shared community of warehouses that help build the system incrementally to be more efficient with every update.

Traditional vs. Cloud-based WMS: What’s the Real Difference?

Comparing a cloud based warehouse management system to traditional, on-premise WMS platforms is like comparing streaming music on Spotify to owning a CD collection. Sure, the CDs might feel more in control, but Spotify can give unlimited access to everything, anytime and anywhere, without the clutter. That’s what cloud WMS brings to the table.
Here’s a breakdown of how cloud based WMS platforms differ from traditional WMS:

1. Anywhere, Anytime Accessibility

Traditional WMS systems are usually locked into one physical location. This really means you need to be on-premises, at best, or fiddle with complex VPNs to stay in touch with what’s happening inside the facility. With a cloud-based WMS, you only require an Internet connection. You could be sipping coffee at the warehouse, meeting on the other side of the world, or even just at home. You can still overview inventory, operate orders, and make real-time decisions from any device.

2. Scalability Without Headaches

With a regular WMS, growing your business often means investing in more servers and IT infrastructure. That can very quickly become a huge logistical and financial headache. By contrast, cloud-based WMS platforms scale easily: you pay only for what you need. Growing from one warehouse to five? Easy! Your cloud solution grows with you and doesn’t require any costly upgrades or new hardware.

3. Reduced Upfront Costs

With traditional WMS, you had to invest in expensive hardware, IT staff, and subsequent maintenance. On the other hand, when you go onto a cloud-based WMS, you pay your subscription fee, and the provider takes care of everything, from security to updates. This model reduces upfront costs while freeing you up to run your warehouse, not servers.

4. Faster Implementation and Updates

A traditional WMS requires months for setup, whereas a cloud-based WMS goes live in days or even hours. Because the updates are automatic and handled in the background, there’s no need for an IT cavalry if the system needs a tune-up.

5. Security and Compliance by Default

Cloud-based WMS is more secure than traditional in-house systems. Tech providers invest in top-tier encryption, disaster recovery, and compliance with international regulations. This means your data is protected 24/7.

6. Smoother Integration with Modern Tools

Traditional WMS platforms rarely work well with newer technologies such as IoT, robotics, and AI-powered systems. Cloud-based WMS platforms are built for modern enterprises and work well with innovations at the edge. It is the difference between using a rotary phone and a smartphone—one struggles to keep up, and the other is ready for whatever the future brings.

Read more: Warehouse Management Systems: Business Applications & Case Studies

Are Cloud-Based Warehouse Management Systems the Future?

Migration to cloud-based WMS is not a fad but the future of warehouse operations. Why? Let’s look at some very unique reasons that go further than just speed and cost savings.

1. Real-time data accuracy

This is one major contributing factor to cloud-based WMS being the future. Precise records of everything—from ‘Inventory’ to ‘Order Fulfillment’—are maintained for modern warehouses. Most traditional systems have a gap in the time between capture and processing. Cloud-based platforms present real-time visibility of literally every aspect of your operation—much like knowing your bank balance on the go. This level of real-time accuracy is not just a plus; it is fast becoming a prerequisite given growing customer expectations.

2. Innovation readiness

The cloud-based WMS systems are built on a foundation to integrate seamlessly with new technologies coming up, such as AI, machine learning, and IoT. Just visualize a future wherein your warehouse could reorder its stock automatically, optimize layouts, and even manage robotic workers—all on account of intelligent cloud integration. Now, traditional systems could hardly cope with such a pace and innovation.

3. Global synchronization

This is another reason cloud-based WMS platforms are here to stay. As e-commerce goes on booming, business scales globally, and warehouses in every different country or continent should be on the same page. A cloud-based WMS means that warehouses worldwide have the same data. This means consistency and not the chaotic nightmare of dealing with a plethora of systems.

4. Sustainability

Lastly, sustainability is the future of warehousing, and cloud-based solutions are inherently much greener. Reducing physical servers helps lower the energy consumption of a company and its overall carbon footprint, hence making your warehouse more sustainable in the long run.

How Fingent Can Help Leverage This Technology

At Fingent, we have experience adopting a cutting-edge cloud-based warehouse management system specifically tailored to businesses’ requirements. We ensure that the move from traditional WMS platforms toward newer, cloud-based solutions is seamless. By incorporating our experience, we aim to help unlock a company’s full potential from its warehousing operations.

Our end-to-end WMS services include strategy, implementation, and continuous support. It’s not just about the technology but a partnership that ensures your warehouse is always at peak efficiency. From advanced AI integration to simplifying the user experience, Fingent ensures your cloud-based WMS stays updated on the latest trends and innovations.

Explore your possibilities with a smart custom-built WMS solution today! Contact us now!