Warehouse logistics has become a bottleneck for the rapidly developing e-commerce industry; phenomena such as warehouse explosions, mis-shipments, omissions, violent sorting, and lost packages are common. In this situation, improving warehouse logistics management and creating an e-commerce warehouse with high picking efficiency and a low mis-shipment rate can achieve remarkable results.

❶ Standardized Warehouse Management

Warehouse explosions are a concern for e-commerce and express delivery companies during the annual Double Eleven event. However, the key to avoiding warehouse explosions lies not only in the delivery capacity of express delivery but also in the shipping capacity of the warehouse. Shangke believes that e-commerce warehouse operations are complex and arduous, and efficient warehouse management and fast, accurate shipping depend on standardized management and standardized operations.

Recently, the industry standard "Network Retail Warehousing Operation Specification" (SB/T 11068-2013) has been approved and officially released by the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the State Standardization Administration Committee (Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 23 of 2014) and will be implemented from December 1, 2014.

This standard standardizes the basic requirements, management policies, basic processes, basic specifications, information management, distribution management, and safety management of network retail warehousing operations, and puts forward requirements for the evaluation and improvement of network retail warehousing enterprises. Shangke believes that the implementation of this standard will have a positive impact on standardizing network retail warehousing operations, improving operational efficiency, strengthening information construction, enhancing distribution capabilities, and achieving customer satisfaction, and will play an important role in promoting the development of e-commerce logistics.

Shangke learned from industry insiders that the formulation and implementation of industry standards are undoubtedly very important for the development of the entire e-commerce warehousing industry, but further standardized operations are needed for the various operational links within the warehouse.

❷ Warehouse Operation Informationization

Full-process information management. Relying on the e-commerce warehouse management system, information management and visual control are implemented for each operation link and personnel operation in the warehouse. All operation processes and personnel operations are carried out under the guidance of the information system, with each step and action decomposed, calculated, and rationally planned to improve the efficiency and executability of personnel operations.

☉ Multiple error prevention measures

Through methods such as unique standard barcodes, quantity comparison, weight comparison, and video surveillance, the management system prevents and corrects personnel operations. Personnel operate under the management and guidance of the system, effectively avoiding misoperations and reducing the mis-shipment and omission rate even with large volumes of orders.

☉ Pre-allocation strategy

The management system is used to plan and arrange in advance according to the total warehouse task volume and the demand of different positions, optimizing the allocation of resources and manpower. Before starting work, personnel can learn about their daily work arrangements and workload and make independent work arrangements, enhancing flexibility and the human element. The advantages of this strategy are particularly evident during peak order periods such as Double Eleven.

☉ Effective working hour assessment method

According to the work intensity and characteristics of each position, a reasonable algorithm is used to convert personnel work into effective working hours for fair and reasonable performance appraisal. The work status is displayed in real time through electronic kanban, effectively improving personnel work enthusiasm and initiative, and fundamentally solving problems such as difficulties in evaluating warehouse employees/temporary workers.

❸ Standardized operations, more flexible management

☉ One person, multiple positions; one position, multiple capabilities

All positions in the warehouse adopt a standardized model, reducing the complexity of personnel operations, allowing one person to hold multiple positions, and one position to perform multiple functions. The system can adjust personnel positions at any time according to the warehouse operation situation. For example, when the packaging task volume is large, additional packaging workstations can be added at any time, and personnel from other relatively idle positions can be transferred to packaging, thus avoiding the overall efficiency reduction caused by the huge workload of a certain operation position. Shangke suggests that standardized operation methods, simplified personnel operations, and shortened training periods allow for the use of a large number of temporary workers during Double Eleven, ensuring timely shipments and reducing personnel costs.

☉ Establish a standardized information technology service management system

For e-commerce companies' own warehouses, it can provide a series of standardized services, including warehouse management system software output and improvement, internal warehouse hardware upgrades, internal warehouse process optimization, team management experience sharing, and management personnel training. Using mature and efficient warehouse management software and system support services and advanced in-warehouse management process solutions to replicate efficient and accurate intelligent warehouses.

❹ Visual monitoring, all cargo information is secure

Strengthen the intelligent warehouse management system's supervision of all cargo conditions and operational links, so that the storage, shipment, and transportation of goods can be viewed at any time through the system. The work status of warehouse employees is recorded and managed through the system and PDA, allowing customers to grasp the dynamics of their goods in real time. Packaging and other operational links are fully recorded by video and permanently stored to ensure traceability at every link and to ensure cargo security.

Establish an information security management system. The warehouse is managed through an information system, seamlessly connecting with the e-commerce/platform management system and the express company management system. Paperless operations are used throughout the process, and all customer-related information is strictly confidential to ensure customer information security.