Technology

Warehouse Management System: How it is Different?

A warehouse management system is a full-fledged independent software system deployed inside the warehouse of a company that is responsible for the optimization of the whole warehouse working, facilitate the management by providing desired statically data, and providing support to the disposal system and its management.

WMS is responsible to manage daily activities like planning, organizing, staffing, directing, warehouse keeping, and controlling the utilization of available resources, to move and store materials inside, around, and outside of a warehouse. It is also used to analyze the performance of the human resource deployed in a warehouse and also the supporting staff working in interlinked domains.

Difference between WCS and WMS

The general public and even people linked with the material handling system industry often get confused with the warehouse management system and warehouse control software. They both are totally different systems deployed separately and performing their own specified tasks. Some of the major differences based on their functionality are mentioned below.

WCSWMS
WCS stands for Warehouse Control Software.    WMS stands for Warehouse Management System.
A warehouse Management system is an important part of the complete material handling system that incorporates the whole supply chain management cycle. A warehouse control system is a full-fledged software that helps in the automation of the process from manufacturing, storekeeping, inventory management to dispatch and disposal.  A warehouse management system is a full-fledged independent software system deployed inside the warehouse of a company that is responsible for the optimization of the whole warehouse working, facilitate the management by providing desired statically data, and providing support to the disposal system and its management.
The basic functionality includes the monitoring of the automation systems working in the warehouse-like the machinery etc. and the other important feature to look for is the ability to work in coordination with other management software working and play a vital role as a bridge among the high and low-level domains.  WMS is responsible to manage daily activities like planning, organizing, staffing, directing, warehouse keeping, and controlling the utilization of available resources, to move and store materials inside, around, and outside of a warehouse. It is also used to analyze the performance of the human resource deployed in a warehouse and also the supporting staff working in interlinked domains.  
WCS is more towards the monitoring side including the remote automation process analysis.  WMS is more towards the management of the assets and stakeholders involved in the warehouse facility.
Planning and Automation are two main features that must be present inside a WCS.  Database configuration and inventory management are two main features of WMS.

Evaluation and Monitoring Warehouse Performance

Apart from the inventory management and database analysis and configuration sometimes the warehouse management software is also doing some additional work like facilitating the evaluation and monitoring the warehouse performance. Although it is not the basic functionality and it is not a must-have attribute of the warehouse management system but in some gigantic organizations where an enhanced material handling system are installed the warehouse management system is so intelligent that they possess the ability to perform additional multiple tasks without compromising the basic functionality.

Features of a Warehouse ManagementSystem

  • Planning

Responsible for planning and finalizing the plans on daily basis regarding inventory management and other interlinked facilities.

  • Organizing

WMS is responsible for database configuration and data handling of the whole warehouse process. It plays a vital role in data gathering and managing it for useful analysis and to predict future trends.

  • Staffing

WMS is responsible for managing the staff including the automated machines and tools along with human resource workers. It assigns the tasks to the labor working and tends to get feedback too.

  • Directing

WMS ensures the implementation of rules and protocols according to the international standard set for a warehouse team to work along and within the complete material handling system.

  • Controlling

WMS monitors the progress of assigned work to the human resource workforce and held them accountable for it as well.

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