What Is a Warehouse Management System (WMS)?

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software solution that offers visibility into a business’ entire inventory and manages supply chain fulfillment operations from the distribution center to the store shelf.

Warehouse Management (WMS) solutions additionally enable companies to maximize their labor and space utilization and equipment investments by coordinating and optimizing resource usage and material flows. Specifically, WMS systems are designed to support the needs of an entire global supply chain, including distribution, manufacturing, asset-intensive, and service businesses.

In today’s dynamic, omnichannel, fulfillment economy, connected consumers want to buy anywhere, fulfill anywhere, and return anywhere. In order to be able to meet this need, businesses need the ability to respond quickly with warehouse management software that optimizes fulfillment capabilities. Our industry-leading, cloud-based warehouse management system prepares you for tomorrow’s supply chain, today. WMS Cloud extends supply chains to align inventory management and fulfillment services with modern purchasing methods, and offers real time visibility into an entire inventory—available via smart phone and browser—the only requirement being access to the Internet.

Benefits of a modern, cloud-based warehouse management system

With the internet and digital technology having transformed how customers make purchases—disrupting supply markets, changing customer buying patterns, and adding complexity to the supply chain—fulfillment operations need to meet the changes with a digitally connected solution of their own.

In moving to the cloud, warehouse management systems can meet the connected consumer with a connected fulfillment solution that offers real time visibility, scalability, and market reactivity.

Fulfillment process—Rapid implementation

To stay competitive in the new fulfillment economy, you need to adapt quickly. With a cloud-based system, you can ramp up your supply chain system fast. Powerful logistics capabilities are available in weeks, instead of months. Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud comes ready to integrate with multiple systems to support complex, multichannel fulfillment processes.

It delivers the same level of warehouse management functionality as an on-premises system, but without the IT overhead. Cloud technology eliminates the need to pay for hardware, software, and IT specialists to maintain the system. You’re up and running quickly—at a more affordable cost.

Cloud-based WMS—No upgrades required

You’re always on the latest software version with a cloud-based solution. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) pricing includes regularly scheduled updates and no IT infrastructure costs. Everything exists in the cloud. Updates work similarly to apps in mobile phones, meaning that customers always have the latest codebase at work.

Connect logistics—Lower upfront costs

Multitenant, cloud-based solutions have an almost immediate return on investment and a lower total cost of ownership. With the cloud, there’s no need for hardware, software, and IT specialists. It comes ready to integrate with multiple systems to connect all your logistics processes from end-to-end.

In contrast, a company with an on-premises WMS could easily have paid for several customizations and modifications over a five-year period. When it is time to upgrade, that company is looking at a total reinstallation and configuration.

With a cloud-based WMS solution, there are never any upgrade or maintenance fees. There are no IT infrastructure costs or costs for hardware, system, or database administrators. Everything is installed, managed, and maintained at Oracle data centers by Oracle experts. What used to be a significant expenditure is now a predictable—and more affordable—operating cost, enabling you to preserve your profit margins.

Scalability and flexibility of supply chain operations

Today’s global market demands speed. Oracle’s cloud-based solution gives you the scalability to quickly expand your supply chain operations to meet changing market conditions. Scale as needed to handle peak seasons and manage other changes. When new opportunities come along, you’ll be ready. This business agility is yours without paying an on-premises price. Capital expenditures for in-house hardware, software, and labor are eliminated. So you can invest scare resources in your business—not your IT.

Seamless Integration—Warehouse management and ERP

Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud Service is built for integration. The solution supports integration with host enterprise resource planning (ERP), merchandising (MMS), and supply chain solutions (SCM).

Oracle WMS Cloud was built for integration, not isolation. Data can be sent and received using industry best practice RESTful web services and XML. These integration points can easily be leveraged by material handling equipment vendors to build integrations for automated warehouses.

Future of Warehouse Management

Oracle WMS Cloud represents a new paradigm in SCM software—a robust, next-generation, warehouse solution available at an outstanding value. New supply chain management functionality delivers innovative product features, mobile solutions, and a user-friendly interface.

Companies invest in warehouse management software to streamline and automate inventory fulfillment processes, while also controlling costs. Dynamic and easily configurable, a robust WMS system can leverage the cloud for a rapid, cost-effective implementation that realizes the following benefits:

• Increased operational efficiency—with warehouse management software managing fulfillment operations in the cloud, supply chains have real-time visibility into their inventory and operations—meeting how their customers engage in purchasing with relevant technology.
• A lower Total Cost of Ownership—implementing a cloud-based warehouse management system helps control costs as businesses no longer have to fear paying for costly maintenance and upgrades.
• Improved customer experience—faster fulfillment times means a better customer experience and better business. Customers can make purchases from anywhere at anytime. Warehouse management systems that are based in the cloud help businesses meet the demand that market realities dictate.

Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud (WMS)

The New Fulfillment Economy doesn’t have room for tedious systems, costly upgrades, and long complex integrations. It requires a single, 360° view of your warehouse operations that can only be achieved by introducing greater efficiencies into the fulfillment platform. This also means a safer place for data, a shorter path to multichannel commerce, and smarter way to do business.

Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud (WMS) is the industry’s leading cloud-based warehouse management system. With innovative product features, mobile solutions, and an easy-to-use interface, Oracle WMS Cloud combines the speed and savings of the cloud with best-of-breed warehouse management and fulfillment capabilities.