Heatmap: New Slotting for WMS module feature optimises storage processes

Easy WMS enhances its monitoring and diagnostic capabilities with a visual analytics tool that reveals the real flow of warehouse movements

Detailed visualisation of warehouse activity

Mecalux presents a new feature designed to quickly and accurately display both operational activity and the distribution of movements within facilities: the heatmap. This powerful data analytics tool represents the intensity and frequency of multiple logistics processes using a colour overlay on the warehouse layout. This capability is available in Slotting for WMS, the Easy WMS module specialised in advanced location management. By leveraging real usage data — historical or projected — this module helps reduce unnecessary travel through smart warehouse reorganisation proposals.

With the heatmap, users can apply various filters on the warehouse layout to check utilisation levels by operation type (picking, replenishment, dispatch, etc.). The tool then quickly and intuitively pinpoints hot zones (where activity is concentrated) and cold zones throughout the facility.

By providing this visibility, the new capability evaluates warehouse configuration and workflow distribution, identifying bottlenecks, congested areas and slotting inefficiencies. This makes the heatmap a valuable resource for understanding operational behaviour and uncovering improvement opportunities that boost performance.

Interactive analysis of warehouse processes and zones

The heatmap offers flexibility to apply different filters and examine operational behaviour across multiple variables:

• Processes. Users can select which logistics processes to analyse. All warehouse processes are displayed by default, but the analysis can focus on specific operations (receiving, dispatch, replenishment, etc.).
• Facility scope. The tool enables users to view the heatmap across all warehouse locations to understand operator movements between racking/shelving structures and spot inefficiencies. It also covers buffer zones, staging areas and loading docks to track vehicle movements and identify potential traffic bottlenecks.
• Time ranges. Users can choose any time period, even down to hourly detail (e.g. yesterday afternoon, the first half of the month, last month or last summer’s peak season).

All information is presented in a fully interactive map, allowing users to navigate different warehouse levels and view process-specific details for each area. Heat ranges can be adjusted to tailor analysis to specific needs, and heatmap results can be exported as an image or a downloadable report.