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WMS came late to the cloud computing game. But experts say warehouses are starting to embrace this software model, with smaller DCs leading the way. Cloud-based computing has swept through the logistics and supply chain landscape in recent years, with businesses in every corner of the market embracing this software delivery model. What that basically means is that these companies are opting to “rent” software that’s hosted on computer servers in remote locations, rather than buying it and running it on site. Users access their programs and databases via an Internet connection, while the cloud provider—either the software vendor or a third-party cloud services company—takes care of maintenance, patches, and upgrades. As for what makes the cloud model so appealing, it’s largely a matter of economics. The cost advantages are significant. For one thing, because an outside company hosts the application on its servers, the user avoids the expense of hardware needed to run the program. For another, since the software is usually “rented,” the user avoids a hefty upfront expenditure on licensing fees. Furthermore, because the software provider assumes responsibility for upgrades, the user avoids the costs of software updates and maintenance. The result has been runaway growth in cloud-based versions of many common supply chain-related applications, including transportation management systems (TMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, and labor management systems (LMS). But one sector of the market has lagged behind the others in the march to the cloud: warehouse management systems (WMS). CONCERNS INCLUDE LATENCY, SECURITY The sluggish uptake of cloud-based WMS can be traced to a number of factors, not least of which is customers’ wariness about letting an activity they see as critical to their operation out of their sight. Concerns about the technology play into it as well—concerns that touch on many aspects of […]