Without knowing how to effectively choose a warehouse management system (WMS) for your business, the process can be complex and time-consuming. However, by following a structured approach and leveraging expert advice, choosing a WMS doesn’t have to be difficult. We recently sat down with industry experts from BR Williams, Thru-Put Partners, Alpine Supply Chain Solutions and Zion Solutions Group to collect their input on narrowing down the wide field of WMS vendors and identifying the one that’s right for you. Here’s the 8-step process that explains how to choose the right WMS for your operations.
Step 1: Define Your Requirements. What Are the Criteria for WMS Selection?
Before you start evaluating WMS vendors, it’s essential to clearly define your requirements and criteria. Derrick Vanover, Director of IT, BR Williams encourages WMS buyers to really think about the “end game” and what you want the system to do. This means assessing your current pain points and identifying the functionalities that are essential for your operation. Some factors to consider include inventory management, order processing, scalability, and integration with existing systems.
Step 2: Gather Stakeholder Input
Vanover suggests getting your entire team involved including “your operations people, your IT people, and the people on the floor that run the units.” Involving key stakeholders from various departments from day one will enable you to gather valuable insights into the specific needs and challenges of your business.
Step 3: Consider Your Organization’s DNA
Kevin Hume, Co-Founder & CTO at Thru-Put Partners, emphasizes the importance of considering your organization’s DNA when selecting a WMS. Will you be an expert in WMS configuration, or will you rely on the vendor for dynamic changes? Are you likely to have evolving requirements due to acquisitions or new product lines?
Step 4: Conduct Research and Look Beyond the Usual Players
Research WMS vendors that meet your criteria. The Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) is a great place to start. But Greg Utter, Senior Managing Director at Alpine Supply Chain Solutions, advises looking beyond established players and considering up-and-coming vendors. “While the Gartner Magic Quadrant is a good starting point, don’t limit yourself to only those select providers as there may be up and comers out there that offer what you need and align better with what you’re actually looking for.”
Step 5: Limit Your Shortlist
According to Drew Eubank, EVP & Co-Founder of Zion Solutions Group, don’t overwhelm yourself by considering too many vendors. Limit your shortlist to six or fewer, then down-select to two or three for deeper evaluation.
Step 6: Develop a Formal RFP
Formalize your requirements into a Request for Proposal (RFP) document and distribute it to your shortlisted vendors. This will help you gather detailed information about each vendor’s offerings and capabilities. If you need help getting started with an RFP, check out Made4net’s Ultimate WMS RFP Template.
Step 7: Evaluate Vendors With a Partnership in Mind
As you go through the process of choosing a warehouse management system, you may find that most vendors offer the functionality you require. Additionally, you may not see large differences in pricing. When you get to this point, Drew Eubank emphasizes the importance of finding the vendor you will work best with. He shares, “An implementation is not easy.” It’s therefore critical to find a vendor you can trust and collaborate with throughout the implementation process and beyond.
Step 8: Make Your Decision
Evaluate the responses to your RFP, conduct demonstrations, and consider factors such as functionality, deployment timeframe, TCO, adaptability, scalability, and customer support. Ultimately, choose the vendor that best aligns with your requirements and organizational culture.
In Summary: How to Choose a Warehouse Management System
By following these steps for how to choose a warehouse management system, you can create a shortlist of WMS vendors and find the best fit for your operation. Remember, choosing a WMS is a significant investment, so take the time to make an informed decision that will benefit your business for years to come. For more expert tips on selecting a WMS check out our Ask the Experts video or download a copy of our Ultimate WMS Buyer’s Guide.
And, once you’ve selected the best WMS for your business, consider our WMS implementation guide for effective and efficient set up.
