The next version of Latitude, which has just been released, features two new major features and several smaller updates. First is the Inbound Transportation Management module that helps customers manage incoming deliveries in Latitude. Most WMS do not include this capability; it’s a forward-thinking function that we believe all small and medium-sized distributors will benefit from. You can read more about that module here.
The second addition to Latitude is our Satellite Warehouse module, which extends Latitude into smaller satellite warehouses and lets them access the same inventory without the hardware investment. Like most of Latitude’s recent enhancements, it was created to address a need expressed by customers. Many of our customers have a main warehouse with a few remote branches in secondary locations or retail back rooms. These satellite warehouses are usually too small to justify investing in on-site Latitude installations, but workers still wanted access to the system. We agree – you shouldn’t have to buy another full version of the software for three or four employees.
The Satellite Warehouse module gives remote locations access to a ‘light’ version of Latitude, where most processes are “exception” based. As usual, employees will use an RF terminal for receiving. For all other processes (putaway, cycle counting, picking, packing and shipping) they will print a form and note any exceptions to their normal workflow. For example, in putaway a worker would make a note if he or she puts a product in a different bin than normal. After finishing the job, the worker would log into Latitude Web, key in the exceptions from the sheet and save them to the system. This gives all employees better insight into what happens at these locations.
The latest update also increases the number of zones allowed in Latitude, adds the ability to set different time zones for each Latitude Branch, and the new Quarantine Window feature prevents an item from being pickable in a user-defined time frame.
You can see more details about Latitude 10.0.112 in its release notes here. If you’d like to learn more about this module, or need to discuss another specific problem you’re trying to solve in your warehouse, you can reach our support team at 1-888-627-9797.