Pick-IT changes to E-WMS
WMS Highlights 398
WMS highlights 398
Pick-IT, Exact’s warehouse management solution has been renamed to E-WMS as from product update 398 to reflect its growing functionality and full integration into Exact Globe as a standard module.
A new name
With the new functionalities that were developed last year and the two new functionalities ‘SKU Management’ and ‘Directed Put-away’ that will be available in Product Update 398, Pick-IT has made the step from a Warehouse Automation system to a Warehouse Management System!. That is why we will change the name Pick-IT to E-WMS as from product update 398.
Besides the name change of Pick-IT to E-WMS, Pick-IT Sales Transactions will be named E-Mobile Sales Entry from now on and Central Warehouse will be named E-Intercompany Logistics.
A new menu
All E-WMS menu paths are grouped in a new tab called E-WMS (except from settings and some of the master data menu paths), the Pick-IT menu paths from the Order, Inventory, Purchase and Manufacturing tabs are removed. 
Automatic download
As from product update 398 E-WMS will be downloaded automatically when Exact Globe is downloaded, just like other standard Exact Globe modules. A separate download is not longer needed. After the automatic download, the services and handheld software have to be configured, this has not been changed.
One set of software
Depending on which version of the handheld software was used, a different Pick-IT set had to be downloaded in the past (CAB or ASP). In product update 398 these sets are combined in one new set that will download automatically when Exact Globe is downloaded! We support four communication methods :
- ASP .Net (wireless, using Internet Explorer or the Exact Remote Forms application on the handheld terminal)
- RF (wireless, with CAB installation on the handheld terminal)
- ActiveSync (with CAB installation on the handheld terminal)
- File communication (with CAB installation on the handheld terminal)
New module structure
As from product update 398 the module structure of E-WMS has been changed. Functionalities have been grouped into bundles. 
On top of the E-WMS modules mentioned above, the following modules can be ordered:
- E-WMS Production (SE4250), production order issuing and receiving
Separate modules (no E-WMS needed):
- E-Mobile Sales Entry (SE1250), registering sales orders on handheld devices
- E-Intercompany Logistics (SE1395), purchasing and selling from other Exact Globe administrations, including Intercompany invoicing for these purchases and sales
SKU Management
With Exact Globe most stock calculations and transactions are done in sales units. For every (logistical) transaction, the warehouse, the warehouse location, the item and the quantity should be entered. If the item is a serialized or a batch item, also every individual serial or batch number (with quantity) has to be entered.
SKU Management with Exact Globe
E-WMS 'Stock Keeping Units' in Exact Globe adds SKU Management functionalities. SKU management introduces two extra units (SKU types) ;
- The ‘Inner SKU’, this can be a box or bag (for instance)
- The ‘Outer SKU’, this can be a pallet or a container (for instance)
Every SKU has a unique ‘SKU number’. The SKU number is printed on a barcode label that is attached to the SKU.
With SKU Management only the SKU has to be registered (scanned) instead of the warehouse location, the item, the quantity and the serial/batch information. This applies to the following E-WMS transactions:
- Sales order fulfillment
- Counts
- Transfers
- Replenishment
- Stock transactions (issues)
- Production order issues
During the receipt processes SKU’s are generated based on default quantities per SKU (e.g. pallet or box) and items. SKU labels can be printed automatically. After the labels are attached to the SKU’s, the SKU information has to be registered once, by means of the handheld terminal. The system needs to know the item, the quantity and the serial/batch information per SKU. It is also possible to have SKU’s in SKU’s (e.g. boxes on a pallet). This information also has to be registered once.
The date a SKU is created is kept in the database. This way, even when no serial or batch items are used, it is possible to use FIFO (First in First Out) in guided issues with Route Optimizing.
Directed put-away
With E-WMS 'Stock Keeping Units' besides SKU support, also directed put-away will be available. During receipt processes the handheld terminal will advise the best warehouse location, based on dimensions of a pallet or box and warehouse location properties like dimensions, preference and allowed SKU types. Directed put-away advises can also be calculated based on minimum and maximum stock per warehouse location (Replenishment).
Benefits
- In general, more efficiency by replacing multiple scan actions with just one scan action
- SKU usage enables the possibility for 'directed put-away', because the dimensions of both the warehouse location and the (outer) SKU are known
- SKU registration offers extra FIFO registration for non serial/batch items because it is always known when a SKU was created and where it was located or repacked at each process step
- SKU registration offers detailed logging of who handled which SKU at what time
Implementation
SKU Management and directed put-away functionalities are available in E-WMS ‘Stock Keeping Units’ (SE1382).
Before implementing SKU Management and directed put-away we advise you to assess your warehouse processes as they will likely have to be changed in order to benefit maximally. Furthermore the implementation involves setting up master data and configuring settings and labels. Therefore please refer to Exact or to your reseller before implementing these functionalities.
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