Warehouse Management Systems

WMS Selection

We’ll guide you expertly through the jungle of service providers

Choosing the right warehouse management software is a very complex decision. One of the biggest challenges is that the transition affects the entire order processing workflow and therefore requires a comprehensive solution. Structures in the system landscape and process execution that have evolved over the years are often highly customized, sometimes opaque, and frequently unknown. As a result, it is often impossible to assess whether existing processes are compatible with what vendors offer. Many companies therefore postpone the WMS selection for as long as possible, which further increases time pressure. The large number of vendors also makes the WMS selection complex, as outsiders often fail to recognize the differences between the solutions.

Our logistics and process specialists will therefore guide you through the entire WMS selection process and, if necessary, beyond. To ensure a structured approach, we work with you to identify the critical business processes and key users. Together with them, we develop a requirements specification and a long list of potential solutions. Drawing on our extensive experience in process consulting, we map out the current logistics processes and work with the key users to define new target processes. These serve as the basis for selecting potential vendors (shortlist).

In workshops, the vendors will then present their solutions to you, for which we will develop an evaluation framework together with you. Based on all the information gathered, we’ll draw up a recommendation for action and develop a roadmap for implementing the new warehouse management system. Drawing on our expertise, we’ll also assist with the final contract draft to ensure that the provider meets your requirements.

Our Service Packages:

• Develop a long list and a short list
• Create a requirements specification based on process development
• Prepare tender documents and specifications for system and vendor selection
• Develop and conduct beauty contests with potential vendors
• Develop a recommendation for action
• Create a Roadmap for WMS Implementation

Benefits for you:

1. A Custom-Fitted System for Your Core Processes in the Operating Room and Beyond
2. Personalized Roadmap for the System’s Implementation
3. Comprehensive Support for the Selection Process from a Process Consulting Perspective

WMS Implementation

The Right Building Blocks for a Successful Implementation

The selection process is complete, and a decision has been made regarding the system vendor. A major first step has been taken. But now you must efficiently implement the new system in your company and successfully replace the legacy system. This involves configuring the system to meet your requirements, potentially developing custom modules, or creating interfaces with existing systems. In addition, system implementation usually requires adjustments to work organization and the design of new, streamlined processes.

To ensure your employees can work successfully in the new system once it goes live, it is important to train them on the newly established structures and system functions. The challenge lies in efficiently managing the project despite its complexity, while engaging and empowering your staff to navigate the upcoming changes. At the same time, we want to work with you to build a future-ready organization with lean yet effective workflows.

We are your partner for the successful and seamless implementation of the Warehouse Management System in your company. Our WMS consulting service goes beyond simply planning and managing the project. We also develop lean target processes using the new system and train your staff as part of a change management initiative. In addition, we support the system configuration and business integration from a process-oriented perspective.

Our Service Packages:

• Project and stakeholder management to ensure that defined project objectives are met (e.g., timeline, costs, requirements)
• Develop target processes to design an optimal workflow with the new system
• Identify the need for changes (e.g., organizational adjustments)
• Managing and Supporting Change and Transformation Processes
• Providing Process-Based Support for Business Integration Tests
• Compare the results of implementation with the defined requirements

Benefits for you:

1. Efficient Implementation of the Warehouse Management System
2. Streamlined and optimized processes
3. Involvement of all stakeholders, key users, and process owners

Organizational Development

Unlock the Potential of Your Employees

Is there a lot of untapped potential in your organization? Is there a lack of initiative for improvement, and is further development stagnating? To build a successful and sustainable company, you need a clear vision, mission, and strategy. Based on these, you need to create a foundation for stability, progress, and development. This also means consistently and evenly advancing and balancing the development of your company’s structures, competencies, and culture.

A WMS transformation not only leads to structural changes but also affects employee skills and corporate culture. While this process presents a challenge, it also offers an opportunity to drive change within your organization. Work with us to lay the foundation for building a dynamic organization with intrinsically motivated employees.

Our Service Packages:

• Define the vision and mission; derive the corporate strategy
• Develop Goals and Key Performance Indicator Systems
• Develop structural elements with your teams
• Developing a Goal- and Solution-Oriented Leadership Culture
• Continuously support and empower stakeholders throughout change and development processes
• Implementing Agile Work and Thinking Styles in the Organization

Benefits for you:

1. Intrinsic Motivation of Your Employees
2. Developing goal- and solution-oriented leaders and employees

Process Consulting

Lean, value-driven end-to-end processes as part of the WMS implementation

Are your business processes not documented at all, or only partially documented? Or is the existing documentation outdated and no longer current? Often, processes in companies are developed only within individual departments, but are not designed with a focus on value from the customer’s perspective or on a cross-departmental basis. Such processes are not suitable as a basis for selecting and implementing a WMS. The implementation of a WMS system offers significant potential for optimization in this regard. Working with key users, end-to-end processes are developed that are oriented toward customer value (e.g., short delivery times or order processing times). When selecting and implementing a WMS system, it is therefore crucial to choose a provider that aligns with your company’s target processes.

