Spring 2009

E-commerce-related products have been given special attention in Warehouse Management 2009.1, the latest version of the warehouse management system from RedPrairie.

In particular, the company has included a dedicated parcel packing module that it calls an 'optimised outbound repacking tool', which is designed for businesses that send out small consignments (possibly one or two products) to large numbers of customers.

The company says that in this type of operation, efficient packing is essential for maximising profits. The dedicated module is said to reduce packing time, as well as allowing integration with multiple carrier systems, handling both carrier selection and labelling.

The upgraded solution also offers improved support for hanging garments, allowing clothing to be hung and tracked on and off rails. It can take account of user-defined zoning and dimension constraints (such as weight, length and drop).

 

Rules have been added to optimise repacking and to manage the way packages are combined and scheduled for delivery, reducing handling and carrier costs.

Integration with RedPrairie's Duty Management application is said to allow more accurate tracking of duty to ensure users comply with regulations. The system also handles deferment of duty payments.

Finally, the new system includes de-catalogued stock management, which RedPrairie says will benefit e-commerce retailers whose range includes high volumes of seasonal stock items. It automates the process of identifying inventory of this type, and can prepare orders automatically to transfer such product out to pre-determined destinations.