Flexible and configurable WMS key to handling B2B and B2C orders

Ecommerce fulfillment warehouses have some unique challenges, they need to be able to handle a large volume of smaller orders, and these orders might require more touch-points and customized services such as special packaging and ‘gift and return’ label printing.

At the same time, warehouse managers are all too aware that their customers expect rapid delivery as well as access to information about what stage of delivery their goods are at. There might also be a constant need to reconfigure the warehouse, as today’s fast movers can rapidly become tomorrow’s slow movers.

Because of this, Vishal Minocha, senior product director, development, Infor, says the tech solutions provider is focusing on developing WMS systems that respond to the unique needs of e-com logistics.

“At Infor, these Warehouse Management System requirements are being reflected in the demand we’re seeing in the Middle East for our Infor CloudSuite WMS, which provides flexibility and configurability and lets you adapt the allocation and picking strategies to handle the complex order mix of B2B and B2C orders,” he says.

“Voice enablement can provide hands-free picking which is a great tool to pick smaller units or cases – which represent the majority of the orders in ecommerce world,” he adds. “The ecommerce warehouse might have some automation, such as AGVs or sortation systems, so it is important for a WMS to provide technology that is easy-to-integrate via REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs or open business objects.”

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Since most of the ecommerce orders are shipped via small parcel carriers, it is also important that WMS can integrate easily with a small parcel shipping system and print carrier compliant labels with proper rate and tracking information, Minocha adds.