WMS Glossary — Warehouse Terminology | VasKem

Plain-English definitions of warehouse management terms: SKU, FEFO, FIFO, picking, put-away, cycle counting and more.

SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)

An SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a unique code that identifies each distinct product variant in a warehouse.

Picking

Picking is the process of retrieving items from storage to fulfil customer orders, and is the most time-consuming warehouse task.

Cycle Counting

Cycle counting is the practice of continuously counting subsets of inventory rather than doing one disruptive annual stock take.

ABC Analysis

ABC analysis ranks inventory items by value and movement to focus management on the SKUs that matter most.

FEFO (First Expired, First Out)

FEFO (First Expired, First Out) is a picking strategy that ships the soonest-to-expire stock first — critical for food and pharma.

FIFO (First In, First Out)

FIFO (First In, First Out) ships the oldest stock first — the most common inventory rotation strategy.

Put-Away

Put-away is the process of moving received goods from the receiving dock to their storage locations.

Cross-Docking

Cross-docking moves inbound goods directly to outbound dispatch without long-term storage.

Safety Stock

Safety stock is the buffer inventory held to protect against demand spikes and supply delays.

Reorder Point

The reorder point is the stock level that triggers a new purchase order — based on lead time and demand.

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VasKem — Warehouse Management Solution

VasKem is a cloud-based warehouse management system (WMS) designed for businesses of every size. Whether you run a single warehouse, a distribution centre, or a multi-location logistics operation, VasKem gives you real-time inventory tracking, dispatch management, fleet tracking, invoicing, and advanced reporting — all in one platform.

Warehouse Management Features

Inventory Management

Track stock quantities across multiple warehouses and bin locations in real time. Every goods receipt, dispatch, transfer, and adjustment updates your inventory automatically. Low-stock alerts notify you when products fall below reorder levels. Monitor expiring stock and batch numbers to prevent waste.

Barcode Scanning & Product Lookup

Use built-in barcode scanning on any device camera to instantly look up products, check stock levels, and process warehouse operations. Supports EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128, QR codes, and more. Import products in bulk using CSV uploads.

Dispatch Order Management

Manage the complete dispatch order lifecycle from creation to delivery. Create orders linked to customers and warehouses, generate picking lists, track fulfilment status, and confirm deliveries. Automatic stock deduction on dispatch ensures accurate inventory at all times.

Goods Receipt Processing

Record incoming inventory with goods receipt processing. Link receipts to purchase orders for automatic matching, record received quantities, and update stock levels instantly. Full receipt history with audit trail.

Purchase Order Management

Create and manage purchase orders linked to your supplier base. Track order status from draft to delivered, convert POs to goods receipts, and use auto-reorder suggestions based on stock levels and reorder points.

Logistics & Fleet Tracking

VasKem's logistics management system tracks vehicles, drivers, shipments, and delivery routes. Monitor live vehicle positions with GPS tracking integration including Cartrack support. Manage multi-stop delivery routes and track shipment status from warehouse to customer.

Invoicing & Quotations

Generate professional invoices and quotations. Convert accepted quotes to invoices automatically, record payments, track outstanding balances, and manage VAT/tax calculations. Full financial document management built into your warehouse system.

Point of Sale (POS)

Record walk-in and counter sales with POS integration. Support cash, card, bank transfer, and mobile payments. Daily sales dashboards and transaction history with void capability.

CRM & Customer Management

Built-in CRM system for managing customer and supplier relationships. Track contacts, activity history, communication notes, and link customers to dispatch orders and invoices.

Reporting & Analytics

Data-driven insights on stock movements, warehouse performance, revenue, and procurement. Low stock alerts, expiring stock monitoring, movement history, and full data export to CSV.

Stock Takes & Cycle Counting

Conduct physical stock takes and cycle counts with variance detection. Record counted quantities, see discrepancies between expected and actual stock, and adjust balances to maintain inventory accuracy.

Multi-Tenant SaaS Security

Enterprise-grade multi-tenant architecture with complete data isolation between organisations. Role-based access control, encrypted authentication, HTTPS-only, full audit logging, and data backup capabilities.

Why Choose VasKem?

100% cloud-based — no server hardware, access from any device anywhere
Up and running in minutes — no lengthy implementation projects
Custom pricing per company — tailored quotes based on users, warehouses, modules and support level; no rigid tiers
Free 14-day trial — full access, no credit card required
South African company — local support in English and Afrikaans
All-in-one platform — inventory, dispatch, logistics, invoicing, CRM, and reporting

Who Uses VasKem?

Warehouses, distribution centres, logistics companies, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, e-commerce fulfilment operations, and healthcare facilities use VasKem to manage their inventory and logistics operations.

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