Category: Warehouse Management

Below view of group of workers cooperating in a warehouse.

Warehouse automation with Sage X3: Benefits in Warehousing

Sage X3 helps tackle persistent supply chain problems, with experts predicting pressures will continue until at least 2024. While the main challenges involve moving goods from suppliers to distributors, warehouse automation also addresses warehousing issues. Recent survey data showed a 400% increase in warehouse prices as companies deal with massive inventory overstocks that aren’t selling as anticipated.

This creates a unique problem for warehouse operations: How do companies effectively manage what they have, make room for what they need, and get rid of what they don’t? Legacy tools simply aren’t up to the task — instead, automation offers the way forward.

In this piece, we’ll break down some of the top warehousing challenges and explore the pros of Sage X3 automation in warehousing.

Current Warehouse Automation Challenges

As supply chain frameworks continue to evolve, warehouses are under more pressure than ever to effectively track and manage what they have while simultaneously finding new ways to improve overall efficiency.

In practice, four challenges are common:

Redundant processes

As warehouse inventory volumes increase, redundant processes become more common. For example, when multiple staff members enter pallet or product information, they waste time that could be better spent elsewhere.

These redundant processes can also lead to data entry errors — if one employee enters a data value that conflicts with another staff member’s entry, companies must spend time and effort determining which value is correct.

Layout optimization

With stock levels at an all-time high, optimized layouts are critical to ensure process efficiency. With staff focused on managing incoming and outgoing inventory, however, there’s often little time left over to create optimized inventory plans. This may lead to increased lead times for both shipping and receiving, in turn increasing total costs.

Picking processes

Efficient picking processes mean fewer trips to complete the same volume of tasks. As warehouse layouts become more complex, however, the ability of staff to design efficient processes is reduced.

Inventory accuracy

Inaccurate inventory data could lead to both under and overstock issues. If reporting errors show more inventory than is on-site, orders based on this data could lead to shortages. Under-reporting inventories can lead to additional and unnecessary ordering.

Pros of Implementing Sage X3 Warehouse Automation

Sage X3 Warehousing Automation helps organizations improve processes and set the stage for more sophisticated warehouse strategies and operations with its comprehensive WMS.

Key benefits include:

Direct data capture

With Sage X3, you can capture data directly via scanning or RFID, allowing quick entry into databases. The system automatically validates this data to eliminate potential errors.

Improved data quality

Automatic analysis of data entry also leads to improved data quality. While verified data is posted directly into Sage X3, potentially problematic data is flagged for manual review, in turn helping staff pinpoint possible process errors.

Reduced shipping errors

Multiple verifications in shipping and loading processes can cause data disagreements, which halt warehouse operations until you resolve the issues.

For example, if one staff member enters incorrect inventory values due to issues that occur during the unloading process, a second staff member enters data correctly while moving pallets to their storage location and a third employee records another value during regular inventory review, companies must spend time and money resolving the issue.

By leveraging Sage X3 as a single source of data truth, companies can keep operations both accurate and on track.

Automated document generation

Automated generation of shipping and receiving documentation lets staff spend more time optimizing warehouse processes and less time worrying about the numbers. And with anytime, anywhere access to key reporting data, companies can stay on top of changing inventory levels rather than racing to catch up.

Put simply, warehousing challenges are here to stay. Current processes can’t keep up — to future-proof inventory operations, companies must adapt and overcome with automation.

Ready to improve warehouse processes and reduce the time and cost associated with manual processes? Discover how Sage X3 warehouse automation can help.

Get in touch with IWI Group today to get started. Let’s talk.

07 SepWarehouse Management

Sage X3: Transform the Distribution Processes through Digitization

Supply chains are more complex than ever. Driven by bottlenecks brought to light during the pandemic, manufacturers have rapidly diversified supply lines to help reduce the risk of shortages or delays. However, the introduction of more suppliers to existing supply chains has also increased overall complexity. Consequently, companies now face the challenge of effectively managing the sheer volume of orders, payments, and distribution needs across distributed supply chains. Here’s how Sage X3 distribution can help.

Challenges in Streamlining Supply

According to research firm McKinsey, aerospace manufacturers typically have 200 tier-one suppliers; however, they have more than 12,000 across all tiers. Conversely, automakers have 250 tier-one suppliers and over 18,000 across the entire supply chain.

Even technology companies have more than 7,000 suppliers across all tiers. Moreover, considering the current (and ongoing) shortage of components, this number may still not be high enough. Consequently, companies might need to expand their supplier base further to mitigate supply risks.

The massive amount of suppliers now necessary to sidestep potential supply issues, however, means that companies are consequently managing multiple orders and payments simultaneously. As a result, they must implement effective strategies to handle this increased complexity. Furthermore, adopting these strategies will help streamline operations and mitigate potential challenges. Order too much from too many suppliers and the result is wasted money and at-capacity inventory space. Order too little or lean on a single supplier too much and the result may be delays in production that could lead to consumer dissatisfaction and customer churn.

