If your current terminals are aging, slowing down, out of warranty, or no longer supported by your WMS vendor, now is a great time to explore what a refresh would look like — and what ROI you could realistically expect.
The forklift computing landscape has changed, and there are some real opportunities for your operation.
What’s new,
As OS preferences change, migrating from Windows® to Android® is virtually seamless, with apps that run your existing workflows right out of the box.
AI-capableforklift terminals are now available, opening the door to smarter inventory tracking and predictive maintenance.
New freezer-rated cold-chain models have arrived for operations with temperature-controlled environments.
Fleet management and remote device monitoring tools have matured significantly, reducing IT overhead on large deployments.
We want to make sure you have the full picture before you make any decisions, and to remind you that Glacier is ready and able to leverage over a quarter-century of industry-leading experience to help you find your data collection solution.
Call to speak with one of our Specialists at 866.724.6257 or connect online, here.
An effective Warehouse Management System (WMS) is essential for operational success in the fast-paced logistics and supply chain industry. Warehouses face various challenges—such as inventory inaccuracies, space constraints, picking errors, and shipping delays—that can negatively impact profitability and customer satisfaction. Optimizing a WMS is not just about adopting new technology; it’s about improving processes, empowering employees, and aligning tools with business objectives.
How to Improve Your Warehouse Management System for Maximum Efficiency
Here’s how to transform your warehouse into a streamlined, efficient hub capable of meeting the demands of today’s logistics landscape:
1. Embrace Advanced WMS Technology
The backbone of any modern WMS lies in its technology. Outdated systems, which rely on manual data entry or spreadsheets, are prone to errors and often struggle to meet real-time demands. Upgrading to a cloud-based WMS and the latest data collection technology Improves scalability, remote access, and seamless integration with RFID, barcode scanners, and IoT sensors. These technologies enable real-time inventory tracking, minimize discrepancies, and improve data-driven decision-making.
For instance, RFID technology can reduce inventory counting time by up to 90%, while automation technologies, such as robotic picking arms, can significantly boost order fulfillment speed in high-volume warehouses. Choosing a WMS system tailored to your warehouse’s size and throughput ensures it is both robust and cost-effective.
2. Optimize Inventory Management to Reduce Errors
Inventory mismanagement—whether through overstocking, understocking, or lost items—is a significant issue for many warehouses. A modern WMS can help address these problems through features like demand forecasting, cycle counting, and ABC analysis, which prioritizes high-turnover goods.
Implementing Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory practices minimizes excess stock, freeing up capital and optimizing warehouse space. Pairing this with real-time tracking ensures inventory levels are aligned with actual demand, reducing the risk of stockouts during peak seasons. Regular audits and physical counts ensure accuracy and prevent costly surprises.
3. Streamline Warehouse Layout and Space Utilization
A disorganized or poorly designed warehouse can slow down operations. Improving your WMS includes optimizing the physical layout by utilizing strategies such as wider aisles for forklifts, vertical storage solutions, and logical zoning based on picking frequency.
A good WMS will simulate different layouts and suggest slotting strategies, placing fast-moving items near packing stations. For example, dynamic slotting adjusts storage according to seasonal trends, ensuring efficient space utilization year-round. The goal is to reduce travel time for workers, which studies show can account for up to 50% of picking labor.
4. Improve Communication and Integration with the Supply Chain
An efficient WMS should seamlessly connect the warehouse to the broader supply chain. Integrating your WMS with transportation management software, supplier systems, and e-commerce platforms enables smooth data flow.
Automated alerts about incoming shipments prevent dock congestion, while real-time order updates keep customers informed. Clear internal communication via WMS dashboards or mobile apps ensures teams are aligned, improving operational efficiency and reducing delays.
5. Measure and Adapt with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Continuous improvement requires tracking and measuring performance. A WMS should track key performance indicators (KPIs) like order accuracy, picking speed, and inventory turnover. Regular reviews of these KPIs help identify bottlenecks, such as a spike in damaged goods, and allow for necessary adjustments.
Flexibility is essential; as business needs evolve, your WMS should evolve too. Regularly optimizing your system ensures you can stay ahead of industry trends and adapt to future challenges.
Conclusion: Why Improving Your WMS is Essential for Growth
Investing in the improvement of your Warehouse Management System can significantly enhance efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. By leveraging advanced technology, refining processes, and empowering your team, warehouses can overcome common challenges and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.
The result? Faster order fulfillment, happier customers, and a healthier bottom line.
Glacier Computer can assist with WMS improvements, technology integrations, and process optimizations. Talk to an Expertto learn how we can help streamline your warehouse operations today!
Glacier Computer returns to MODEX 2020, March9th-12th, highlighting the Kodiak our 5th Generation forklift computer!
For over 20 years, Glacier Computer industrial hardware is relied upon by the nation’s top organizations spanning a wide array of industries and applications. Glacier forklift computers provide mission-critical 24/7 data input and retrieval in challenging environments including warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, food production, and transportation.
KODIAK FORKLIFT COMPUTERS
The Kodiak forklift computer represents 20 years of real-world experience, engineering, and customer feedback. Boasting multiple display sizes, efficient processing power, and internal power supply and UPS, the Kodiak stands up against any competitive unit in the market. No other all-in-one device can readily run as many operating systems thus allowing for easy integration into any customer’s data collection environment. And, the Kodiak sets a new benchmark for price, making it the most cost-effective forklift unit in the industry.
RUGGED TABLETS and RUGGED LAPTOPS
We also recognize the exponentially growing need for portability and the need to get rugged computing in the hands of mobile workers. These include shop floor, field service, cross-dock, warehouse, and manufacturing personnel. Glacier Computer can field any question you may have when it comes to rugged Windows and Android tablet computers and laptops. We know the market, the choices and the options. We represent the world’s best-rugged tablet and rugged laptop manufacturers and we are ready to assist with all of your portable data collection needs.
