Why Upgrading Your Current WMS/WCS Software is a Smart Investment

Defining WMS, WCS and WES

As far back as three decades, warehouses and distribution centers began implementing overarching warehouse management software within their facilities.

These systems were installed to manage the flow of items from receipt and storage, through picking to packing and outbound shipping. The objective was to reduce errors, better track inventory and more efficiently direct basic order fulfillment functions.

Yet, as time has marched forward, consumer demands have increased for higher throughput at faster speeds with support for later order cut-off times—all handled with fewer associates.

Further, companies began transitioning from conventional to semi- or fully-automated material handling solutions. The hardware and software needed to control those systems has also advanced, as has the need to better integrate material handling equipment with inventory management.

That means today companies are faced with an increasing need to upgrade their warehouse management systems (WMS) and warehouse control systems (WCS)—or, what certain vendors in the industry have termed a “warehouse execution system (WES).”

For operations that have not kept pace with the evolution of WMS and WCS software functionality through updates or upgrades, the thought of doing so can be as overwhelming as deciphering the differences between the three acronyms.