Modern Materials Handling - November 2012

MODERN equipment reportSupply chain software:Should Iupgrade myWMS?Once the cobwebs of a legacy WMShave been cleared, it’s easier thanever for customers to stay current andcompetitive without breaking the bank.By Josh Bond, Associate EditorUpgrading a warehouse managementsystem (WMS), whether to a new versionor a new implementation, can bea major event. It’s no wonder why enduserstypically procure a base WMSand work with it for eight to 10 years,performing minor version upgradesevery three to five years along the way.End-users can’t be faulted for spendingthose years modifying a system tosuit their needs or postponing upgradesif they don’t see the value. However,there is a downside to those modificationsand delays. When the time comesto add functionality, the existing systemcan be so aged or homegrown that evenrelatively simple improvements becomecostly and time-consuming.The customer is then comfortablewith a system, only to find it has suddenlybecome an impediment.However, the process of fine-tuninga WMS to stay current, add functionality,and stay competitive might notrequire the prolonged investment it dideven five years ago.“Now you can upgrade and switchit on fairly painlessly,” says John Hill,director at St. Onge. “In the old days,that wasn’t possible. You were going tohave to bring in a supplier for a majorimplementation.”Customers with aging systems mightstill find the process of modernizingdifficult and costly. But once the cobwebshave been cleared, end-users withmodern implementations will significantlyreduce the risk of customizingthemselves into a corner.How can companies know when it’stime to upgrade? The short answer is:The sooner the better. Whether they’relooking to improve existing processes,make more efficient use of IT resources,or keep an eye toward future capabilities,an up-to-date WMS will grant businessesthe nimbleness to seize opportunities.Is it time?Most WMS end-users upgrade aboutevery 3.5 years, while most reputablesuppliers offer updates on an annualbasis, says Hill. These updates aretypically little more than new versions40 N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 2 / MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING mmh.com