The objective of warehouse is to dispatch orders, basis customer requirement. Therefore, it is important to understand different types of customers and orders.

• Stock transfer orders
  • Inter warehouse transfer
  • Company owned retail outlets
• Sells orders
  • Modern trade
  • Retail outlets

Institutional customers

All above orders types are raised in customer ERP. These orders are released into WMS through wave. Orders accumulated for specific picking times and transport routes are called ‘waves. Waves can be released as frequent as every hour or just once a day. The frequency of wave release depends upon customer delivery timelines. More the time available for delivery, lesser number of waves per day can be released. Less number of waves means greater productivity due to consolidations of orders for picking and vice versa.

Less number of waves is common is apparel industry whereas a greater number of waves is common in E commerce industry, where speed is utmost important.