How can employees deliver greater value

Over the past few years, continued pressures on the global supply chain and staff shortages have affected almost every business. As millions of people have left the workforce, how can remaining employees deliver greater value during difficult times?  

In the UK many SMEs are struggling to recruit warehouse operatives and drivers, but they have also lost longstanding senior expertise. With the cost of recruitment and retention continuing to rise, companies need to make the most of their existing workforce. More critically, they also need to think of ways to keep staff on board.  

Most companies can quickly identify activities around the business that could and should be automated. This frees up staff to concentrate on interesting activities, where they can add more value. Are admin staff spending hours on tedious manual rekeying? Do warehouse operatives walk miles between picking and packing stations? There are many simple, low-cost changes that could transform cost, efficiency and morale. 

Improve admin inefficiency

Are web orders received via email and then laboriously keyed into the sales system? Does your finance administrator spend days inputting purchase orders? How much more value could this person deliver if these tedious tasks were automated?  

Integrating the ecommerce site to an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system frees up admin time. It also reduces the risk of errors that can undermine the customer experience and add business cost. When connected to courier systems, customers can self-serve order and delivery data, releasing administrators from time-consuming, repetitive enquiries.  

Automation helps people, assets and money to work smarter. Staff can be freed up to deliver real business value by removing tedious manual activities.  

Automating purchase order processes reduces manual tasks and improves turnaround, as payment approval delays can be avoided. Such delays can constrain day-to-day business activities, causing employee frustration. Auto-chasing purchase order acknowledgments, for example, or purchase order lines that have not yet been received. 

For organisations with overseas supply chains, significant time can be lost in shipping container management. Workflows can be used to manage inbound stock, optimise containers, track shipments and transport, giving greater visibility to stakeholders. Document repositories can store packing lists, insurance certificates and commercial invoices. 

Review warehouse operations

How efficient are your warehouse staff processes in terms of unloading, storing, picking, packing and loading? How much time is wasted on physically checking stock? What is the business cost of errors resulting from a reliance on manual processes? There are a number of technology solutions that can address one or more of these issues. 

One simple step is to look at your warehouse design and layout. Are the fastest moving items, for example, stored near delivery and/or packing bays? Route optimisation can quickly make existing staff more efficient, reducing time between picks and put aways.  

Barcode systems have been used for decades to improve stock information and management. It’s far quicker to scan a barcode than to read often illegible labels. Pick to light or voice systems make this process incredibly simple. Staff are directed to the correct location and are told/shown how many items to pick.  

These process solutions improve the day-to-day experience for all employees and increase productivity and business efficiency. During peak seasons and times of high staff turnover, this is a real benefit.  

Efficient and engaged staff can confidently embark on growth plans without the need to expand the workforce