Drawing on our many years of experience, we help you analyze your current processes, identify opportunities for optimization, and create value-driven end-to-end target processes. Based on this, we define use cases for vendor selection and identify standardized and customized solutions. During the implementation of the new system, we refine the end-to-end processes and adapt them to your specific requirements. This ensures that, by the time of implementation, your employees can work with efficient, system-supported workflows—and that they themselves were involved in developing these new processes.

Our Service Packages:

• Record and document current processes with key users
• Develop target processes collaboratively with key users in a pragmatic manner from the outset
• Define use cases for the beauty contest and vendor selection
• Further develop end-to-end target processes based on the functions in the new system

Benefits for you:

1. Future-proof and value-oriented target processes
2. Selecting Your Provider Based on Target Process Structures
3. Seamless Integration of WMS and Target Processes

System Environment and Configuration

Transparent Assessment: Identify Risks and Vulnerabilities, Define the Target State

The rapid development of new IT solutions poses challenges for many departments. Quick implementation of new solutions is crucial for business success, but a holistic approach often falls by the wayside.

The result: The IT landscape of many companies consists of a collection of siloed solutions. These make maintenance time-consuming and cause potential benefits at the interfaces to be lost. This leads to two key problems: New technologies are difficult to implement across distributed systems, and when individual systems or versions are phased out, there is often a lack of experts familiar with older systems. As a result, conducting a risk assessment of the IT landscape is virtually impossible.

To ensure the successful implementation of a warehouse management system, we thoroughly examine your entire system landscape. Drawing on our extensive operational and process experience, we document and analyze the key systems and processes across all departments. This results in a digital map of your system landscape that takes into account both existing and missing interfaces.

In joint workshops with the various departments, we develop a digital roadmap for your system landscape. Throughout this process, we always keep an eye on the latest state-of-the-art solutions. Together with you, we decide which systems and processes should continue to operate independently and which should be covered by the WMS. Throughout the entire implementation process, we act as a liaison between the implementation provider and the business department to ensure a customized configuration that meets your requirements.

Our Service Packages:

• Promote transparency
• Document the current situation
• Identify Relevant Systems
• Develop an Ideal System Architecture

Benefits for you:

1. A clear overview of the status of your current system landscape
2. Minimizing Risks for Your System Environment
3. A New System Architecture for Optimized Use of Your Data

Change Management

Mastering the WMS Transformation Through Systematic Change Management

The implementation of a new warehouse management system brings significant changes and challenges for all employees. Old habits must be set aside as new workflows and structures take shape. Ideally, these changes are driven by the employees themselves to maintain their motivation during and after the implementation. A structured and customized change management approach is essential for this. It lays the foundation for successfully navigating the various phases of the project by implementing targeted measures for communication, training, and empowerment.

We would be happy to work with you to develop a change management strategy with specific measures tailored to the individual needs of your employees at every stage of the project. This will ensure that your employees’ performance and motivation remain high during and after the WMS system implementation, and that they actively help shape the change process.

Our Service Packages:

• Develop a Change Management Plan
• Develop specific measures to support change
• Develop a Communication Strategy
• Develop specific communication strategies
• Develop training and competency development plans with corresponding measures
• Track all implemented measures and evaluate their effectiveness

Benefits for you:

1. Efficient Implementation of the New System in Your Organization
2. Your employees have the necessary expertise to use the new system efficiently

PMO

Leading the WMS Project to Success with Structured Project Management

Implementing a WMS is a complex and challenging undertaking. It involves a wide range of stakeholders before the full-scale rollout takes place. Effective project management is therefore crucial for involving all parties and meeting the diverse requirements. Clearly defined project goals and scope, as well as a functional collaboration model involving all stakeholders, are essential for successfully implementing the project. It is also important to communicate progress, challenges, and risks transparently.

We’re happy to support you in this process and bring our many years of diverse experience in project management to ensure the success of your WMS transformation. We set up the project in a structured manner, define the project scope with clearly described goals and milestones, and create transparent structures for collaboration. We continuously monitor the project’s progress, assess risks, and implement corrective measures. We ensure that your WMS implementation project is supported by the appropriate project management framework so that you can achieve your goals and project scope with the planned resources, within the defined quality standards and timeframe.

Our Service Packages:

• Define Project Goals and Milestones
• Develop a detailed phase and milestone plan
• Identify specific tasks and responsibilities
• Define a collaboration model
• Monitor project progress and assess risks in the event of schedule deviations (project controlling)
• If necessary: Establish an agile project management framework for planning and managing project tasks (e.g., based on Scrum, SAFe, etc.)

Benefits for you:

1. Transparency regarding project progress and project risks
2. Efficient and Effective Collaboration Within the Project Team
3. Rigorous implementation of the project