What is a Warehouse Management System? - Definition and features
WMS vs. SAP EWM vs. ERP-integrated module - a comparison of the three architecture options
Why WMS is now crucial for DACH SMEs
Practical example: Anonymized medium-sized company, 320 employees, EUR 280 million turnover
What most WMS consultancies fail to mention
How we approach WMS selection methodically
Common mistakes in WMS implementations
Frequently Asked Questions
If your warehouse complexity is low (< 5,000 positions, single-site, simple picking), an ERP module suffices. If you need 5,000+ positions, multi-site, or complex automation, a standalone WMS is better. Get requirements analysis from independent consultants, not vendor salespeople.
Realistic duration is 16–24 weeks (4–6 months) from requirements catalogue to go-live — including master data cleanup (6–8 weeks), API integration (6–10 weeks), training and testing (4–6 weeks). Anything under 12 weeks is optimistic; over 32 weeks signals poor planning.
There is no "best" WMS. Körber is strong for Mittelstand applications in DACH; Manhattan for voice picking and automation; SAP EWM for complexity (but too expensive for Mittelstand). Compare concretely against your requirements, not hype.
Typical ROI levers: picking error reduction (EUR 20–50K/year), warehouse dwell time reduction (EUR 50–100K working capital), staff productivity increase (2–3 FTE saved). 5-year ROI is typically 150–250%, so payback in 18–28 months — if your baseline is poor. With better starting point, ROI is lower.
Audit trail implementation (EUR 10–15K), encryption-at-rest (EUR 5–8K), multi-factor auth (EUR 3–5K), regular security audits (EUR 2–4K/year). Together EUR 20–35K for implementation, plus EUR 5–10K/year for maintenance. This is not optional — GDPR and NIS-2 are regulatory requirements for companies above certain sizes.
