33 per cent of warehouse operators should look to improve fulfilment accuracy

A full one third (33 per cent) of respondents to an Access WMS survey put improving the accuracy of their fulfilment operations at or near the top of their priority list.

"The error spiral inflicts direct cost and indirect damage; improving pick accuracy from 99.95 to 99.99 per cent may not look like a lot, but it is often the difference between success and failure," said Ian Roper, divisional director, supply chain solutions at Access Group. "Given the systems available to companies large and small, which should ensure near-total accuracy, there is no forgiveness and no hiding place."

The survey of warehouse operators was carried out for Access, the leading Warehouse Management System (WMS) vendor, by Redshift Research and is the subject of an accompanying White Paper: 'Inaccuracy - what's your excuse'. Redshift Research conducted the survey among 132 warehouse operators across the manufacturing, wholesale and 3PL sectors.

As the white paper and research reveal, some 56 per cent of firms are picking at least partially to paper instructions and a half use paper receipts for goods received. Yet the impossibility of paper-based systems reflecting the complexity found in today's warehouses in real time should be obvious.

Ian said: "Real time WMS controlling the most appropriate combination of technologies such as Radio Frequency (RF) communications, bar-coding, voice picking and other systems, is the answer for picking quickly, accurately, and efficiently from fast-moving stock, and for the stock on the shelf to be replenished automatically as soon as needed."

The research found that 35 per cent of respondents were using RF in the warehouse; 27 per cent were using mobile/handheld computers and 12 per cent were using RF hands-free headsets.

To compete with these adopters, utilising these IT solutions to improve fulfilment accuracy will become an imperative, as Ian concluded: "Warehouse IT is a differentiator that can give customers and clients accurate and transparent information about their goods and orders. Adopters will be rewarded with better quality clients offering better profit opportunities."

To receive a copy of the white paper, 'Inaccuracy - what's your excuse?' and the survey, please contact: Natalie.Smith@theaccessgroup.com