A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software solution that supports the essential processes—both simple and complex—of managing a warehouse. These warehousing processes include receiving, storing, and monitoring inventory; retrieving inventory through the pick-and-pack process; shipping orders; reporting on shipment accuracy (e.g., correct shipments, over-shipments, under-shipment, and shipping incorrect items); and communicating with suppliers and transportation vendors who are responsible for providing materials and shipping orders.
With a WMS, these core processes are automated and fully managed using role-based dashboards. When purchased as part of a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, a WMS takes warehouse management to the next level by storing and synchronizing data from the WMS and other ERP modules—such as accounting, customer resource management, and human resources—in a centralized database.
Accessing this real-time, accurate, and company-wide data in a single cloud-based system fuels the ability to complete forecasting, analysis, compliance, and planning tasks, to optimize warehouse performance, and to drive improvements.