Warehouse Management System enables your Corporate ERP distribution logic for barcoding and scanned info upload. Here we assume that you either already have Dynamics GP or as it was initially known as Great Plains Dynamics implemented, or plan to go through ERP selection sales cycle, where Great Plains should be considered as possible option, or if you plan to implement Distribution modules for GP: Inventory Control, Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing.
We also assume that you are either wholesale business with extensive Warehouse Management activity (Picking and Packing,
Shipping and Receiving, etc.), or you have reasonably simple discrete manufacturing activity (assembly on order, kits). We will be talking about Inventory Control part of Warehouse Management System implementation:
1. WMS Order Fulfillment logic. Here you typically already have customer order entered in the system (Sales Order Processing Order or Invoice with manual allocation), in some cases you have order placed via EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) channel or even via B2B or B2C ecommerce (we support automatic migration of such popular ecommerce shopping cart images to Dynamics GP Sales Invoice as Magento, ASP .Net Storefront and others). Now you have to do allocation or fulfillment (often also referred as pick and pack in WMS jargon) – you do it by walking on the warehouse floor with barcode scanner in your hand, coming to the bin, where items are stored and scanning barcode labels. What is now happening in Dynamics GP Inventory module: you decrease the Quantity On Hand (available) and indicate increase in Quantity allocated (for the item just scanned in the specific bin and in the specific inventory site, which is the same as warehouse). When WMS client application, which is running on your Barcode scanner operating system transmits this info via WMS Server to Great Plains, you can open Inquiry->Inventory->Item, pick the site and the information about updated quantities will be right there
2. Inventory Restocking and Warehouse Management System. This process happens in Purchase Order Processing Purchase Receipt screen, which is integrated with Inventory Quantities business logic. You scan newly arrived merchandise barcode labels on the warehouse floor and place them to the bins (if you do not use bin logic, then it is just on the warehouse level)
3. Inventory Physical Count. This is what you do probably every month or quarter. In Dynamics GP Cycle Count is in essence the window, where you allow multiple inventory items quantity adjustments. WMS opens merchandise physical count for barcoding
4. Transfers between warehouses. This is when you have the order placed by customer to pick up at the warehouse, where you are short of requested items. WMS opens Dynamics GP Inventory Transfer transaction for barcoding
5. Warehouse Management System and its technology. WMS in our edition is the extension to Microsoft Dynamics GP (not a standalone WMS with integration or connectors to Great Plains). Typical WMS requires very smart barcode scanner with embedded small computer – we have WMS client application installed on the scanner, where technology is based on VB programming and communication with WMS server (Windows computer with direct ODBC connection to Dynamics GP Databases). Typical brands with Windows Mobile are Symbol, Wasp, Honeywell, EWAPhoenix
6. WMS and Custom Business Processes. We work with each individual customer to address Barcoding business logic modification issues. It is always good idea to have out-of-the-box WMS product, however the realities are more complex and businesses are competing on their knowhow (which is often leading you to the uniqueness in Warehouse Management System requirements)
7. How to request info? Please call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com By the nature of our business model we server you USA, Canada nationwide and internationally. Local service is available in Southwest Michigan: St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, South Haven, Grand Haven, Ludington; Southern California: Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego; Chicago: downtown and South Western suburbs; Houston, TX. If you are out of reach for our local offices, we do web session based WMS and Dynamics GP presentations and then if required assign Sales and Implementation team to travel onsite (including international destinations) for reasonably timed orientation sessions
