How quickly can Tapnet deploy automation for my business?

Most Automation Sprint projects go live within 7-14 days. Larger Operations Suite deployments take 3-6 weeks.

What does business automation cost in South Africa?

Our Automation Sprint starts at R15,000 setup with R5,000/month. Operations Suite ranges from R45,000-R90,000 setup with R12,000-R20,000/month.

Do I need technical knowledge to use Tapnet's automation?

No. We build simple management interfaces your team can use. No coding or technical knowledge required.

What is the difference between warehousing and inventory management?

Warehousing refers to the physical facilities, equipment, and processes for storing and moving products—receiving, putaway, picking, packing, and dispatch. Inventory management is the data and decision-making layer that tracks stock levels, forecasts demand, triggers replenishment, and optimises what's held in the warehouse. Both work together: good warehousing provides accurate data for inventory decisions, while good inventory management ensures warehouses store the right products.

What systems do warehouses use?

Modern warehouses use warehouse management systems (WMS) to direct operations, inventory management systems or ERP platforms to track stock and manage replenishment, barcode scanners or RFID readers for data capture, and increasingly integrate with transportation management systems (TMS) for coordinated logistics. Cloud-based platforms have made these capabilities accessible to businesses of all sizes.

How does load shedding affect warehouses in South Africa?

Load shedding disrupts warehouse operations by cutting power to lighting, material handling equipment, computer systems, and temperature control. Facilities without backup power lose productivity during outages, face safety risks from poor lighting, and risk product spoilage in refrigerated storage. Most modern warehouses invest in generators, UPS systems, or solar installations to maintain operations during power cuts.

What industries rely heavily on warehousing in SA?

Retail chains use distribution centres for store replenishment. E-commerce companies operate fulfilment centres for online orders. FMCG companies warehouse fast-moving consumer goods. Cold chain operators handle perishable food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Manufacturing companies maintain spare parts hubs. Third-party logistics (3PL) providers offer shared warehousing for multiple clients. Essentially, any business that stores physical products before sale depends on warehousing.

Is warehouse automation only for big enterprises?

No. While large-scale robotics and complex automated storage systems require significant capital investment, many automation technologies are accessible to mid-sized operations. Cloud-based WMS, mobile barcode scanning, automated inventory synchronisation, and basic conveyor systems deliver immediate benefits without enterprise-scale budgets. Start with high-impact, low-complexity automation like eliminating paper pick lists before considering more sophisticated systems.

How do I reduce stockouts in my warehouse?

Stockouts result from inaccurate inventory data, poor demand forecasting, or inadequate replenishment processes. Solutions include implementing cycle counting for inventory accuracy, using demand forecasting tools that analyse historical patterns, setting reorder points based on lead times and demand variability, establishing safety stock levels for critical items, and automating replenishment triggers so reorders happen before stock depletes. Most businesses find inventory accuracy is the foundation—fix this first.

What KPIs should I track for warehouse performance?

Essential KPIs include inventory accuracy (% match between system and physical count), picking accuracy (% orders picked without errors), orders fulfilled per labour hour (productivity), on-time in-full delivery rate (customer service), stockout rate (availability), space utilisation (efficiency), and inventory turnover (cash flow). Track these weekly or daily depending on operation size, and investigate immediately when metrics degrade.

Tapnet | Business Automation for South African SMBs

Warehousing vs Inventory Management

The terms are related but describe different operational layers. Warehousing is the physical infrastructure and processes. Inventory management is the data and decision-making that controls what's stored and when it moves.

Warehousing covers the physical facilities, equipment, and processes for receiving, storing, and dispatching goods. This includes the building itself, racking systems, handling equipment, and the workflows that move products through the facility.

Inventory management tracks stock levels, monitors movement, forecasts demand, and triggers replenishment. It's the intelligence layer that ensures the right products are available at the right time without excess capital tied up in slow-moving stock.

