close
lumiform
Lumiform Mobile audits & inspections
Get App Get App

WMS implementation plan template

A well-planned warehouse management system implementation is crucial to the success of any business. Whether you are a small-scale or a large-scale company, implementing a warehouse management system checklist is a must for you. Our wms implementation checklist will help you make the right decisions for your warehouse management system implementation.

Downloaded 252 times
WMS Implementation Team Recruiting
Map out implementation team requirements
Advertise for team members from across your organization
Ask department managers for recommendations for suitable candidates
Incentivize team membership with perks (for example extra day’s holiday, free food at meetings, cash bonus on completion of implementation)
Recruit your internal team members
Decide whether you need a WMS consultant
Recruit for the following positions
Managerial roles
Project manager
C-level sponsor
Technical roles
Application analyst
Application developer
Application test engineer
Consultancy Roles
Third-party consultant OR
Vendor consultant
User group representatives
Warehouse staff
Sales
Supply chain/logistics
Senior management
Change Management Plan
Create a change management plan
Clarify what implementation support your vendor is giving you and what you’ll need to provide internally:
Project management
Customization
Data migration
Consultancy
Training
Forecast implementation costs:
Implementation services
Consultancy
Staff overtime
Extra temporary warehouse and management staff
Data backup/storage
Create an overall implementation timeline
Agree on a set of KPIs by which to evaluate WMS implementation success
Create a user engagement plan
Anticipate which employee groups a WMS implementation will affect the most
Inform employee groups of anticipated disruption so they can plan ahead
Signpost ways in which employees can flag up concerns or questions about the implementation project:
Noticeboard
Email
Newsletter
In meetings
Create a staff training timetable well in advance and ensure everyone is notified of their training slots
WMS Data Migration
Cleanse and verify your legacy WMS data:
Ensure customer contact details are correct
Cleanse redundant internal data, e.g out-of-date employee info
Cleanse redundant external data, e.g old supplier addresses and customer contacts
Configure databases
Map legacy data onto new database fields
Transfer data to the new system
Test and verify legacy data
Test and verify new data inputs, for example:
Inventory data (item location, stock)
Supply chain data (shipping addresses, fleet vehicle information, driver records)
Sales data (customer contact, history of orders)
WMS User Training
Identify key WMS user groups that need training
Decide which type of training suits your workforce best (e.g scheduled seminars for warehouse staff working on shifts)
Identify and train a handful of superuser candidates across all relevant departments
Identify areas where superusers could assist in training the rest of the workforce, for example:
Employee login and setup
Warehouse staff data entry
Low-level troubleshooting on the warehouse floor
Create your training schedule
Create your in-person training schedule - particularly important in shift-based workforces
Decide on deadline for completion of e-learning modules, if using
Agree on gamification incentives for completion of training
Key WMS user groups
Senior management
Accounting and finance
Warehouse staff
Supply chain workers
Sales team
GO-Live Plan & Initiation
Test your WMS before going live
Integration testing (eg SCM, ERP)
Functional testing
System testing
Performance testing
Stress testing
Usability testing with key user groups - supply chain, warehouse, sales, engineering, senior management, department management
Acceptance testing with key user groups - see above
Create a communication plan for on-the-day go-live activities during system downtime
Create and schedule data backup processes
Schedule:
Staff overtime
Temporary staff hours
Network speed and reliability checks
Conduct post-go-live tests on new WMS
WMS Implementation Evaluation
To Consider Immediately Post-implementation
Was the project on-schedule? If not
Did you have all the resources we needed to complete the project effectively?
Where were there gaps?
How could you fill them?
What went wrong, and how can you learn from it?
Are key user groups embracing the new WMS? If not:
To Monitor Continuously Post-implementation
Have productivity levels increased?
Have order fulfilment rates increased?
Has client satisfaction increased?
Have human errors decreased (e.g shipment errors, wrong due-date)?
Are your inventory processes more efficient?
Have accidental shortages decreased?
Is there less excess stock in your warehouse?
How many months post-implementation is your WMS producing a positive ROI?
Are staff continuing to develop workarounds as they get to know your WMS better? If yes, consider
Share this template:

WMS implementation plan template

Running a warehouse without dedicated management resources can feel chaotic. Professionals use a warehouse management system (WMS) to navigate these challenges. Contrary to popular belief, standardized tools for WMS implementation benefit businesses of all sizes. A WMS Implementation Plan Template helps move beyond spreadsheet chaos, boosting efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. This leads to faster order fulfillment, happier customers, and less stress. Learn how to transform your warehouse into a well-oiled productivity machinery.

Reducing delays and crushing orders with an effective WMS implementation plan template

Imagine transforming your chaotic warehouse into a powerhouse of efficiency and precision, where picking errors are a thing of the past. That’s the power of a well-planned Warehouse Management System (WMS) implementation. A customizable WMS implementation plan template is your key to unlocking this reality. First, it provides a structured approach, eliminating spreadsheets and guesswork with a step-by-step guide that ensures no critical aspects are overlooked.

Consequently, streamlined workflows and real-time data lead to faster order fulfillment and minimized errors, delighting customers and boosting staff confidence. Additionally, clear processes and automated tasks allow your team to focus on higher-value activities, reducing stress and boosting morale. Finally, effective templates are usually adaptable to your specific operations, ensuring a seamless fit for your business. Stop wasting time and start crushing orders with our WMS implementation plan template!

Best practices for a WMS implementation plan template

A standard WMS Implementation Plan Template includes several key elements designed for thorough implementation:
  • WMS Implementation Team Recruiting: Define team requirements, recruit internal members, and decide on the need for a WMS consultant. Key roles include project manager, application analyst, developer, test engineer, third-party consultant, and user group representative.
  • Change Management Plan: Develop a change management plan, clarify vendor support, forecast costs, create a timeline, agree on KPIs, and plan user engagement. Inform employees of disruptions and schedule staff training.
  • WMS Data Migration: Cleanse and verify legacy data, configure databases, map legacy data to new fields, transfer data, and test both legacy and new data inputs.
  • WMS User Training: Identify key user groups, decide on training types, train superusers, create a training schedule, and set gamification incentives for training completion.
  • Go-Live Plan & Initiation: Test the WMS, create a communication plan, schedule data backups, staff overtime, network checks, and conduct post-go-live tests.
  • WMS Implementation Evaluation: Evaluate the project post-implementation and monitor it continuously. Assess productivity, order fulfillment, client satisfaction, errors, inventory processes, and ROI.
  • Customization: Tailor the template with additional fields and modify sections to fit your project’s needs. Use work automation features to assign tasks and set automatic reminders for accountability and success.

Get started with Lumiform’s WMS implementation plan template

Ensure a smooth, successful WMS implementation with Lumiform’s comprehensive template. Our free template provides a step-by-step guide to streamline your implementation process, from team recruitment and data migration to user training and post-launch evaluation. Download Lumiform’s WMS Implementation Plan Template today and transform your warehouse operations with ease and efficiency.
Please note that this checklist template is a hypothetical appuses-hero example and provides only standard information. The template does not aim to replace, among other things, workplace, health and safety advice, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or any other applicable law. You should seek your professional advice to determine whether the use of such a checklist is appropriate in your workplace or jurisdiction.
This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.