“At the RFP level, vendors say yes to everything,” Gilmore says. “Even in the demo, a vendor might claim they have all the capabilities. But if you take it down a level to more detail, you will nd out that there are some differences that wouldn’t show up otherwise.” Many businesses face the question of whether or not to employ a WMS consultant for the selection process. “Generally, if you have to ask that question, you probably should use a consultant,” Brochu says. “But you especially should if you don’t have enough information to forecast and understand what the actual costs will be.” Beyond a product and its features, an organization should consider how a WMS vendor aligns culturally, weighing factors such as its mission and values, its approach to sustainability, and how it treats its team members. Also consider the big-picture question: Is this a company you want to do business with? For instance, an enterprise that wants to be on the leading edge of technology will want to ensure its WMS vendor has a similar commitment.
A "subscribe now, buy later" plan is an option for companies not ready to make a full investment in a WMS. TouchPath, for example, o¡ers a discounted subscription scheme for its TouchWMS warehouse management system.
demonstrations or trials can provide good insights into the WMS’s ability to meet your future needs,” he adds. Weigh the future goals of your business and how you plan to grow in the coming years. “For instance, if you plan to implement advanced robotics in the next ve years, and the WMS platform doesn’t support it or doesn’t have integrations to a leading vendor, maybe it’s not a match—even if they can knock it out of the park for you right now,” Brochu says. “At the very least, have a conversation with the vendor.” Scalability and exibility are essential characteristics to determine whether a WMS will likely remain a good t in the future. “It’s important to choose a WMS that can scale with your business as it grows,” Levy says. “Evaluate the system’s ability to handle increased order volumes, additional warehouses, and changing business requirements. “Flexibility in terms of customization and adaptability to industry-speci c processes is also crucial,” he adds. In light of the rapid pace of progress, nding a WMS provider that can serve as a reliable partner who helps you navigate the changes ahead has never been more essential. “It’s important that your company stays ahead,” Jonkman says, “or you will be left behind.” n
today’s problems, but a platform for continuous improvement and process change over time,” Gilmore says. “Thinking about it that way changes the way you evaluate potential vendors.” Investigating whether a WMS will align with a company’s future needs means analyzing if a system is con gurable, scalable, exible, and adaptable. “Assess if the WMS can accommodate future growth—in users, business volumes, new warehouses—and seamlessly and easily handle changing business requirements, support new technologies, and integrate with other systems,” Levy says. “Evaluating vendor roadmaps and customer testimonials, and requesting
3. BUY A SOLUTION FOR TOMORROW, NOT JUST TODAY.
A common and potentially costly mistake is selecting a WMS for the present rather than the future. “Companies need the mindset that they’re not buying a product that solves
When choosing a warehouse management system, be sure it can support future plans, such as robotics or other automation implementations.
September 2023 • Inbound Logistics 95
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