Warehouse management system pinpoints stock inaccuracies

A large freight distribution company has significantly improved operational efficiency - especially with cross-border document control – and saved costs thanks to Multi-Weigh Technologies’ new cross-dock warehouse management system (WMS), TransAct. “This South African-based company was receiving incoming shipments from neighbouring countries manually, assigning stock to destinations and transferring them to outgoing vehicles, which led to huge discrepancies that were difficult to detect,” said managing director of Multi-Weigh Technologies, Jonathan Swiel. One example of this, Swiel explained, involved a shipment of 2 800 cases of product – the number stated by the shipper - of which only 2 700 cases arrived at the freight company’s warehouse. “This was a discrepancy of 100 cases, valued at R18 000. If the WMS had not picked up on the discrepancy, all sorts of complications would have arisen – from over-charging, to incorrect customs declarations and a resulting hefty fine,” he pointed out. Transact WMS is used in the retail and logistics industries to receive product from various suppliers, to consolidate the shipments and sort the products for shipping to different vendors. “It provides an accurate audit trail, automated accurate data capture processing, comprehensive reports and managed communications between the interested parties,” he told FTW, adding that the process reports included documents for customs as well as a comprehensive pallet manifest. Swiel pointed out that owing to the mitigation of challenges experienced, the freight forwarding company was now able to automate and streamline operational processes with the TransAct WMS and was able to improve its client services and retain customers. Swiel said the system could be customdesigned to fit the customer’s specific needs. “Some of the benefits include reduced operating and labour costs, increased throughput, reduced inventory and accurate data.” INSERT & CAPTION It provides an accurate audit trail. – Jonathan Swiel