ERP
An ERP (enterprise resources planning) system is an acronym that stands for “Enterprise Resource Planning.” The first ERP systems were developed in the 1960s, with a focus on material resource planning (MRP) systems. In the 1980s and 90s, these first ERP systems evolved into MRP II systems that could manage manufacturing, scheduling and production processes.
ERP solutions have evolved over the years, so that companies now have many solutions to consider when purchasing a platform for their organization. At its core, an ERP system is expected to offer core functionality in five areas: finance, human resource, logistics and manufacturing, supply chain management, and customer relationship management.
Blog: How a Warehouse Execution System Enriches Your ERP & WMS Systems
Today’s ERP systems include much broader functionality and are used to integrate and manage day-to-day business functions such as accounting, procurement, sales, marketing, human resources risk management, inventory, distribution operations and more. They typically include modules for multiple business functions and can be customized to meet the specific requirements of the business.
One significant benefit of an ERP system is that it is implemented as a centralized platform from which all modules operate. This architectural approach enables departments to integrate core activities of the business and share information between departments. In this way, ERP systems can improve accuracy and efficiency in business operations and provide accurate real-time data and analytics to improve decision-making.
Before the availability of internet communications, ERP systems were installed as on-premise solutions. Internet connectivity has made it possible for ERP systems to share data between multiple physical locations. Today, many ERP solutions are cloud-based and web-based, so that users can access and share information between different physical locations or work remotely.
How Warehouse Automation and Orchestration Systems Support ERP Systems
The functionality of ERP systems is often extended by integrating them with other systems such as warehouse execution systems to automate and streamline warehouse fulfillment operations. This approach enables companies to extend the functionality of their ERP system and automate warehouse operations, while providing real-time information on order status and performance.
A warehouse execution system (WES) is a computer software system used to manage and optimize the operations in warehouses and distribution centers. The WES system bridges the functions performed by enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and warehouse management system (WMS) system to manage the flow of order fulfillment tasks and orchestrate the execution of material handling equipment and other warehouse automation technologies.
Advanced WES systems such as Numina Group’s RDS platform, draws on data from the ERP system to analyze and optimize order release planning to guide operators through efficient pick, pack, and ship tasks. In addition to guiding employees’ activities, the WES system includes warehouse orchestration logic that controls and synchronizes the movement of warehouse automation technologies such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), automated mobile robots (AMRs), and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) tote shuttle in goods-to-person automated storage and picking applications.
It unites these systems with other material handling technologies such as automated conveyors, mobile robots, pick-to-light, pick-by-voice, print-and-apply labeling, shipment manifesting, and sorting systems.
In summary, warehouse execution software extends the functionality of the ERP system by creating an optimized order fulfillment flow across the operation, uniting processes, people, and material handling technologies into a single solution that provides up-to-the-minute operation performance and order throughput visibility.
Systems Integration Considerations
One of the most critical decisions a business should make before investing in an automated warehouse system to support the ERP system is choosing the right warehouse systems integration partner with an experienced design team to ensure your project success.
The Numina Group is singularly focused on warehouse automation and optimization solutions. Its RDS WES-WCS platform is integration ready for virtually all ERP and WMS platforms.
Benefits of Integrating Numina Group’s Warehouse Execution System to an ERP System
- Reduce warehouse labor costs from 30% to 70%
- Increase profitability by 30% to 70%
- Achieve order fulfillment accuracy rates of 99.9%
- Gain a quick return on investment (ROI)
Our warehouse design engineering and software team‘s 40+ years of expertise in warehouse automation technology and application know-how offers you an independent systems integration partner to access, recommend and integrate the right processes and technologies needed to create a more efficient distribution center operation with an outstanding ROI
We offer consultative warehouse design services to identify the right lean processes for your operations. We help you turn your design into reality by combining the power of RDS™ WCS-WES, our real-time warehouse control and execution software with cutting-edge material handling technologies.
Our automated warehouse solutions enable companies to increase productivity by 50% or more, reduce labor costs by 30% to 70%, and increase order accuracy to 99.9%.
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Solution: RDS Warehouse Automation Solutions
Video: Warehouse Automation Integration Walk Through – RDS™ Warehouse Execution System
