Advanced Warehouse Management System Seeks To Fill e-COMMERCE

Despite the business world's cautious but wholehearted concession that technology is crucial, one area of business that has remained a veritable no man's land is logistics, the very back end of it.

PULSE Logistics Systems is a company that develops software to run warehouse systems.

It has been also noted that companies have set up all manner of supply chain management systems--ones that ensure offices replenish their supply of pencils and stationery before they run out. It was only five to six years ago that businesses started paying attention to computerized logistics management systems. Furthermore, it has beeen noted that very few have thought to automate the places where they are stored--the warehouse.

Citing a GartnerGroup study, an advanced warehouse management system could totally eliminate the need to execute stock inventories, and push inventory accuracy up to 99.9% and shipping accuracy to 98%.

Pulse currently offers two varieties of its products. These are paper-driven and radio frequency-driven.

The paper-driven system entails using forms to take stock of the warehouse contents and then punching the data into the system. Radio frequency eliminates the need for paper and logs information directly to the database from a handheld device that reads bar codes to identify the stock.

Companies acquiring a logistics system for the first time often opt for the paper-driven application. It signals the firm's desire for a gradual transition to automation. Most, if not all of these companies eventually switch to the more advanced radio frequency-driven system to enhance efficieny.

The PULSE.WMS system uses computer software and hardware with bar coding and radio frequency technology to manage all the processes involved in warehousing. These include product receipt, workflow management, putaway and replenishment. Through order management, product picking and order consolidation, dispatch, freight management and stock-take.

It also has an additional application, e-PULSE, which allows companies to manage their warehouse through the Web. This finds its use in client relations as it enables online order entry and status inquiry, among others.

The system is platform-independent. It can run on such operating systems as Windows or Unix, depending on what the client desires.

The logistics market continues to grow by 25% in the region and 16% worldwide annually emphasising the challenge to optimise your supply chain before your competitors.