No, this isn’t about finding inventory discrepancies. It’s more about the data that a logistics operation generates on a daily basis. The warehouse management system (WMS) typically documents the individual activities in great detail, but what happens to these data after the order is completed? Very often, not much. Unfortunately. These data hold enormous potential to analyze processes, improve planning, distribute efforts and thus costs more fairly, increase the satisfaction of employees and, last but not least, increase efficiency.

It is certainly no surprising insight that idle periods affect the productivity of warehouse employees. Idle periods in the sense of a lack of immediately executable tasks for an employee. For loading, it is necessary that the goods are prepared and loading is released. If no such goods are available for a longer time, motivated employees will look for other productive work. But if the period is only short, work is waited for, and time is lost. Depending on the situation, this is also claimed later with the remark “The system was slow again today.”