Adding to this complexity is the need for ongoing supplier evaluation. Are suppliers living up to expectations in quality and quantity? Are they meeting delivery targets? This ties directly into distribution for brands with a global supply footprint: If legacy IT infrastructure can’t keep pace with evolving supply expectations, the results could be costly.

The Sage X3 distribution Advantage

Sage X3 makes it possible for companies to digitize key supply and distribution processes, in turn reducing complexity and streamlining key operations to improve the customer experience.

Key advantages of Sage X3 include:

Supply Chain Visibility

See what’s happening across your supply chain with real-time visibility into global supply networks. Armed with complete visibility, businesses are better prepared to anticipate potential challenges, respond to emerging issues and ensure that components and products get where they’re supposed to be ASAP.

manage your distribution process with Sage X3 software

Warehouse and Inventory Management

Sage X3 provides complete understanding of your warehouse and inventory processes. This covers product profitability, order-to-cash, and warehouse operations, making stocking, picking, and fulfilling orders more efficient.

Operations Optimization

Sage X3 helps companies optimize purchasing decisions and assess product margins by managing supplier quality and performance. This make it possible to pinpoint potential weak sports in current supply chains and make adjustments to ensure reliable distribution.

Native Mobile Support

Don’t tie yourself to desktops.

Sage X3 empowers a mobile sales force with customer data, stock levels, past purchases, quotes, and promotions on any device.

Sales and Marketing Integration

Go beyond supply with full sales and marketing integration to manage assignments, track targets, and calculate commissions.

Delivering on Distribution

It’s one thing to talk about benefits; however, it’s another to highlight hard data. Indeed, while discussing benefits can be informative, presenting hard data, on the other hand, provides concrete evidence of effectiveness. Consequently, relying on data allows for a more objective assessment of value.

On average, Sage X3 users saved 5 FTEs annually, reduced overstock by 13%, and saved over $2,080 in customer service hours.

Here’s why: With the right tools, businesses can integrate distribution, monitor suppliers, optimize inventory, and use mobile apps, making distribution a value proposition.

Put simply, Sage X3 empowers companies to take control of their distribution from end-to-end. By digitizing key functions and delivering on customer expectations, organizations can delver on the potential of business transformation.

Take your supply and distribution management to the next level with Sage X3. Ready to get started? See how IWI Consulting can help. Get in touch today.

24 MayWarehouse Management

Exploring the Supply Chain Impact of Sage X3

Supply chain disruptions aren’t going anywhere. According to the New York Times, a “normal” supply chain is unlikely this year, and while longer-term outlooks predict that the scope of disruptions will shrink, time alone won’t be enough to solve supply chain woes. The Times article puts it simply: “It will require investment, technology, and a refashioning of the incentives at play across global businesses.”

But what does this mean for your enterprise? As the world looks to address issues at scale, how can your organization take action to improve current operations and increase overall efficiency? SageX3 can help. Equipped with intelligent, on-demand supply chain solutions, your business can get ahead of the crowd and deliver on evolving expectations. Here’s how.

Current Supply Chain Challenges

Supply chain challenges in Canada continue unabated: 90 percent of Canadian manufacturers say that they’re currently experiencing supply chain issues, which are in turn reducing production volumes and driving a downturn in sales. While differing industries face their own unique challenges in supply and demand, four factors are common:

Supply Chain Management ERP — Supply Chain Management – IWI Consulting Group

Global unrest

Geopolitical tensions have ramped up significantly in the wake of the pandemic. From global conflicts to rapid changes in national health policies, companies are hard-pressed to get accurate information about when supply chains will operate as expected and when they will experience significant delays. While many businesses have expanded their supply chain framework to avoid the risks of single-sourcing, additional suppliers require additional management time and oversight.

Ongoing staff shortages

Sea- and airports around the world continue to experience staff shortages due to both illness and evolving job markets. As a result, shipments are often sitting in docks or hangers for far longer than expected, in turn making it harder for companies to create reliable production and delivery timelines.

Increasing freight costs

While the global cost of shipping peaked in late 2021, costs are once again on the rise this year. According to the IMF, these costs are likely to persist at least through the end of 2022, making it a challenge for companies to get what they need, when they need it — without breaking their budget.

Sudden supply changes

Given the unstable supply chain climate — from initial goods acquisition to packaging, transport, and arrival — it’s easy for shipment details to change at a moment’s notice. For example, a company might discover after shipments have arrived that they received only half of the promised materials, putting their production quota and delivery volumes in doubt.

How Sage X3 Can Help

Supply chain tools are now commonplace among businesses to help manage and monitor the movement of raw materials, completed products, and logistics providers from end to end. The problem? Many of these tools are outdated. Designed to work with legacy systems and solutions, they often lack the ability to connect with cloud resources or leverage data on-demand. The result is a data delay — businesses don’t have the supply chain information they need until it’s too late.

supply chain management ERP like Sage X3 can help equipped with intelligent operations and intuitive controls, Sage cloud offerings can help your business advance in three key areas:

Better decision making

Intelligent data analysis empowers better decision-making. Equipped with information about where supply chains are operating as expected and where they’re encountering issues, companies are better prepared to make decisions that drive business success. For example, if Sage X3 analysis suggests an emerging problem with a current supplier, companies can transition to alternative options until the issue has been resolved — rather than waiting until the problem has already affected production.

