Warehouse management strategies need to accommodate for the speed of the modern supply chain. Global competition, eCommerce and new technologies have made their way into most aspects of business operations. Distribution centers have to use data tools that facilitate constant reporting and oversight, and Microsoft Dynamics NAV mobile strategies are a convenient way for warehouse workers to track inventory and report warehouse performance.

Scale to the size of business
MSDynamicsWorld.com said Microsoft is devoted to developing tools that are right for small businesses and the company believes mobile technologies offer the solutions all organizations are looking for. New tools provide business intelligence for employees who spend the majority of work hours in the warehouse.

BI turns raw data into useful information. There was a time when BI was seen as a tool for management or supervisors, but now every employee can benefit from plugging into overall operations. Warehouse managers supervising the preparation of orders can view client preferences on their tablets and phones, employees can pick items based on very specific criteria and inventory location is visible without constant trips down the aisles.

Integrate with the company system
Inventory workers are not the only ones who are provided with more information from mobile software solutions. Microsoft Dynamics NAV warehouse management services turn the inventory flow into a data stream visible throughout the company.

Workers moving inventory while utilizing data collection tools are able to report product journeys in real-time. The ERP SoftwareBlog detailed how workers use ERP solutions to update managers and supervisors on progress. Whenever an item is received in the warehouse, placed in a bin for storage or picked for an order, the worker performing the task updates the inventory count. Users can drill down into the bin content tables to learn more about maximum or minimum quantities and units of measurement. If physical inventory counts discover discrepancies, the system can easily be traced to determine where the error was made.

The ERP integration offered by the system unifies warehouse operations with existing company infrastructure so outside inventory data becomes part of the visible warehouse flow. Warehouse workers can use information from sales and management to prepare orders and other departments can observe products in the system as they are received, batched and shipped.

Choosing the right tools
Small and midsized businesses need to find a mobile strategy that is right for their inventory demands. When contacting a software partner, a company needs to share details about product, warehouse layout and customer base size to determine what implementation strategy is right for them.

Inbound Logistics suggested multiple types of devices may be needed depending on warehouse operations. A company may profit from utilizing tablets, phone, barcode scanners or voice picking options. Depending on the business, a warehouse may need one or more of these tools.