Five reports that should be on your WMS dashboard

All businesses share the similarity of an annual profit and loss statement. Beyond that, significant differences emerge, especially when it comes to how they manage their operations. When discussing a WMS dashboard — a critical tool in warehouse management systems — there's no universal template for what it should contain.

In the words of many consultants, “it depends.” Still, there are five fundamental principles every effective WMS dashboard should adhere to, and if you construct your dashboard around these principles, you will have a satisfactory and effective tool.

Why a single WMS dashboard blueprint doesn't exist

There are three key reasons why a universal WMS dashboard blueprint is impractical:

• Role-specific requirements:  The right dashboard for a warehouse manager will differ from that of a supply chain executive. Each role requires different data points and key performance indicators (KPIs) to make informed decisions.
• Operational variations: Whether you're running a small, single-site operation or managing a complex, multi-warehouse network, your WMS data needs will vary significantly.  
• Decision-driven metrics:  The decisions you make daily will dictate the WMS reports and metrics that are critical to your dashboard. A focus on inventory might require different metrics than a focus on labor or equipment utilization.

Let’s also agree that two desirable characteristics of any WMS dashboard design are that they contain real-time or near real-time data, and the information should be actionable, allowing for immediate corrective actions when necessary.

The five key principles of effective WMS dashboards

1. Resources-led reporting

The WMS dashboard should contain a metric that tells you whether you have enough resources in the right places. Rather than tracking resources directly (like the number of forklifts or pickers available), focus on metrics that indicate whether resources are being deployed effectively. For instance, are your work queues growing or shrinking? If the pick list is getting longer while the dispatch list remains static, you may need to reallocate labor from another area to picking.

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2. Efficiency measurements

Another critical element of your WMS dashboard is a measurement of efficiency. If the expected receipts per hour are below normal, investigate potential causes. Is a piece of equipment malfunctioning, or is there a human error at play?

Efficiency metrics help ensure that operational goals are met and help identify when adjustments in processes or resources are necessary. This allows for a continuous improvement loop, ensuring that any performance issues are addressed before they escalate.

3. Site overview

Another indispensable tool is a high-level site overview that indicates your process is working as designed.  This overview should indicate whether all processes—from receiving goods to shipping them out—are functioning in harmony. Are your receipt and shipment processes balanced? If not, you could face inventory shortages or an overstocked warehouse.

This component should include key metrics like stock levels, warehouse capacity, and throughput. When these metrics are in balance, your operation is running smoothly. If there's an imbalance, such as picking and shipping significantly more than you are receiving, it's a red flag that needs addressing immediately.

4. Inventory reports

The backbone of any WMS data system is accurate and up-to-date inventory reporting. On top of stock levels, backorders, and stock-outs, this metric should ideally have drill-down capabilities so that you can trace problems back to their root causes and make data-driven decisions about replenishment.

By incorporating a detailed WMS report into your dashboard, you can ensure that your warehouse operations are aligned with demand and that your stock levels remain optimal. This, in turn, helps reduce holding costs and minimizes the risk of running out of critical inventory.

5. Customer-facing metrics

Finally, every WMS dashboard should feature key customer-facing metrics. These could include metrics like order fill rates, on-time shipments, or the percentage of orders shipped complete. Whatever the metric, it should reflect what’s most important to your customers. A strong focus on customer-facing metrics ensures that your operation not only runs efficiently but also meets or exceeds customer expectations.

This metric should logically be the result of the previous four metrics. If your customer-facing metric is off-target, and the other four are in balance, it indicates that one of the internal metrics might need further investigation.

Real-time decision-making with WMS dashboards

An effective WMS dashboard should serve as your operational control center, guiding timely decisions based on real-time data. When properly designed, it’s a tool that provides you with the precise insights you need to act swiftly and efficiently.

Your WMS data should be actionable—when you see an issue, such as a bottleneck in picking or an imbalance in stock levels, you can immediately take steps to resolve it. For instance, if your dashboard shows a growing pick list alongside stagnant dispatches, you can quickly reassign resources to balance workflows. This capacity for fast, informed adjustments makes real-time data so critical to warehouse operations.

Conclusion

The real value of a WMS dashboard lies in how seamlessly it integrates with your decision-making processes. You should be able to rely on it as your primary tool for operational oversight, providing the clarity needed to make adjustments without hesitation. If your dashboard is down or unavailable, it should feel like you’re missing essential guidance—proof that it’s an indispensable part of your day-to-day operations.