Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) in Chicago Trucking Logistics Technology (7 of 8)

Sep 20, 2022

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John Ostler - CoFounder of Eight Bit Studios

A WMS is a software system that helps manage all aspects of warehouse operations, including receiving, putaway, picking, and shipping.

A warehouse management systems is a type of software that helps businesses to track and manage inventory levels, orders, and shipments within a warehouse. It can be used to streamline and improve warehouse operations, and can be customized to fit the specific needs of a business.

There are many benefits to developing custom warehouse management software, including the ability to tailor the software to the specific needs of the business, and the ability to integrate the software with other systems used by the business. Custom software can also be designed to interface with existing warehouse management systems, making it easier to transition to a new system.

Drawbacks to custom software development can include the initial cost of development, which can be higher than purchasing an off-the-shelf solution. In addition, custom software may require more ongoing maintenance and support than off-the-shelf software.

When considering custom software development for warehouse management, it is important to first determine the specific needs of the business and what type of functionality is required. Once these needs have been identified, it is important to find a software development company that has experience in developing warehouse management software or someone in leadership who has experience in these systems and can act as product owner. If you don't have the resources to hire an outside time or take on the product role yourself, consider what customers and companies are

Table Stakes for your product roadmap

When starting your feature roadmaps it's a best practice to do a competitive analysis of features. WMS Software solutions liked TruckMate, TMWSuite, Transplace, J.B. Hunt 360, and Truckstop.com are a great group to start. What they have in common:

  • They're efficient and easy-to-use software that helps trucking businesses manage their operations and keep track of their fleet.

  • They include powerful features for tracking shipments, managing loads, and dispatching.

  • They leverage comprehensive and customizable reports.

Summary

Writing a custom WMS allows a company to maintain complete control over its operations and data. Whether you've identified have specific needs that are not met by any existing system, or you feel that it can create a system that is more efficient or cost-effective than anything currently available it's something we're seeing done more and more every day.

Do you use a system not listed here? Have you embarked on the journey to create a custom series and want to share? Please DM me or write in the comments.