The Evolving Distribution Center Technology Stack

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Technology in the News APICS addresses talent shortage through expanded supply chain stem program Making the Case for Mobile Workstations The Hidden Costs of Legacy Route Planning Tools The Evolving Distribution Center Technology Stack Data discussions dominate ISM 2017 More Technology News Making the Case for Mobile Workstations Untether your Receiving Department and Watch Productivity Rise All Resources The familiar technology stack of warehouse management systems (WMS) to manage transactions and inventory at the distribution center level and then hand order requirements down to the automation layer is not as simple as it used to be. With the complexities of e-commerce fulfillment, the need to orchestrate and optimize operations is driving the need for advanced execution software in the middle of the stack and for more optimization tools. In short, the DC tech stack has changed. It’s no longer just WMS on top, warehouse control system (WCS) software in the middle, and automated materials handling systems at the floor level. The stack has expanded, and while not every DC needs the same foundation, failure to grasp evolving areas could end up stacking the deck against omni-channel success. What’s more, while automation hardware—including robotic goods-to-person systems, pick-to-light systems and high-end sortation—play a role in the tech stack for e-commerce, even automation providers say the stack is software driven. “The new types of automation hardware are extremely important, but I think it’s a matter of hardware and software as a combined solution that give users the advantages and throughput they are after, especially when you have Amazon pushing the same-day delivery model, and everyone is chasing and trying to achieve that same panacea,” says Michael Howes , vice president of software and controls for Swisslog Warehouse and Distribution Solutions (WDS) Americas , which offers automated materials handling as well as software […]