Change Request Management in Intralogistics

If you decide to use a warehouse management system, you usually have two options: Either you acquire a license to use the software or you are the owner of the software. Regardless of the economic and accounting differences, serious imbalances become apparent as soon as it comes to change requests and their management.

In the case of clothing, this question does not arise in most cases because, on the one hand, the price differences between off-the-peg and made-to-measure goods are enormous and, on the other hand, clothing is not only functional but also and above all subject to fashions. In the world of intralogistics, however, decision-making processes in this regard are far more difficult and complex – because it should never just be about the status quo. Rather, aspects such as sustainability, flexibility, resilience and future security should be taken into account when choosing warehouse management software.

In order to make the best decision in the corporate sense, it is necessary to realize that intralogistics is not a cost factor, but a competitive advantage. This includes the awareness that competition is constantly changing and that, accordingly, one’s own intralogistics are also subject to constant adjustments and optimization.

This contrasts with the view (slightly exaggerated) that a WMS must be set in stone and that any change to it is only evidence of how inadequate or faulty the software actually is.

Reacting to market, political or social cycles is very different in both forms: An individually tailored WMS allows for a very fast reaction and implementation, while this is more complex with off-the-shelf software and ultimately also rests on a rather shaky foundation. And even without permanent optimizations and changes – the tailor-made suit fits like a glove, you almost don’t feel it, while ready-made clothing always remains unsuitable in one or more places.

No WMS, regardless of the company and the industry, can do without optimization. Successful market players in a globalized competitive environment are characterized by continuous adaptation and improvement. Of course, everyone in the market aspires to be successful, but it is the few percent that separate “optimal” from “suboptimal”. And these two, three, four or five percent make all the difference in the world’s top sectors.

The simple truth is that intralogistics is all about permanent and ongoing optimization.

Those who advocate competition attach importance to at least good, but usually rather excellent change request management. When areas or individual functions of a WMS are to be changed, adapted, or expanded, sometimes the big picture is at stake, and sometimes it is merely a matter of nuances. Both require experience, expertise and a sense of proportion – qualities that are particularly important in change requests.

Implementing changes and realizing solutions requires the right tools, the right processes, excellent know-how and an arsenal of targeted measures. If the system or the software belongs to the customer, then a company remains independent of release cycles and other implementations of the software provider. If changes or enhancements are desired, then one can be sure that there are no surprising hurdles that lie outside the self-controlled sphere of influence.

Our motto “Software Follows Function” means that the best solution and the most suitable path are chosen from a large arsenal of possible solutions (and ways to get there). This is only possible if customer service has an immensely high priority and the right questions are asked before the project and during the process – and this requires experience and expertise.

If you want to learn more about our Change Request Management, you can read this blog post for example, for those interested in IT architecture it’s this way, or you have a specific request and ask us directly.

Back to home page
Our other blog posts