The past year has been an extraordinary one for Glacier Computer and we wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts about 2017 as we look forward to 2018.
Customer Focus Before All Else.
Our ongoing success is born from a commitment to helping customers maintain their competitive advantage by providing rugged mobile data collection solutions with superior value as Glacier’s “anything within reason” philosophy continues to provide the product flexibility and engineering vision to get our customers over, around, or through their technology hurdles today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
When You do Something Well Find Ways to Do It Better.
Glacier’s Kodiak set a new industry standard in 2017. This rugged Industrial computer represents over 15 years of real-world experience, engineering, and feedback from supply chain managers, forklift operators, and partners in the logistics and supply chain world. Warehouse managers want the price-point of a tablet but need a very rugged, reliable, and dedicated forklift-mounted solution. The entire KODIAK line was designed to meet that very demand. And we’re just getting started. The Android OS for Kodiak is coming in 2018.
Mounting the right computer on a forklift doesn’t need to be a daunting task.
Yes, there are myriad options from rugged all-in-one vehicle-mount units to a wide array of industrial tablet computers.
Yes, making the right selection for your environment and application will play a significant role in user-acceptance, deployment success, and ultimately the ROI management expects from a capital purchase of this size.
And while there is no one-size-fits-all “remedy” you can find the best solution for your operation if you know what questions to ask.
Glacier has deployed more than 30,000 rugged computers over the past 17 years in every sort of operating environment and we’ve compiled a list of the most common questions to ask before you invest in devices for your fleet of fork trucks, carts, or hostlers.
You’ve heard the story. Big wolf. Little pigs. Three houses. Guess what? They wereWarehousesfor bricks, lumber, and yes—straw. The big bad wolf? That was inefficiency eating away at the bottom line.
It was becoming a serious problem.
They’d each taken it on the chinny-chin-chin and were huffing and puffing about improving profits. A much-needed equipment upgrade to go with their Warehouse Management System could do the trick. But what sort of mobile wireless solutions would help them optimize their bottom line and kick the wolf to the curb?
As one of the leaders in the industry, Glacier Computer has spent nearly two decades helping customers build some of the best solutions on the planet. Our forklift mounted computers, rugged tablets, industrial tablet PCs scanners and software solutions are increasing efficiency across an array of industries.
Even after the initial installation, your investment in a Glacier industrial computer system will provide dependability and versatility for years to come; the average life of aGlacier Computer industrial tablet PC is over 5.5 years with manufacturing repairs of less than 4%.
And if we don’t have it, we’ll either create it or source it for you!
If you’ve got a Big Bad Wolf we’ve got his number. And now you’ve got ours. 603.882.1560. Or email us atSales@glaciercomputer.com, and live happily ever after.
You might not know this but Goldilocks grew up to be a warehouse manager…And yes, she tried to save money by using so-called rugged tablets when the bean-counters couldn’t bear the price of a truly rugged device. But that ended up costing as much or more in repairs and downtime because the work was “too hard” and the units were “too soft.”
KODIAK is a truly rugged HALT Tested, lift mounted computer with over fifteen years of hands-on customer-driven input and innovation. The KODIAK is designed to fit into any operation right out of the box, so much so that Synnex Corporation, a leader in IT Distribution will be making it available to more than 20,000 resellers in the U.S. and Canada.
The KODIAK can run a wide range of operating systems, with fast roaming wireless, hardened touch displays, sealed and locking I/O, and pricing that can compete with both rugged and not so rugged tablets.
Synnex will also make available Glacier’s KODIAK mounting solutions and on-screen keyboard to its distribution network. OSHA compliant forklift inspection and SOTI’s MobiControl are also on tap, along with custom designed warranty programs and numerous other added services, all backed by Glacier’s innovative engineering team.
It’s no fairy tale. You can have truly rugged data collection that’s flexible and affordable, backed by the knowledge and experience of Glacier’s engineering and support team. A warehouse manager’s dream come true.
For more information about Glacier Computer’s products and services contact:
AUSTIN, Texas—August 23, 2016— Xplore Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: XPLR) today marks the start of its 20-year anniversary celebration. Since 1996, Xplore has exclusively engineered and delivered the most complete line of purpose-built rugged tablet technologies on Earth. According to VDC Research, out of all of the mobile computer original equipment manufacturers (OEM) operating today, Xplore is the only OEM to have focused on rugged tablets – and only rugged tablets – for 20 years. This market focus is what has made Xplore a trusted authority in the rugged tablet space.
Your “Marine Operating environment” may not be a port but if proximity to lakes, rivers, streams, fog, high humidity, or even clumsy coffee drinkers pose a threat to your hardware and your operation, Glacier has a solution. We can help you beat the heat, extreme heat, extreme cold, shock, vibration, or any combination of conditions that pose a threat to data collection and productivity.
“In a fast-paced, rugged environment, operations depend on equipment that is durable, able to sustain rough usage, and can maintain superior efficiency.”
Glacier engineers worked with Ricky and the warehouse managers to customize a rugged hardware and software solution for their operation.
“The customer and supplier worked closely to design a customized interface on the new operating system, which works seamlessly with the existing warehouse management system (WMS). The interface reduces configuration, maintenance time, and the risk associated with moving to a new operating system.”
Glacier and City Furniture continue to have regular conversations to maintain that fine-tuned success. And last month, City Furniture began adding Kodiak’s to their growing operation.
Kodiakis Glacier Computer’s newest, 5th generation lift mounted rugged computer. A system designed to meet wants and needs expressed during hundreds of hours of conversations with customers and resellers accross a wide range of industries.
