Swisslog resources

In warehouses, the lines between WMS and WCS are blurring. Increasingly, the real-time needs of automated facilities have demanded more business process logic in the WCS layer, and thus emerges a new breed of offering - warehouse execution software (WES).

For companies large and small, an often overlooked key to handling sales growth in their DC is having the right picking strategies and technologies. Your current facility can do more than you think—you just need to take a hard look at your current equipment and processes to maximize productivity with improved strategies or advanced technologies.

Neglecting the back end of your business can undermine growth. This white paper looks at the questions to ask to ensure your growth won’t break your business and will start a conversation that proactively positions your company for future success.

Third party logistics (3PL) companies have become an important part of today’s supply chain. They have grown as their clients decided to become leaner, conserve capital, and focus on core business strengths and processes. On the other hand, many enterprises view distribution/fulfillment as a strategic tool driving their business models. For them, the supply chain is much more than a transactional process, it is a competitive weapon.

While multi-channel distribution is thought of as a retail phenomenon, distributors and manufacturers are also under pressure to meet the challenges of multi-channel distribution.

Vera Bradley’s expanded distribution center was designed to manage the company’s traditional wholesale and retail replenishment sales channels while accommodating the growth of its Internet fulfillment. The facility brings together conveyor and sortation technology along with both pick-to-light and put-to-light technologies integrated by FORTE Industries.

FORTE named "Cool Vendors in Supply Chain Services, 2013," Gartner Report. Learn more by downloading the full report which includes the FORTE WCS 2.0 white paper.

Today, FORTE’s new WCS 2.0 Smart Warehouse Suite is capable of far more than efficient management of controls systems, material handling equipment and mechanical systems that comprise the automated DC.

DC operations are continually under stress to reduce costs and improve throughout. The solution for many DC operators is to create and study detailed documentation of each functional area within the DC operation - the maps and metrics.

Gaining authorization to invest in DC improvements, including automation, is a challenging endeavor in most organizations. Overall economic conditions, along with individual business concerns such as availability of capital, competing capital projects and myriad obstacles potentially stand in the way. This white paper outlines the key requirements for development of an effective business case that will increase your likelihood for receiving senior management support.