As the celebrations of Christmas begin to fizzle out, and the new year begins to settle in, January is the perfect time to re-assess your facility functionality, and to decide what changes are required to see the new year in. It is the perfect time of year to establish whether it is necessary to update your out-dated processes, or distinguish whether you just need to work towards enhancing and improving your current procedures. With the development of technology for the future of warehouses, no one person can accurately predict what the future holds; but one thing that is for certain, is by ensuring your warehouse adheres to the continual adoption of modern technologies and software, your business will be ready to adapt to new developments and changes as and when they arise. The warehouse, is the perfect example of an environment which requires early and eager adoption of new and growing technologies and warehouse improvements, in order to maintain and improve upon existing processes, and embrace new ones; very much encouraged by ecommerce and the need created for increased automation in Distribution Centre facilities. A fundamental piece of software for any warehouse facility is a Warehouse Management System – critical to the everyday management and maintenance of a distribution centre facility and warehouse. The right Warehouse Management System will provide your business with a complete solution to improve order fulfilment, boost inventory visibility and traceability, and automate data collection. Yet, with so many different versions of WMS’s, it is important that you ensure to select and implement a WMS which compliments your facility, and business needs; by investing in technology which is suited, not just to your businesses’ present, but also to your business’s potential or planned future capacities and requirements. Ever changing supply chain requirements and compliance regulations, are just a few of the prime reasons for the need to invest into a WMS compatible with your business; After all, a WMS should not be treated as a simple solution to control inventory and collect data. It is a system that aims to collectively automate your warehousing operations as much as possible, to positively impact a businesses’ wider reach logistics operations. So what are the reasons for investing, and how do you do it wisely? 1. Has your business strategy recently changed / or is planned to change? 2. Has the product you are handling, or the quantity or inventory changed? 3. Has your business any planned growth or development? 4. Does your business require to better track inventory and control customer service? 5. Has an increase in orders, and seasonal product popularity resulted in a need to track and track how quickly goods can be delivered? If you think through the answers to these questions, and then follow these smart tips on warehouse past, warehouse present, and warehouse future, partnered with a crucial investment in the correct software for your business needs, you are well on your way to creating a real-time, and truly transparent warehouse environment that you can trust.