On-demand collaboration

The global nature of supply chains means that companies benefit from real-time, on-demand communication. Sage X3’s centralized, single source of truth paired with instant communication tools makes it possible for teams to quickly connect with suppliers and determine where quotas will be met, where problems may occur and where actions are necessary to address specific issues. Access to reliable communications also makes it possible to minimize overspending upfront and control costs over time.

Superior supply chain visibility

What you can’t see can hurt you. Given the complexity of multi-source supply chains, it’s now critical for companies to achieve end-to-end visibility. Lack of clarity at any point in the supply journey from raw materials suppliers to component producers to goods transporters can have significant downstream effects as companies struggle to realign production quotas if only some — or none — of the promised materials arrive. Sage X3 automates the collection and management of supply chain data, in turn giving your team the information they need to follow up on potential problems and identify effective solutions.

Ready to take on supply chain challenges with Sage X3? Get in touch with IWI — for more than 20 years, we’ve been helping Canadian businesses make the most of Sage solutions.

28 JanERP/Business SolutionWarehouse Management

3 Ways to Boost Inventory Management in Food & Beverage

Why do Businesses Choose Sage Intacct?

One of the most important business decisions for any organization is deciding which business management solution to adopt. Sage Intacct is a leading cloud ERP solution and is particularly popular with small to medium-sized businesses.

As a solutions partner, IWI Consulting Group helps growing businesses implement ERP solutions every day. By employing an effective discovery process, IWI Consulting Group is perfectly positioned to uncover crucial insights into an organization’s unique requirements based on its growth strategies, challenges, markets, and information management. The choice of ERP solution is so important because choosing the right solution directly impacts whether the business will climb the ladder to ultimate success and mastery.

Why is Sage Intacct so popular with burgeoning small to medium-sized businesses? Here are four of the most common reasons businesses choose Sage Intacct:

Reason1: Licensing Flexibility

One of the most important features cited by businesses about Sage Intacct lies in its licensing flexibility. Not all users in an organization require the same level of access to Sage Intacct. Sage Intacct offers licensing options that range from users requiring full access to casual uses that don’t require full access. What this means is that an organization needn’t pay the same licensing fee for a user that only requires access on an infrequent or limited basis as a user that incorporates Sage Intacct in every aspect of their workflow. Essentially, with Sage Intacct, the organization only pays for what it uses!

Reason2: Cloud-Native Implementation For Food Manufacturing

A cloud-native solution has many benefits. With a cloud-native solution, there is no need to install software on servers locally and then maintain those servers and software. It is a fully-managed service and thus Sage takes care of all the underlying infrastructure, so you don’t have to. With a cloud-native solution then, hardware maintenance is a thing of the past. So there is the ease of maintenance, and your organization is assured of a highly available, reliable, and scalable solution.

Reason3: Partner Integrations

Sage Intacct’s flexibility extends to its integration capabilities. Sage Intacct Marketplace integrates with over 200 partners for a comprehensive and extensible solution that meets the various requirements of every business and helps future-proof your business as your business requirements change and grow over time. Sage Intacct integrates with partners that help with payroll, point of sale, tax management, time and expense, CRM, e-commerce, inventory management, finance and admin, and business management. Over 75% of Sage Intacct customers have seamlessly integrated multiple Marketplace solutions!

Reason4: Flexible and Powerful Chart of Accounts

Most solutions implement a hardcoded structure for an organization’s chart of accounts. Consider, to track 4 locations, 5 departments, and 5 projects, an organization would require 100 account code combinations! The result is an overly complicated and unwieldy set of codes. Furthermore, if a new location or department needs to be added, it could wind up forcing the business to add hundreds of accounts. Instead, Sage Intacct helps simplify your organization’s chart of accounts. All that is required is that your business configure a set of primary account codes. Sage Intacct supports tagging transactions and operational data using dimensions, offering a unique and flexible way to track and report data, while simultaneously simplifying the organization’s chart of account. By tagging with dimensions rather than using hardcoded accounts Sage Intacct supports adding metadata and context to your business’s data. Once created, a dimension may be used for any transaction.

28 FebERP/Business SolutionWarehouse Management

Overcoming Operational Challenges with Manufacturing ERP

Canadian manufacturing firms have made significant market strides both at home and abroad, but many still face familiar operation challenges.

13 MayAccounting/FinancialsCRMERP/Business SolutionHRMSInventory ManagementProject ManagementWarehouse Management

Time to Move Your Wholesale Distribution Software to Cloud?

Supply chain and distribution is changing as consumer expectations, inventory management and reporting expectations evolve. Cloud-based wholesale distribution software offers total package potential to overcome key challenges.