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2011/11/05 02:20:04

Classification of WMS systems

The "boxed", adaptable and custom WMS systems are intended for different types and the amount of warehouse business. It is about their differences, terms and implementation cost in this article.

The WMS directory - warehouse management systems and the list of the implemented projects in Russia is available on TAdviser

Content

Traditionally WMS systems subdivide into three main types: these are the boxed systems with standard feature set, the custom systems and the adaptable systems. Respectively, depending on business needs, assigned tasks of control automation by a warehouse and features of business processes of the company this or that type of a system about which advantages and shortcomings it is told below is suitable for the specific project.

"Boxed" systems

The "boxed" systems it is software products completely ready to installation that provides a certain set of opportunities of their additional tuning under needs of the company. However it does not mean that such systems are poorer on functionality of other WMS types: in this plan they can quite be compared with platform SAP products, Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics AX, Manhattan Associates.

Such systems optimum are suitable for automation of the wholesale commercial warehouses which are not rendering additional services. Besides, they will be suitable for warehouses which business processes are quite simple in essence. Nevertheless, there are also boxed solutions which are intended for the large companies, with difficult technology process. Solutions can serve as the examples presented at the Russian market: Exceed 1000 developed by EXE company (SSA Global belongs now) and delivered by JDA company. And also the solution Manhattan SCALE on the Microsoft.NET platform.

A number of suppliers of the "boxed" WMS systems position the solutions taking into account requirements of different segments of the market ("easy", "average" and "heavy" versions): by the number of users of a system, by the number of the automated business processes, the area of a warehouse, business type, etc. But similar classification is characteristic not of all representatives of "boxed" WMS. The majority of shrink-wrapped software products, in fact are parametriruyemy, and it means the following: in basic system configuration a certain functionality which level can be set similarly as when installing software products for ordinary users is put (by putting down of "ticks" "/checkboxes" opposite to required points).

Often "boxed" WMS systems work only at one certain platform (Windows it is the platform even more often). In most cases the systems of this class are developed on a basis DBMS MS SQL. The incompatibility of a system with the platform used by the customer and its dependence on specific DBMS leads to additional finance and labor costs.

The cost of licenses of the small "boxed" systems is determined or on the basis of the basic cost of one installation and cost of licenses for occasional seats, or proceeding from the total number of users of a system. Price range on licensing of "easy" products begins from $5-10 thousand, "average" products – about $20-25 thousand, for the most functional solutions it is $50 thousand. The implementation cost of such systems is about $40-180 thousand, and an implementation time fluctuates from 2.5 to 6 months.

Among the WMS systems presented at the Russian market "in a box" it is possible to note, for example, solutions on the basis of a product family of 1C – ASTOR: Warehouse Management System (developer – Astor), Folio of WMS, Manhattan SCALE and others.

Adaptable systems

The adaptable systems this most widely provided family of the class WMS both on Russian, and in the world market. Clients of such systems it is strong average and large enterprises with rather deep warehouse processes, at the same time not differing in any exotic. about In this class tens of vendors of WMS, for example, of HighJump Software, with PSI Logistics (PSI) and many others work. As a rule, creation of the similar systems is based on existence of the central module automating basic functions of a warehouse management system and add-on modules for implementation of the functions specific to a warehouse.

Unlike "boxed" products where deep settings are not provided at all, and the custom systems where many blocks are written individually under a specific warehouse, in the adaptable systems setup is made at the level of standard modules and also in them. Also completion of a program code, but in much smaller volume is not excluded.

The adaptable systems are under construction usually on platforms Unix or Windows and in most cases the companies use as DBMS solutions Oracle. The price of the similar systems is based on the cost of the license for one installation sites with standard number of users (generally 10-15) and is usually complemented with licensing of additional jobs.

The cost of the basic license for the western systems is $40-50 thousand. Average cost for licenses taking into account add-on modules and jobs fluctuates from $70 to 100 thousand and above, and implementation project cost from $200 to 400 thousand.

In Russia implementation costs 2-3 times below. It is necessary to remember that systems on Unix platforms will be by 1.5-2 times more expensive, than Windows system. The terms of project implementation declared by suppliers vary from 4 to 10 months.

In this group it is possible to carry a system Exceed 4000 (SSA Global), deliverable JDA WMS Logistics Vision Suite, deliverable Ant Technologies. In the Russian market, engaged in production and delivery of the adaptable WMS systems, it is possible to select the companies "LogistiX" Region new technologies + LEAD WMS (system) and also "SOLVO" and its system Solvo.WMS and "Argussoft" CoreWMS (solution) Manhattan WMOS.

Custom systems

WMS systems which are created under the order it is destiny of warehouse complexes with difficult hierarchy of various transactions. The main task of the custom solution just also consists in to the maximum to consider all developed features of business of the specific company. The prime world vendors of such systems is the American companies Manhattan Associates RedPrairie.

Of course, such system is not written "from scratch": the software platform is taken as a basis, but significant changes are made to its code, besides, the new functionality often is created. Quite often such platforms have several solutions on the base for the different vertical industries.

These systems are supported by several platforms (normally IBM iSeries(AS/400) and Unix). As a management system of databases Oracle and other hi-tech DBMS are used.

The number of users in the similar systems exceeds 50 people. Terms of development and deployment of the systems of this class can be 1-2 years and more, and the cost of similar projects is measured by millions of dollars.