Warehouse management systems (WMS) like SAP EWM, Manhattan, Blue Yonder, NetSuite, and others are the central element in warehouse & supply chain operation management. They manage everything from the moment goods arrive in a warehouse to when they are shipped out.
Many WMS are designed to cover a broad range of functionalities and features to manage all aspects of warehouse operations. However, they try to address so many different needs that they often fall short in providing specialized, intelligent, and optimized solutions for specific tasks within those operations.
For instance, in picking operations basic business rules often govern the process. These rules typically focus on fundamental criteria and do not account for nuanced factors that could boost efficiency and minimize the walking distance covered by pickers.
As a result, there is often untapped potential for optimizing picking processes within WMS, which could lead to improved warehouse performance and reduced operational costs.
Picking can only be done in an intelligent way if warehouses have a digital twin. This allows you to simulate different picking strategies and assess their impact on picking distance throughput time. By running “what if” scenarios, warehouses can identify the most efficient strategies for your special operations.
At Optioryx, we leverage digital twin technology to help companies enhance their warehouse operations. By creating a digital twin, we optimize item picking and reduce walking distances by up to 40%, boosting productivity and throughput. This allows warehouses to streamline order preparation and fulfill more orders with less staff.
Besides just providing a risk-free playground to explore what-if scenarios in picking operations, digital twins also allow warehouses to understand the impact of change to warehouse configurations – whether it’s moving a rack for slotting optimization or adjusting the layout to accommodate new inventory.
For slotting, this means warehouse managers can easily grasp the effects of moving racks and changing slotting configurations. Highlighting warehouse hotspots—areas with higher picking activity—simplifies decisions about facility layout changes and labor deployment, optimizing warehouse operations more efficiently.
Digital Twin technology aims to enhance existing WMS/OMS systems by evaluating the business case for its implementation in warehouse operations. For picking optimization, this involves using microservices that integrate with your current WMS or OMS, adding an intelligence layer without altering your existing workflow.
At Optioryx, we consistently observe increased efficiency, improved warehouse productivity, and reduced distance covered by pickers, regardless of the WMS in use.
Learn about a smarter approach to cartonization in SAP EWM.