I t used to be that you could navigate the warehouse software market without the aid of a map. There were three principal types
of software, each handling a clearly defined
set of functions that were distinct from those
handled by the others. But in recent years,
that has changed. The lines between the three
types of warehouse systems—warehouse
management systems (WMS), warehouse
control systems (WCS), and warehouse execution systems (WES)—have blurred, making the warehouse software waters decidedly
muddied and difficult to chart.
As the software application that controls
the movement and storage of materials within
the warehouse, the WMS has been around for
about 40 years and is the most mature of the three options.
By managing the mechanical material handling equipment within the warehouse, the WCS provides a valuable
function and basically picks up where the WMS leaves off
in an automated environment. The WES plays in a gray
area, acting in some respects like a “WCS on steroids” and
managing some functionality that is traditionally handled
by a WMS.
With software vendors continually expanding their
offerings and their products’ capabilities—WCS provid-
ers, in particular—we’ve seen significant confusion over
exactly what each of the three software platforms can or
should handle. WMS vendors are pushing their systems
into areas traditionally handled by WCS, WCS providers
are marketing their products as an alternative to WMS,
and WES systems have surfaced as a hybrid. (For a look
at which type of software does what and the overlap in
functionality, see Exhibit 1.)
As software vendors expand
their products’ functionality,
it’s getting harder to tell
the different warehousing
platforms apart. Here’s what
you need to know to make the
right buying decision.
BY IAN HOBKIRK
Blurred lines:
WMS vs. WCS vs. WES
