Have you heard the story of the WMS installation that was a “nightmare”? All to often the problem started in the selection process, not the implementation.

How can you avoid your project turning into a nightmare?

Incorrect packages are often selected because requirements are not clear or are ambiguous.

Suppliers can and do misinterpret these (to their own advantage sometimes) and projects get off to a bad start, incurring more cost and time for you to implement the solution once the project gets underway.

Whether you have strategic or tactical objectives to achieve, EXDS will help you define your business requirements to ensure that the correct WMS is chosen

EXDS can undertake the package selection process from a unique perspective, having employees that have worked both for customers implementing WMS solutions, and the WMS suppliers.

This leads to an unrivalled understanding of both the customer and supplier expectations and assumptions that can subsequently lead to the “nightmare” implementation scenario

Each selection project is unique, the following elements however need to be performed to ensure success for you and your companies logistic operations:

Define Solution Requirements through thorough Business Analysis. Sounds easy? Should be but this is where things can go very wrong. Talk to all areas affected by the WMS implementation not just the operations team or logistics director.

Produce a Request for Information or Request for Proposal document. Surprising but true, many people select a WMS without this crucial document and pay the price later on. Ensure the response to the RFI or RFP forms part of the contract of supply with the WMS provider.

Supplier/Customer briefings, reviews and site visits. Talk to the people who have been there before and listen to what they say, read between the lines

Ongoing Management of Suppliers throughout selection process. Meet potential suppliers implementation and support teams. These are the people who will install the solution, not the salesperson. Ensure you are comfortable with the project manager and insist that they are involvement as early as possible in the project

Time? Be realistic with how long it will take you to choose the correct supplier. Don’t make rash decisions due to time constraints. Whatever time you have allowed for performing the selection process it will undoubtedly end up not being enough. Focus on what’s important. Effort put in up front will be saved when implementing the WMS and save costly mistakes

Contracts The dreaded “C” word. Not just something to sign and forget about. Thoroughly review the contract and if things have been committed to make sure its in writing. It’s the first place that the legal people will go if things go wrong.

Choosing a WMS supplier is like getting married. Once the solution is implemented you will have to live with your provider for many years to come.

Let EXDS guide you to a marriage made in heaven, not in hell. If you have never selected a package before then don’t do it alone…….Call EXDS today.