WMS
MADENET: DESIGNED FOR SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION WMS systems are evolving to support the entire supply chain, from the yard to last-mile delivery. Basic functionality is a given, but adaptability and scalability are crucial for future growth as users want systems that can handle changes in business requirements, such as new products or shipping methods. AI tools incorporated into WMS solutions, including chatbots, natural language communication, computer vision, real-time location systems, and intelligent agents, deliver capabilities that offer a higher level of service throughout the warehouse and beyond the four walls. “AI is obviously becoming a big part of any technology, and we’re seeing it incorporated across multiple areas to meet new business realities—from AI-powered optimization to increased demands for exibility,” says Amit Levy, executive vice president of sales and strategy. AI-driven systems are already making an impact. Made4net helped a customer implement a computer vision system that detects errors before products ship out of the warehouse, signi cantly reducing labor hours spent on xes and rework. Warehouse automation systems are
“It’s amazing to see 200 robots, directed in large part by our system, checking in with the WMS as they zoom around the warehouse autonomously,” Batchelder says. Datex’s hybrid deployment model supports the adoption of warehouse automation. Cloud-based management for performance-critical elements— such as robotics control for high-speed conveyors—can be deployed on-premise. This approach ensures low latency even if internet connectivity wavers, overcoming a traditional barrier to robotics adoption in a cloud- rst environment. “For one automated sorting system, we had 400 milliseconds from the time a barcode is scanned to when the diverter needed to have a decision about which lane to send the package down,” Batchelder says. “These high-speed robots can’t wait for a decision from the cloud.” AI’s impact within Datex is signi cant internally, with AI-driven software development speeding delivery timelines, and externally, with plans to augment warehouse operations. AI-driven features, such as ful llment recommendations, proactive labor shift proposals, and multi- agent systems, help re ne clients’ business requirements, pointing toward a future where decision-making is increasingly data-driven and automated.
becoming increasingly prevalent, and an AI-empowered WMS helps drive the adoption of robotics and other devices. AI and automation together accelerate order ful llment, streamline error reduction, and lower labor costs— crucial bene ts as warehouses confront rising service expectations and tight labor markets, according to Levy. A WMS serves as the hub between humans and robotics, allowing all elements in the warehouse to be more ef cient. A robotic system doesn’t function by itself—it must tie into the system that drives the work and optimization of each task. “By incorporating automation with the manual work, it’s an equation where one plus one equals three,” Levy says. “That’s the role of a WMS in an automated warehouse.” ENABLING OMNICHANNEL SPEED Currently, many warehouse operations are hindered by legacy WMS platforms that weren’t designed for today’s omnichannel velocity or the integration of advanced technologies. Modern WMS solutions are designed to be exible and adaptable, supporting strategic growth and adapting with built-in or easily developed integrations with other standard software. For example, when a new customer is onboarded into a 3PL warehouse or a customer starts shipping to Amazon ful llment, the WMS may need to be con gured accordingly. “Look for the exibility and adaptability of the system to enable those changes; that’s a very key component for selecting a WMS,” Levy says. Cloud deployment is another surging trend, but on-premise and hybrid models still play an essential role, especially where connectivity or latency is a concern. A hybrid model blends cloud and on-premise resources to minimize
latency in support of automation and provides redundancy in case of disruptions.
“Most of our customers are still going into the cloud, but those in countries
O ering flexibility and scalability, Made4net’s SCExpert™ is an all-in-one platform for warehouse, transportation, yard, and labor management—available in the cloud or on premise.
74 Inbound Logistics • September 2025
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