Manhattan Associates adds new mobile apps

Empowering distribution center managers with new mobile app capabilities, as well as pickers with a new mobile app, is part of what Manhattan Associates (Booth 1939) is demonstrating at Modex and also what they are seeing as helpful to addressing e-commerce fulfillment demands, said Adam Kline, a product manager director for the company, which offers supply chain execution (SCE) software including warehouse management system (WMS) solutions.

Manhattan’s Distribution Management suite delivers capabilities for streamlining e-commerce fulfillment with a range of new offerings, explained Kline, including an app called Distribution Management (DM) Mobile that lets supervisors see performance trends and even tweak processes from tablets while on the DC floor, rather than having to walk back to an office to access the system.

For example, said Kline, DM Mobile allows a manager to reslot products to new locations from anywhere on the floor with a single tap of a button. “Today many managers may spend close 75% of their time in offices trying to cope with issues, and only 25% out on the floor actually dealing with issues, coaching workers,and seeing how the operation is performing,” he said. “We want to flip those percentages so managers can be more efficient in their work and make the operation of the DC more efficient.”

Other capabilities highlighted at the booth included:

• A mobile picking application that makes it easier for temporary workers to be accurate and productivity because the app is on an intuitive type of user interface and device many people already now, and it embeds product/item images to help users “see” what they need to pick.

• Improved sorting functionality that supports the use of put-wall systems. Manhattan’s latest release features an intuitive user interface for this type of sorting that helps associates process e-commerce orders very rapidly, without mistakes, by interfacing with the warehouse to light locations.

• A pack station user interface. Manhattan’s latest release transforms packing stations by displaying full item images to ensure order accuracy and is touchscreen-enabled to allow for intuitive interaction. The new interface prints all required shipping documentation, including packing lists and labels.

Modex 2016 is scheduled to be held April 4-7, 2016 in Atlanta’s Georgia World Conference Center. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the material handling and logistics industry. Modern’s complete Modex coverage.