Three workforce demands to consider when comparing WMS

Technology moves fast, and so does your workforce. We often want a system we can set up now that will still make sense years down the line.

That's a fair goal, but it can miss something more immediate: making sure your WMS actually works for the people using it every day. A disconnect between your team and the tools they use leads to slower operations, rising costs, and higher turnover.

In the warehouse, every unnecessary delay harms your business. So here are three things worth keeping in mind during WMS selection, whatever size operation you're running.

Knowledge and expertise with tech

Warehouse workers now interact with consumer-grade interfaces daily, i.e smartphones, apps, touchscreens. Those experiences shape what feels intuitive to them at work. If your WMS looks and behaves like legacy enterprise software, expect a steeper learning curve and more pushback.

Consider that UX when looking at a WMS. Is it accessible for workers at different experience levels? Does it support mobile or voice-directed workflows, or is it desktop-only? Does it build on the processes you already have, or require staff to relearn everything from scratch?

If your WMS doesn't match the capabilities of your workforce, you'll spend more on training or find yourself hiring around its limitations. The usability of the platform matters as much as its feature list.

Select the right WMS for your organization with our WMS Selection Survival Guide

A changing workforce

High turnover is one of the biggest operational challenges in warehousing. When experienced staff leave, they take institutional knowledge with them...the kind that used to sit with long-tenured managers who are no longer always in place to pass it on.

Take time to identify where the real gaps are in your team. Think beyond technical skills and look for gaps in judgment, leadership, and process knowledge. Then consider how well a WMS can provide the decision-making support your team needs.

Can your WMS forecast trends and make recommendations to increase inventory levels based on historical, seasonal trends in your operations? Does it have a platform that studies the routes your team takes and makes suggestions to improve efficiency?

Technology won't fill a skills gap outright, but it can give less experienced team leaders the context they need to act with confidence.

Individual-level tracking and metrics

Your WMS can help you manage your team more fairly and effectively, not just your inventory. Tracking and reporting at the individual or team level gives you a clearer picture of what's happening on the floor.

That data lets you tie recognition to actual performance and show staff how their work affects the operation. It's a more concrete basis for rewarding people than vague praise, and it's easier for managers to act on.

You'll also spot where someone is struggling before it becomes a bigger problem. Use that data to identify the right training for the right person, keeping good staff engaged and improving operations in the process.

The more visibility your WMS gives you into workforce performance, the better placed you are to make the right call when that pressure increases.