ATMS introduces Warehouse HeatMap module

ATMS launches HeatMap, a powerful graphical visualisation tool that highlights activity levels within the warehouse, enabling managers to optimise their warehouse layout for maximum productivity and minimal 'traffic jams'.

The function has been integrated into ATMS Warehouse Management System for a customer with typically medium to large warehouses handling a wide variety of merchandise SKUs.

The questions they were looking for answers to were the following:

• Which areas of my warehouse are overused  or not currently exploited effectively?
• How can I re-organise my warehouse product layout to make it more efficient?
• What would be the impact on warehouse productivity if changes to the existing warehouse layout needed to be deployed?

In the past, these types of questions have been challenging to answer for a warehouse manager even if a variety of reports over a long period of time have been analysed.

The HeatMap is  a 2D representation of the warehouse or the selected group / super group where locations highlighted show hot spots based upon number of picks from the locations. This way the module gives the warehouse manager the ability to quickly and easily see  hot locations where the majority of picks are taking place and provides  the information needed to plan and re-organise the warehouse product layout if necessary.

HeatMap also gives the opportunity  to illustrate planned / necessary re-organisations and forecast impact on efficiency.

The module collects data automatically upon events and provides the functionality  to customise the HeatMap report, e.g. select the required date range or warehouse / location group. With hovering over a location it also provides warehouse managers with further details (provides a breakdown of the products in the location and the picks from each).

HeatMap is a great tool to optimise process flows, warehouse layout and configuration without the need for analysing a large amount of data as hot spots can be spotted at first glance on the visualised report.