Application for WMS? Vysoká efektivita, rychlé aktualizace, maximální variabilnost
Warehouse Management System (WMS) tools have moved from basic terminals with black and white displays to modern software with rich graphical interfaces and enhanced functionality. SALSO also brings the evolution of the warehouse management system to its customers. The company, which works very closely with DYNAMIC FUTURE, is coming to the market with SALSOWMS. It is a system that provides a more efficient and flexible solution for managing warehouse operations.
What do you see in this evolution?
Petr Jalůvka, Managing Director of DYNAMIC FUTURE: During logistics audits we often encounter very expensive and functionally unlimited WMS. But in reality, we see that they can’t do everything that is needed and they don’t work very well. In contrast, SALSO’s WMS supports all the necessary processes and is very reasonably priced.
Jan Šlajer, Managing Director of DYNAMIC FUTURE: We see it as a huge advantage that it also allows the use of mobile phones or tablets. SALSO develops its own software for its WMS, which has generated only positive feedback from our customers. Sometimes they need to transfer information from the readers, add photos to them and so on.
How did SALSO get into WMS and later software development?
Petr Novotný, SALSO consultant: We used to solve requirements in hospitals as part of our implementations. It was about the possibility of dispensing medical materials using readers and barcodes. We were deciding what device to use so that we could program it and integrate it into our local software solution. The requirement that the readers not cost “a million” was also an important factor. At that time we chose the hardware solution provided by CipherLab, initially with a black and white display, first for reading 1D codes, later for 2D codes. Then the company started producing similar readers with an improved color display, but it was still a character display, so we were actually programming these readers with the fact that the operating system of these devices was basically unique, supplied by the manufacturer. He also supplied a compiler for it.
Did they work well?
Petr Novotny: Yes. Compared to others, they were not expensive and this solution suited the user and proved to be functional. We then started to use the same type within the WMS, so our first implementations were on CipherLab readers. They only have a character display, albeit in colour, but without the ability to display graphics.
So what made you switch to a more modern system?
Petr Novotný: The reader manufacturer forced us to do it. I don’t know if it was because of the covid or chip crisis, but he simply stopped supplying readers. At first it looked like they wouldn’t be temporary, then it turned out that the particular type we use the most in the scanner version would basically never be available again. So we found ourselves in a rather unpleasant situation. We were tied to specific hardware, which while it was covered with existing customers – the readers worked, they basically got infected somehow too much. Even the importer we buy from held service and was able to repair the damaged readers. However, a new device could not be purchased.
You were forced to look for a quick solution…
Petr Novotný: We had to react to this and prepare for the situation that new orders will arise or existing customers will experience physical wear and tear of their existing equipment. We needed to find a customer-acceptable device that was not tied to any particular brand or hardware. We flirted with the idea of programming the WMS for mobile devices as a website. But it turned out to be a rather difficult solution in terms of controlling the hardware in terms of capturing events from the reader or from the keyboard, but also information about the device and so on. We were looking for a development tool that would allow us to program the whole thing efficiently. And we managed to find a Portuguese company with a product called Kalipso. It is actually a developer tool for mobile apps. And this means not only barcode scanners, but also tablets or phones.
What is the advantage of this app from Kalipso?
Petr Novotný: A huge advantage is that we can program it only once and only specify during compilation whether we want to implement it on Android, IOS or Windows Mobile. Alternatively, an executable program for Windows desktop can also be made.
How satisfied are you with the new system?
Petr Novotny: Some are still partially using proprietary CipherLab terminals, and until they physically destroy them, they have no reason to change them en masse. But in addition to these existing terminals, we programmed new terminals – we had to transfer all the functionality to the new environment. I have to say that the programming was quite enjoyable. It is a Windows application where we create windows and place certain objects, buttons, images, boxes, form, etc. on the desktop. The advantage is that if the device doesn’t have the ability to take photos, you can use the mobile phone and without any major programming, basically a one-line treatment, switch it to a mode where it uses the camera instead of the scanner. Another advantage of switching from the character version to the graphic version is that the new sensors usually have a camera, so we could extend the WMS functionality by collecting images for certain processes in the WMS. This means that if any damage is detected during picking or receiving, for example to the packaging, the staff can take a picture of it as part of the process they have running on the reader. The photo is saved to the case, transferred to the server in the office, of course, and anyone can see what the worker took with the reader. There are many more possibilities, such as finger signing on the display, two displays for one device, etc.
What do users appreciate?
Petr Novotný: They are happy too. For example, at one customer we have already implemented processes that don’t make sense on the readers, but are important for the warehouse manager, so he can see them on the tablet. And he can look like he’s sitting at a computer, but he’s basically got a mobile device. It turns out that we will add some functionality that will be directed specifically to tablets – for example, overview reports or more information, taking advantage of the fact that more things can fit on the tablet display. It is also essential that we do not force hardware on the customer. And another crucial thing – the update does not require any activity on his part. With proprietary devices it was a matter of days, today we can manage our software updates without intervention. The reader recognizes when we place a new version on the server and automatically updates itself and continues working.
The trend is therefore clear.
Petr Novotný: Without a doubt. First of all, it is an application with much higher functionality, moreover it is more presentable, we can present images, use a million fonts, big, small, bold, blue, red, here in the corner some icon, that is, a button on the left. But on the other hand, it is not the case that customers are throwing away the character readers they use en masse. These are two full-fledged solutions running side by side, but the trend is clear and the world is already moving away from readers. And we backed away from them, too. The comfort for the user is the same or better and the functionality definitely covers a wider range of possibilities and uses of the user’s device.
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