| But do what does your company really need? A | | | | Where warehouse management is (usually) a |
| fully-fledged custom warehouse management system | | | | seamless mesh of integration, an asset management |
| can track everything from stock location, warehouse | | | | system controls just one aspect of logistics - the |
| activity monitoring and user activity tracking, whereas | | | | assets (and inventory) of your business. A barcode |
| asset management software is more focused on | | | | scanner will usually be the interface of choice for |
| managing assets and/or inventory through a | | | | most companies, although this is set to change with |
| barcoding system. Warehouse management software | | | | the advent of RFID tagging. Either way, stock or |
| and asset management software can be a great | | | | assets are managed through a central system much |
| way to keep track of your assets and inventory, but | | | | like warehouse management software and can be |
| it all begins with assessing your needs and | | | | tracked at their different stages in the supply chain. |
| requirements. | | | | Wasp Barcode, the barcode scanning company, |
| Warehouse Management Software | | | | distinguishes assets as products which are used by |
| As the name suggests, warehouse management | | | | the company and may need to track their assets |
| software encompasses a large part of your logistics | | | | based on who has them etc. Inventory management, |
| operation, from tracking products from your | | | | on the other hand, is much more fluid in its operation |
| suppliers, its storage and user interaction to its final | | | | since this is incoming (from suppliers) and outgoing (to |
| destination. This process is accurately and closely | | | | customers) stock. In their line of products, then, |
| monitored by a barcode scanning system that can | | | | asset tracking software is all about locating assets |
| identify products and receipts that need to be logged | | | | whereas inventory management software is basically |
| and eventually tracked from the warehouse | | | | tracking the input and output of stock in a business. |
| management system itself. | | | | Despite this distinction in product type, if you need to |
| If your business is involved with the delivery stage of | | | | track stock accurately (probably a requirement of |
| the product, consider an automated service where | | | | most successful businesses!) and even want to |
| the delivery route is planned according to multiple | | | | update your customers with current stock levels |
| delivery points in any given delivery service. This will | | | | (common in the case of e-commerce), then |
| typically be implemented when goods are picked for | | | | inventory management software is really the only |
| delivery, a real time saver since loading personnel will | | | | way to go to ensure quality and efficient stock |
| first of all be able to choose the correct stock that | | | | taking. |
| will be selected on a certain day and then locate the | | | | Which One? |
| stock according to its inventoried state. | | | | When it comes to choosing, the most obvious |
| As you can see, it's a highly integrated approach that | | | | difference in the two types of stock management is |
| relies on correct user input and reliable software that | | | | scalability. If your company is involved with picking |
| will bridge each stage of development. Of course, this | | | | stock from a supplier, storing in a large facility, selling |
| centrally managed warehouse system is even more | | | | to customers and delivering the goods, then |
| valuable when you have multiple warehouses. As a | | | | warehouse management software is certainly a wise |
| result, web-based warehouse software is a much | | | | choice. On the other hand, small businesses might |
| more attractive option in that different warehouses | | | | choose asset management software in conjunction |
| can store and retrieve information based on real-time | | | | with barcode scanners to maximise their stock |
| inventory information - especially effective when you | | | | management accuracy, ultimately reducing the time |
| can synchronise data with existing products, such as | | | | and cost for unnecessary deliveries and customer |
| Sage or QuickBooks. | | | | dissatisfaction. |
| Inventory Management Software | | | | |