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Gone are the ages when people used to have clocks and timers to monitor the progress of the tasks they were working on. Today, the clocks have been rightly replaced by time tracking tools and apps that are designed to help employees manage the time they are putting on into a project effectively in order to meet deadlines and complete projects on time. Every project management tool has its own set of time tracking apps. For example, Quartz is a good example of time tracking tool for Jira and so is Activity Timeline and Clockwork. This article looks into the top 10 benefits of using a dedicated tool for time tracking.

1] Efficient Project Management

The biggest benefit of using an automated time tracking tool is the boost in efficiency of project management. Time tracking apps help you get clear idea about the hours required for project, which in turn helps in better estimation and reduces the possibility of extension of deadlines.

2] No Discrepancy in Billing

Since these tools are automated, they record everything an employee does at work, which ensures the records are 100% accurate and every detail is taken into account while creating the timesheet. This way, nothing is missed out and the billing is always accurate.

3] Facilitates Communication of Task Progress

Time tracking tools collect all the data when it comes to the working hours of employees, it’s easy to create detailed reports that can be easily shared with relevant people in order to keep them in the loop about the status or progress of task.

4] Boost in Employee Productivity

Another big advantage is that it helps employees be conscious of the working hours and allows them to track distractions if any. This way, employees get a chance to work on their individual efficiency and make themselves better at achieving more in a certain period of time.

5] Clear Understanding of the Capacity of Resources

When everything that an employee does is being recorded in the time tracking tool, it gives a clear picture of the capacity of each resource working on a project. This makes it easy for the project manager to allocate tasks in a way that no one is overburdened, and even decide on hiring additional resources if required.

6] Boost in Profitability of the Organisation

Another advantage is that it allows insights into where the resources are spending most of the time. This insight can be rightfully used to eliminate unnecessary tasks that take up too much time, or automate them to save time of resources and also save money in the long run.

7] Getting a Clear Picture of the Unknown Tasks

Sometimes, there are small tasks with the project that usually go unnoticed, but add up to the total time in a significant way. These task can be easily identified with the time tracking tool and taken into consideration when creating estimates for the project so that the resources don’t have to worry about putting extra time to complete these small tasks.

8] Makes Assessment of Project Value Simpler

When one has a tool that allows to track every single task involved in a project, it becomes easier to assess the value of a project and charge the client accordingly. In the absence of a time tracking tool, calculating all the tasks and the time required for them can be complicated and prone to errors.

A time tracking tool indeed offers an array of benefits to an organisation. Without one, it can be really difficult to assess the tasks required in a project, the time required for the same, and the billing thereof. Today, when projects are to be completed with strict deadlines, these tools are a must have.

With so many Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) available in today’s market, finding the right one for your organization may seem daunting. Whether you’re looking to implement your very first WMS or searching to upgrade due to limitations within your existing system, a WMS is a major investment capable of huge returns.

As with any investment, it will behoove you to take the time to do the homework. With a little upfront planning and forethought, you can be confident in knowing your requirements and how each one impacts the WMS selection process.

To determine which WMS is right for your business, ask yourself these 10 questions beforehand:

1.Does the WMS meet my general needs?
Study your overall business goals and process demands. What are your current challenges and limitations? What areas are working well? From there, you can determine if the prospective WMS fits the overall footprint of your business and if it provides room for growth. For additional help, ask a WMS representative to explain, in detail, the benefits of using the system given your respective industry and requirements.

2.What are the system requirements for implementing the WMS?
Not all WMS are created equal; there are a variety of sophisticated platforms and system requirements to be considered. For this reason, you’ll want to make sure your WMS representative is aware of your needs.

In the meantime, check in with your IT team to determine whether the WMS system can be supported and if any internal upgrades are essential after implementation. Other system requirements to consider are licensing options and related additional fees.

3.Does the WMS support the integrations I require?
If your business requires specific interfaces, you’ll want to identify which ones integrate and support the WMS in question. From Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to Transportation Management Systems (TMS) – and everything in between – your current systems will help determine which WMS best suits your framework. To confirm, ask a WMS representative to disclose which interfaces are part of the base package and which ones will require custom development.

4.Does the WMS accommodate the required Primary and Secondary processes?
Study the overall requirements and process demands of your business. Does the WMS system support basic functions like Order Entry, Fulfillment, Shipping, and Receiving?

For additional consideration, research any special processes such as Value-Added Services (VAS), Kitting, Quality Audit, Serial Numbers, Lot Numbers, Expiry Dates, etc., or ask a WMS representative to fully explain functionality and cost.

5.Will the WMS support any forecasted growth and expansion?
Consider your company’s long-term goals and look at your business from a high level. Do you foresee needing to build-up the system again within the next 5-10 years? Will additional traffic require more capabilities from a WMS? Ask your WMS representative to go over all applicable components, such as: adding on additional warehouses, adding user licenses, purging/archiving data, program upgrades, etc.

6.How adaptable is the WMS? How efficiently can modifications be implemented?
To determine WMS adaptability, ask the WMS representative about custom requests. Are customized requests treated differently than program defects? Further, what is the average turn-around-time for program modifications? From there, what is the overall process and pricing? These are the types of questions that’ll provide insight into how efficiently changes can be made.

7.What are the available options for ongoing support?
Does the product include a support package? If so, is there a 24.7 Help Desk available? Or further, will the company provide support through the entire project life cycle and beyond? Ask your representative to walk you through all the available advisory, service and support options.

8.What are the upgrade terms and generally expected schedule of new version releases?
Take the time to unfold the particulars of your selected WMS, including the logistics of product upgrades. This can include the cost to upgrade and what is involved (downtime, resources, etc.), how often to expect a new version, and if free upgrades are available under a support contract.

9.Does the WMS fit the budget?
When it comes to costs, keep in mind bundled features and perks. It’s important to get the details on each WMS Software to fairly compare since there may be certain hidden features rolled into the overall quoted price (not including the software itself). These features may include implementation resources, training, ongoing support contracts and/or a limited customization budget. Get down to the details to make an informed choice that isn’t solely based on the initial sticker price.

10.Will the new WMS bring enough long-term benefits to offset the short-term expense?
Once you’ve been through the entire process of defining your needs and the list of WMS is narrowed down, it’s time to decide if the overall cost will be offset by some measurable benefit.

Will the WMS encourage efficiencies? Will it solve accuracy issues? Will it make us quicker, better, faster? Will it enable us to provide superior customer service? Is this WMS the best fit at the best price? These are the questions you must answer for yourself once you’ve done the research and defined your requirements.