Aspect	Warehousing	Inventory Management
Focus	Physical storage and movement	Stock levels and replenishment decisions
Primary Goal	Efficient space utilisation and throughput	Optimal stock levels and availability
Key Activities	Receiving, putaway, picking, packing, dispatch	Counting, forecasting, ordering, tracking
Technology	WMS, conveyors, scanners, racking	IMS/ERP, demand planning, reporting
Metrics	Pick rate, dock-to-stock time, space utilisation	Inventory accuracy, stockout rate, days on hand

How Warehouses Operate (Core Processes)

Modern warehouses follow standardised processes that move products efficiently from arrival to customer delivery. Understanding these flows is essential for identifying improvement opportunities.

Receive → Put-Away → Store → Pick → Pack → Dispatch → Returns

Receiving & Put-Away

Verify deliveries, check for damage, and move goods to designated storage locations

Storage & Slotting

Optimise product placement based on velocity, size, and pick frequency

Inventory Counting

Maintain accuracy through cycle counting and exception-based verification

Picking, Packing & Dispatch

Retrieve orders, prepare for shipment, and hand over to carriers

Returns & Replenishment

Process returns and move products from bulk to active picking locations

The South African Context

South African warehousing faces operational challenges that international best practices often don't address. Understanding these constraints is essential for realistic operational planning.

SA Challenge	Operational Impact	Common Mitigations
Load shedding	Lost productivity, spoilage risk, safety issues	Generators, UPS systems, solar panels
Port delays	Unpredictable receiving, capacity planning difficulty	Buffer stock, flexible staffing
Road freight costs	Higher transport expenses, delivery variability	Route optimisation, load consolidation
Security risks	Theft losses, insurance costs	Access controls, surveillance, security staff
Real estate costs	High fixed costs, location compromises	Shared warehousing, 3PL partnerships

Pro tip:

The fastest way to improve warehouse performance is to automate the most error-prone process—usually picking and replenishment. Start here before investing in more complex automation.

Why Warehousing & Inventory Management Matters

Effective warehousing and inventory management directly impact business performance across multiple dimensions that show up in financial results and customer satisfaction.

Reduced Stockouts

Accurate inventory tracking prevents situations where customer orders can't be fulfilled

Lower Carrying Costs

Optimised inventory reduces capital tied up in slow-moving stock

Better Cash Flow

Accurate forecasting improves working capital management

Higher Fulfilment Accuracy

Proper processes reduce picking errors and order discrepancies

Learn more about how warehousing fits into broader logistics operations in our logistics and supply chain management guide.

How Automation Improves Warehousing & Inventory

Automation transforms warehousing from labour-intensive, error-prone operations into efficient, accurate, scalable systems. South African businesses increasingly adopt automation to address labour costs, accuracy requirements, and competitive pressures.

Warehouse Management Systems

Direct workflows, track inventory in real-time, and optimise space allocation

Automated Picking & Packing

Reduce errors and increase speed with system-directed workflows

Real-Time Inventory Sync

Synchronise stock levels across WMS, ERP, and e-commerce platforms

Demand Forecasting & Replenishment

Predict demand and automate reorder triggers for optimal stock levels

Cold Chain Monitoring

Track temperature continuously and alert staff to deviations immediately

Dashboarding & KPIs

Real-time visibility into performance metrics and operational efficiency

Practical Steps for SA Businesses

Improving warehousing and inventory management doesn't require transforming operations overnight. Systematic improvements deliver measurable results within months.

Map Warehouse Flows

Document product movement and identify bottlenecks

Measure KPIs

Establish baseline performance across critical metrics

Choose WMS/IMS Tooling

Select systems that integrate with existing platforms

Pilot Automation

Start with one process, measure results, then expand

Train Staff

Provide hands-on training and address concerns

Monitor & Optimise

Track metrics continuously and drive improvements

Key Performance Indicators

KPI	Target Benchmark
Inventory Accuracy	>99%
On-Time In-Full (OTIF)	>95%
Stockout Rate	<2%
Picking Accuracy	>99.5%
Space Utilisation	85-90%

What Is Warehousing & Inventory Management? (SA Context)