Outsmart Risk: How Mobile Automation is Rewiring Distribution

As global supply chains face mounting pressure—from economic instability to labor shortages and geopolitical disruptions—distribution leaders are seeking new ways to control the chaos. At the core of this transformation lies one simple truth: operational risk thrives where manual processes persist.

For too long, distribution centers have relied on outdated systems and static workflows, opening the door to errors in inventory, delays in fulfillment, and rising compliance costs. But forward-thinking businesses are now flipping the script—replacing risk with resilience through mobile automation.

The High Cost of Manual Processes

When warehouse teams rely on paper-based processes, manual data entry, or legacy scanners, they introduce risk at every step of the order lifecycle:

• Inventory inaccuracies lead to costly stockouts or excess holding costs.

• Fulfillment errors damage customer relationships and increase returns.

• Limited visibility undermines supply chain agility and decision-making.

In a world that demands speed, precision, and traceability, these gaps are no longer sustainable.

The Rise of Mobile WMS and Smart Scanning

Modern warehouse management systems (WMS) are going mobile—and it's changing the game for global distributors. At the heart of this shift are technologies that extend real-time ERP functionality into the hands of warehouse teams, directly from their mobile devices.

Mobile WMS platforms allow workers to:

• Pick, pack, receive, and move inventory in real time.

• Scan barcodes with smartphones and tablets—no dedicated hardware needed.

• Access live ERP data from anywhere in the warehouse.

This reduces friction, lowers hardware costs, and empowers organizations to scale without the burden of heavy infrastructure.

Why Platform-Agnostic Solutions Are the Future

While ERP vendors like NetSuite, Infor, Odoo, and SYSPRO offer varying degrees of WMS capabilities, mobile flexibility often comes at a premium—or is limited to proprietary apps.

That’s where tools like MepScan come in. Designed as a platform-agnostic mobile extension for ERPs, MepScan gives businesses the ability to:

• Automate key warehouse workflows without switching systems.

• Deploy quickly, train staff easily, and adapt as operations evolve.

• Support multi-location, multi-language environments with ease.

Whether you’re using a cloud-native ERP like NetSuite, an industry-focused system like SYSPRO, or a modular platform like Odoo, MepScan meets you where you are—providing a global-ready solution to reduce risk and boost agility.

The Competitive Advantage of Mobile Automation

Companies adopting mobile-first WMS strategies report:

• Up to 40% improvement in order picking speed

• Increased inventory accuracy to over 98%

• Reduced cycle times and faster onboarding for seasonal staff

• Improved compliance and traceability across borders

These are not just operational wins—they’re competitive differentiators in markets where delivery windows are tight, and customer expectations are global.

Automate Your Distribution

In the race to modernize, mobile automation is one of the most accessible and impactful upgrades a distributor can make. It’s not about replacing your ERP—it’s about extending it, enhancing it, and making it work harder for your business.

By embracing tools like Mobile WMS platforms and flexible scanning solutions, you’re not just managing risk—you’re building a distribution engine that can scale confidently into the future.

Ready to start your mobile automation journey?

Explore how Mep can help you unlock smarter, faster, and safer distribution—globally.

Always a call away.

Kim Prevost

Director of Business Development @ MepApps/MepServices

832.832.0988 Kim.P@MepApps.com

Travis Rudel

PreSales, Implementation & Networking Engineer @ MepApps/MepServices

832.289.8001 Travis@MepServices.us