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The management of warehouse stocks is of particular importance in industry and trade. Warehouse management Software is an important component on which the efficiency of the processes in warehousing depends significantly. The solution from the Swiss software company Timly has some interesting functions that can significantly simplify processes. These include a web app that provides all employees with important information and IoT sensors for monitoring.
Simple warehouse management software brings optimisation potential
A software-based warehouse management system quickly becomes the backbone of a company's own warehousing. Recording receipts, checking stocks and acknowledging outgoing goods occur many times a day in most companies. Therefore, it is important that the operation of the warehouse management software is intuitive. Cumbersome work steps increase the susceptibility to errors and reduce the acceptance of a programme among users.
The developers of Timly have retained the close exchange with customers from their start-up times. The practicality of digital warehouse management is always the top priority. That is why Timly provides companies with astonishing increases in efficiency time and again.
Software-as-a-Service: Using cloud services for warehouse management
Warehouse management software that is needed on a daily basis must function reliably above all else. Here, Timly's principle is to make the application as simple as possible. The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) concept makes it possible for Timly to be directly ready for use without installing and adapting one's own IT infrastructure. Users only need internet-enabled end devices. The Timly web app is optimised for smartphones and tablets.
This means that mobile devices can also be used for operation. QR codes are provided for the identification of article groups, which are attached to the storage locations and can be read in the Timly app with the integrated barcode scanner. In this way, goods movements can be documented without effort.
Access to the warehouse management software is also possible at outsourced locations. The company's internal network does not have to be opened for this. The stock of goods is monitored automatically in the background. Goods movements are permanently documented. When defined fill levels are reached, the responsible persons or external service providers are notified.
Easy scalability: warehouse management software for small businesses and large corporations.
Good software is scalable as desired. The actual application is outsourced to cloud servers that are directly administered by the company's own specialists. The DSGVO-compliant processing of data is ensured. Encrypted data transmission and fine-grained user and rights management ensure the necessary data protection.
Customers can choose from different application packages that are adapted to the respective requirements. Thus, the stock management software is just as suitable for small businesses and SMEs as it is for companies with diverse locations and different warehouse areas. Several DAX-listed corporations are also among Timly's users.
(Copyright: Timly Software AG)
Warehouse management: software hardly feasible free of charge
The times when software was installed once and then never changed are over in the professional sector. Especially a warehouse management software should be permanently developed further. New functions and technical possibilities have to be integrated, security gaps and bugs have to be fixed. Timly cooperates with adnexo, the Swiss provider of IoT sensors.
The integration of smart sensors for temperature control, for monitoring and documenting room temperatures, or level control by means of distance measurement are already possible. Measurements of air quality and humidity in the warehouse can also be integrated via Timly. The innovative offer is rounded off by a trained support team that assists customers with questions and problems.
Using Excel for warehouse management increases the workload
Excel is a popular tool for managing data in many areas of work. The office product is also frequently used in warehouse management. However, the software was developed several decades ago for use on a single-user PC. Despite regular revision and expansion of the range of functions, this does not remedy some conceptual weaknesses. Use by several users still leads to collisions in practice.
The clarity of Excel tables also leaves a lot to be desired when dealing with very large data sets. Functions integrated via VBA scripts are also a security risk, as the execution of macros must be activated in the Office software for this purpose. A database-based warehouse management software such as Timly is clearly superior here.
Depending on the application purpose, the software generates an overview for the user that contains only the absolutely necessary data. The use of mobile devices is possible without any problems. Multi-user capability is one of the basic functions of modern database systems. Data stocks are always available where they need to be worked with.
OpenOffice warehouse management: Freeware without planning security
The introduction of a warehouse management software system is a decision with long-term implications for a company. Ideally, its use must be secured for years or even decades. In the event of a product change, migration capability should also be ensured through the use of documented file formats.
When freeware is used in companies, there is usually no binding contract between developer and user. There is just as little entitlement to prompt correction of errors as there is to constantly available support. If a freeware project is discontinued unexpectedly, those responsible in a company are faced with a tangible problem. Customers of an established provider like Timly are not subject to such risks.
The provision of service and support is contractually regulated. Timly's experts can help with the migration of data stocks on request. The necessary planning security for warehouse management software is no problem in this way.
(Copyright: Timly Software AG)
Warehouse management software: open source usually also incurs costs
Restrictions of proprietary formats do not come with the open-source software that is popular with many users. However, open-source projects often focus on popular application areas, as a sufficiently large number of volunteer developers is needed to implement successful open-source software.
In the area of inventory management software, existing projects tend to focus on complete enterprise resource planning. In the case of open-source ERP applications, experts already point out that in practice the set-up and ongoing operation incur costs. Moreover, if the company does not have its own IT experts who can make adjustments to the system if necessary, support for the open source software must usually be planned for at a cost.
Holistic warehouse management: buying software usually pays off
With a warehouse management software like Timly, those responsible rely on an established system that is ready to use "out-of-the-box" without any preparatory work. In addition, there is the possibility to determine in a free test phase whether the Timly solution is suitable for the existing requirements.
The complete transparency of the company's own warehouse stocks ensures smooth processes and improved resource management. Employees have access to the information they need at any time via an app. Smart components and automated notifications ensure that stock levels do not fall below intended levels unnoticed.
The history of incoming and outgoing goods as well as warehouse movements, which is kept in the background, also makes it possible to carry out business analyses for your own warehouse management without much effort. For these reasons, professional warehouse management software usually pays off in practice.