Many business owners run their warehouse for a long time using only an ERP system or simple in-house IT tools. This approach can work until the scale of the business starts to grow rapidly. As the number of orders, returns and complaints grows, however, increasingly serious challenges appear: picking mistakes, shipping delays, no control over resources and problems with team productivity. That’s exactly when companies usually start looking for a WMS. And rightly so! So why implement a WMS in your company?
ERP systems are great for managing finance, sales and production, but they often treat the warehouse merely as a register of stock levels. In practice, this means a warehouse worker receives a goods issue note and picks the order on that basis alone – often haphazardly, without an optimal picking path or information about shipping priorities. This increases the risk of errors and leads to delays and losses.
A WMS such as XWMS by EX7 makes it possible to automate these processes fully. The system shows exactly where to pick goods from, in what order, and how best to pack them or prepare them for shipping. This significantly shortens order lead times and eliminates mistakes.
Efficient fulfilment of customer orders
In a modern warehouse, it’s essential to find a balance between picking speed and optimal use of resources. One of the key solutions supported by XWMS is order consolidation – combining many similar orders into a single picking run. For example, if the system has 10 orders for the same T-shirt model, instead of going to the rack 10 times, the warehouse worker picks 10 pieces at once and passes them on. As a result, we maximise efficiency with minimal effort.
The most common model is two-step picking – the first step is collecting the goods, and the second is assigning them to specific orders in the consolidation area. This can take various forms:
- The warehouse worker moves with a cart divided into totes – each one corresponds to one order. After collecting the goods, the finished tote just needs to be taken to packing.
- Alternatively, goods are collected loose on a cart and assigned to orders later during sorting – products are scanned one by one and placed in the appropriate totes at the packing stations.
In some cases even a three-step model is used, especially in high-volume environments with a diverse assortment. Importantly, the system allows processes to differ depending on the type of order. E-commerce and wholesale orders can follow completely different paths, taking into account differences in scale, priorities and operational requirements.
“Every warehouse is different – that’s why an individual approach, process analysis and implementing the right picking model are key. XWMS not only supports different issuing variants, but also allows them to be adapted dynamically to changing working conditions. We don’t just deliver the system and implement it in the company – above all, we show companies how their warehouse can work better. We help optimise work, choose the right packing model and picking path, and identify the processes worth improving. That’s the real value of implementing XWMS” – emphasises Łukasz Krupczak, Head of WMS Project at EX7, the vendor of XWMS.
Fewer errors
Errors in issuing goods generate costs and an unnecessary burden on logistics processes – returns, complaints and additional customer service. In some companies such mistakes can reach as much as 20% of all shipments. That’s not only a waste of time, but also real financial and reputational losses. Implementing XWMS makes it possible to eliminate such errors completely and significantly increase warehouse efficiency.
The system also limits access to data to the necessary information, which minimises the risk of abuse. A warehouse worker doesn’t see which customer they are fulfilling an order for – which removes the temptation of unauthorised actions. In addition, every operation is recorded in the system, making it possible to trace the path of a batch precisely – from receipt to shipment. Every packing process is monitored and easy to reconstruct.
Integrations with courier companies
XWMS can be integrated with any courier company, which significantly streamlines order fulfilment. Such an integration makes it possible to generate shipping labels automatically and determine the number of parcels or pallets based on data from the system. The final issue can be fully automatic or under the user’s control – the warehouse worker enters the number of packages, and on that basis the system issues the appropriate shipping documents.
What’s more, XWMS makes it possible to prioritise orders taking cut-off times into account – the latest times at which carriers collect shipments. For example, if we know the DPD courier collects parcels at 14:00, the system can automatically give higher priority to orders that must be ready by 12:00 at the latest. This organises picking and packing properly, avoiding delays and ensuring on-time shipping.
Reporting
A WMS collects a huge amount of operational data that can be used to create detailed reports – both standard ones and those tailored to the client’s individual needs. The system can generate and send reports automatically – for example, a daily summary of the number of orders shipped, delays or outstanding tasks can be sent to management by e-mail or text message. It can also be integrated with external BI (Business Intelligence) tools, allowing even broader data analysis and better operational decisions.
“A WMS isn’t just about operations – it’s also advanced analytics. XWMS offers tools for monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), creating reports and tracking employee activity. Companies using our solution often use the ‘motivation dashboard’ feature, which shows staff performance in real time – for example on a large screen in the warehouse hall. This has a positive effect on team motivation, and the data can also serve as the basis for a bonus scheme” – adds Łukasz Krupczak of EX7.
What’s more, advanced integrations – for example with AI-based solutions such as ChatGPT – let users ask questions in natural language (e.g. “Which orders are priorities today?”) and get precise answers instantly. It’s a new dimension of warehouse management – more intuitive, flexible and accessible to every employee.
Real business benefits of implementing a WMS
The most important effect of implementing XWMS is greater operational efficiency. Eliminating errors, shortening picking times, making better use of space and staff, and automating processes all translate into measurable savings and better financial results.
XWMS not only supports logistics operations, but also enables advanced performance analysis. Users can monitor key indicators continuously and make data-driven decisions. This is especially important in dynamic environments where flexibility and speed of response are crucial.
Implementing a WMS is a step worth considering not only when the warehouse stops working efficiently, but above all when the company is planning further growth. With XWMS, companies can organise work better, increase productivity, eliminate errors and effectively support their team in daily tasks.
If you’d like to see how a modern WMS works in practice, book a free XWMS demo and see what changes you can make in your warehouse. Book a demo.
