Warehouse operations are complex. From receiving to picking, packing and shipping, retailers need to constantly monitor everything that goes in and out of their warehouse and equip warehouse staff with the tools they need to make every packaging vision come true.

As you can imagine, this is simply unachievable for most businesses. In fact, just over a third of have have unintentionally sold a product that was unavailable in their inventory, resulting in delayed order shipments and ultimately a loss in revenue. 

And this demonstrates just one of the operational challenges that many businesses face in effectively managing their inventory and order fulfilment processes. 

To manage these challenges, many retailers turn to warehouse management software & Systems (WMS) to gain actionable insights into their warehouse operations and identify bottlenecks before they impact their bottom line.

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What is warehouse management software?

Warehouse management software, otherwise known as a warehouse management system, is software designed to help companies streamline and optimize all the processes involved in managing a warehouse – from receiving goods to shipping them out.

It does this is by tracking everything in your warehouse in real-time – from location, and quantity, to expiry dates – and identifying low stock levels to automatically trigger reordering.

Warehouse management software is extremely important not only because it tracks all of the materials in your warehouse, but it can also create systems to streamline how workers pick products and pack orders, automating tasks like receiving, putaway (storing items), and replenishment (moving items to picking locations).

what is warehouse management software

And since it has all the important data at hand, when a customer sends an order, it will immediately be able to check if the products are available.

This means that instead of a person manually cross-referencing the order and the stock, it will automatically mark the order as ready for packing, saving you time, effort, and most importantly, resources. 

In fact, if used efficiently, many warehouse management software systems end up paying for themselves when used effectively.

What are the benefits of warehouse management software?

Warehouse management software is crucial for several reasons: it boosts operational efficiency, can greatly cut costs, and improves overall customer satisfaction. 

By automating tasks like inventory tracking and order picking, WMS frees up staff time and reduces the likelihood of errors, allowing warehouses to process orders faster and handle higher volumes of stock. Labor is a major wasted expense in warehouses, and WMS helps optimize staffing needs and minimize wasted effort.

Read: How can a WMS Help Improve Your Spare Parts Warehouse

Real-time inventory tracking with WMS means you always know exactly what you have in stock and where it's located, eliminating errors in order fulfilment and reduces the risk of stockouts.

This leads to faster and more accurate order fulfilment and helps ensure orders are shipped on time and complete, reducing customer frustration and leading to happier customers overall. 

Choosing a warehouse management software system

Choosing the right warehouse management software system is crucial for optimizing your warehouse operations.

Most businesses start by figuring out what features they need in their system and how much they are willing to spend. After that, they can request more information from the provider about how they can tailor warehouse management software to their operations effectively.

Before this, though, It’s important to identify your warehouse's specific needs and challenges. Consider factors like the size and complexity of your operation, the types of products you handle, and your order fulfilment volume, and which areas are you looking to improve the most.

You’ll also need to create a list of essential features you require in a WMS. Common features include inventory tracking, order-picking functionalities, reporting & analytics, and integrations with your existing systems (e.g., accounting software).

Best Warehouse Management Software Systems

There are a range of different warehouse management software systems available today, each with its own set of features that can be tailored to suit your operational needs. 

Let’s explore ten of the best warehouse management software & systems available today based on their features, popularity, and user reviews.