The Sites is the linchpin in warehouse logistics. As the central interface, warehouse logistics regulates the receipt of incoming goods and merchandise, the internal transport of goods, the type of storage as well as order picking and outbound. Various tasks and processes run simultaneously with each other and must be planned, controlled and synchronized. This article explains the tasks of warehouse logistics and the challenges faced by logistics companies.
Table of contents
In general, warehouse logistics comprises the planning, control, provision and optimization of processes along the value chain. In concrete terms, it is a question of how the company's own and external goods and merchandise are to be properly stored and managed in the Sites . This also includes the transport, location and handling of goods from inbound to outbound.
Whether in containers, high racks or drums: Every logistics company must store goods and prepare them for further processing, such as shipping and sales. Every movement of goods must be precisely documented so that it is clear at all times which goods are where and in what quantity. In warehouse logistics, many processes and tasks run in the same direction. These include the following in particular.
The first task of warehouse logistics is the correct acceptance of incoming goods and merchandise. When the goods arrive at Sites , the employees check them for defects, damage and completeness. If there is nothing wrong with the condition and contents, the employees add the goods to the inventory and store them. The goods are given their own storage location and entered into the warehouse's management system.
In the course of warehousing, every employee at Sites must be able to trace without a doubt which goods are stored where. In particular, employees who are in direct contact with the company's customers must have permanent access to current stock levels.
As a rule, software is used for this purpose that enables precise recording of inventory movements. Such a warehouse management system (WMS) is able to optimize location distribution, picking and goods transport.
The right inventory also plays an important role in order processing and subsequent picking. Even if the goods have been stored for a long time at Sites , employees must always know where they are. When customers order a product, it must be marked in the inventory.
Since many tasks run in parallel at Sites , transparency is the basis for optimized processes - because orders can only be processed correctly and delivery bottlenecks avoided if employees know where the relevant goods are at all times and how much of them is still available.
Organized picking is an elementary task in warehouse logistics. Specifically, it involves how goods and products are to be removed from the shelves and transported, how orders are processed, and how the ordered items are packed and shipped.
There are various starting points for optimizing these processes:
The approach that best suits a company depends on the company itself and other factors. These factors include the type of product and size of the goods, the frequency of goods turnover, the number of orders and contracts received daily, and the available budget.
A final important task in warehouse logistics is the outbound: After picking and packing, the ordered goods must be correctly addressed and sent on the right transport route. The packaging of the goods must meet legal requirements, such as maximum weight and size. If the goods are to be delivered abroad, further special features apply to shipping, as the goods have to be cleared through customs, for example.
The accounting department records outgoing goods in the land register and documents the movement of goods with delivery bills and invoices.
In addition to the main tasks -. inbound, inventory management, order processing, order picking and outbound - there are other fields of activity in warehouse logistics.
One major area of responsibility, for example, is the design of the warehouse. The question here is how the Sites must be structured so that it can meet the company's requirements in the long term. Based on a detailed analysis of the current situation, the future needs of the business are determined on the basis of current conditions and possible challenges.
The design is based on various factors, such as:
The goal of warehouse design is long-term planning that takes into account the growth possibilities of the warehouse. Smooth warehouse logistics is always based on the interaction of employees, machines, working methods and racking systems.
In daily warehouse operations, there are a number of possible safety risks, both for the personnel and for the goods themselves. As part of the tasks in warehouse logistics, it is therefore also a matter of reducing risks and increasing safety at Sites .
To this end, for example, workplaces are analyzed from the perspective of Occupational Risk Prevention (ORP) in order to reduce occupational risks due to repetitive tasks performed by employees using automated systems and tools. In addition to preventing occupational risks, however, the aim is also to contain damage to goods due to errors and improper use.
Signals and sensors, guidelines for handling handling equipment, and proper maintenance of plant and equipment help reduce safety risks.
In operational warehouse logistics, numerous steps run side by side: employees must plan, control, monitor and synchronize the inbound, storage, transport of goods within the warehouse, picking and the outbound .
The goal is to ensure the optimal use of warehouse functions by having all stations of the warehouse work together. Goods and merchandise must always be correctly ordered so that employees can locate them at any time - both on the warehouse shelves and in the system. When new goods arrive, they must be stored quickly and correctly so that they are always available when orders are placed or stock is transferred. Of course, the cost factor also plays an important role in all these processes.
Powerful systems are needed to optimize processes and reduce costs. A high degree of automation is therefore indispensable and is likely to become the standard in warehouse logistics in the future.
In order for logisticians and companies to work together and agree on specific processes, there needs to be a level of collaboration - because processes can only be optimized and costs saved if all the players involved in logistics work together smoothly.
This is made possible by TradeLink's cloud-based platform: Through automated coordination and data access by all parties involved, TradeLink simplifies the collaboration of all actors in the supply chain. Thanks to TradeLink, traditional but unstructured and outdated coordination by e-mail, telephone or fax is finally a thing of the past. All required information and warehouse documents are summarized in a clearly arranged tool .
Would you like to learn more about the simplest and most effective form of delivery reconciliation? Simply contact our Expert:inside and book your personal introduction to our software.
All parties can view the necessary information - whether internal employees or external supply partners. Our SaaS solution can be easily integrated for each Sites , without complicated IT connection, DSGVO compliant and secure in the cloud.
