Every pallet has its location
Receiving, put-away, picking and dispatch run on scanning, by location and lot. And when you store goods for others, by each client’s rules.
Warehousing and logistics
Inbound notice ASN-5520
- Advance noticeArriving tomorrow 7:00, dock 3
- Receiving33 pallets scanned, 1 damaged
- Put-awayLocations A-12 to A-19
- StockStock visible to client on portal
- Picking118 orders in wave 2
- Packing and dispatchShipped with 2 carriers
- Service billingStorage and handling calculated
Where it gets stuck
Each of these problems is the same thing: data doesn’t get from one place to the other, so someone carries it by hand.
- PalletLocation
Connection brokenEvery pallet scanned to a location
The goods are in stock, but nobody knows where
Locations are remembered or kept in a spreadsheet that lags behind reality. Pickers walk the hall searching.
- Expiry datePicking
Connection brokenThe system picks by FIFO or FEFO
FIFO and FEFO depend on people paying attention
When the system doesn’t propose a lot, whatever is closest gets picked. Stock with a shorter shelf life stays on the rack until it expires.
- Client contractWarehouse staff
Connection brokenClient rules built into the steps
Every 3PL client has its own rules
One wants picking by lot, another a special label, a third a daily report. Exceptions are handled by hand and depend on the shift.
- HandlingBilling statement
Connection brokenServices recorded as they happen
Services are added up at month-end
Pallet positions, handling and extra services are collected from several sources. Some of the work done never reaches an invoice.
What the flow looks like in the system
An example flow. We adapt the steps to how your company actually works.
01 Advance notice
The client or supplier announces incoming goods, so the warehouse knows what is arriving and when. The notice can come through a portal or straight from the client’s system.
02 Receiving
Goods are scanned at the dock, checking quantities, lots and expiry dates. Discrepancies against the notice are recorded immediately, with a photo.
03 Put-away
The system proposes a location based on product type, client and warehouse rules. The operator scans to confirm where the pallet actually went.
04 Stock
Stock is kept by location, lot, expiry and client. Moves and stock counts are done with a scanner, without paper lists.
05 Picking
Orders are grouped into waves and the list takes the picker along the shortest path. The system offers the lot by FIFO or FEFO and won’t accept the wrong one.
06 Packing and dispatch
Every shipment is checked by scanning before it is closed. Labels and shipping documents are printed from the system.
07 Service billing
Pallet positions, handling and extra services are recorded as they happen. At the end of the period, billing per client is already prepared.
What the system usually includes
Every module works with the same data. It plugs into the system instead of living as a separate program.
Locations and scanning
Addressed locations, barcodes and handheld terminals for every movement of goods.
Lots and expiry dates
Traceability by lot and serial number, with FIFO and FEFO rules the system enforces on its own.
3PL client portal
Clients see their stock, announce deliveries and send dispatch orders.
Warehouse service billing
A price list per client and services collected for invoicing, with no adding up after the fact.
Frequently asked questions
We already have an ERP. Do we need a separate warehouse system?
Not necessarily. If your ERP handles stock well but lacks locations, scanning or picking rules, just that part can be built and connected to the existing ERP.
What equipment do we need for scanning?
It depends on volume and conditions in the warehouse. The system can run on dedicated handheld terminals or on phones and tablets with a scanner, and we recommend an option after walking through the warehouse.
How do we switch systems without stopping the warehouse?
The starting state of locations and stock is captured and brought over before the switch, and the system is tested on your data. The switch-over day is agreed around your workload and season.
Show us how goods come in and go out of your warehouse today.
Send us a short description of your process and the problems you want to solve.