WMS REMIX
for multi-location and multi-client deployments. “When the vendor manages the upgrades, you’re not the one investing in ongoing product upgrades,” Narang says. “That can get expensive fast if you’re running a multi- site deployment.” A second major trend reshaping WMS selection is the blurring of the lines between B2B and ecommerce ful llment. Warehouses are increasingly expected to support pallet-based and each-based picking, freight and parcel shipping, and multi-tenant operations for 3PLs, all from a single con gurable platform rather than a patchwork of point solutions. Vendors that can’t ex between these modes, or that lack integration with upstream partners and ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle, are often the ones companies outgrow. Defining the Role of AI Underlying both trends is a data problem the industry is only starting to reckon with. Inconsistent units of measure, mismatched item codes, and manual database edits are long- standing, unglamorous issues in warehouse operations. These inconsistencies also now a primary obstacle to any AI ambitions. Clean data is what feeds AI copilots and, eventually, agents capable of analyzing inventory, labor, and storage data to recommend warehouse priorities in real time.
Labor is another area where AI is expected to play a growing, if still early-stage, role. Clean data will help forecast staf ng needs, orchestrate task assignments, and redistribute work based on historical performance. But even the most bullish predictions have limits. Agentic AI replacing core WMS execution outright is not one of them. “I do not want AI to do order ful llment on my behalf,” Narang says. “That’s way too risky.” AI’s more realistic near-term role, he suggests, is in adjacent functions: invoice processing, transportation planning, wave optimization—working alongside the Buyers evaluating WMS vendors also continue to make avoidable mistakes, says Narang. They focus on upfront licensing costs while overlooking the hidden expense of customizations and integrations. They over-buy enterprise- grade capability that doesn’t match actual operational complexity. And they fail to involve data and integration stakeholders early enough in the evaluation process. As ful llment networks grow more complex, the throughline across these trends is foundational readiness. A core system, not replacing it. Dodging Avoidable Mistakes scalable, cloud-based, fully integrated WMS is the prerequisite for everything warehouses hope to build on top of it, AI included.
WMS Solutions: Chart Toppers CARTONCLOUD cartoncloud.com CartonCloud lets companies connect their warehouse and transportation management systems in one platform for complete visibility and control, providing one login, one data source, and one workflow. With an average onboarding time of around 6 hours, the solution oers fast ROI and gives companies the agility to grow when opportunity strikes. DA VINCI UNIFIED dvuni ed.com Da Vinci WMS was designed to absorb operational complexity. The solution lets companies onboard new customers, inventory types, and workflows with flexible configurations to drive their growth. The powerful and configurable WMS is designed for complex 3PLs and growing brands, supporting customers with demanding, highly variable operational requirements. DATEX datexcorp.com Built for 3PL operations, Footprint ® WMS delivers capabilities that support multi- tenant environments, maximize revenue, and dierentiate through technology. Footprint WMS was designed with configuration in mind, with no-code workflows that let companies update processes in minutes. The solution helps 3PLs get clients live faster with configurable workflows, client-specific rules, and mobile options. MADENET made4net.com/warehouse Made4net provides a full suite of supply chain execution solutions and best-in- class WMS software for companies of all sizes. Companies can automate, optimize, and streamline every aspect of their operations with Made4net’s configurable cloud-based warehouse management system software. The end-to-end solution oers supply chain convergence, with a fully integrated platform, including WMS, WCS, YMS, labor, routing, and proof of delivery solutions.
Made4net’s SCExpert™ platform enables supply chain convergence, providing a configurable cloud-based WMS software solution, along with other systems.
78 Inbound Logistics • September 2026
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