What is a warehouse management system?

A WMS runs the DC: receiving, putaway, slotting, cycle counting, replenishment, picking, packing, shipping, and returns while enforcing lot/serial, temperature, and compliance rules. It orchestrates tasks across people, equipment, and zones, integrates with automation/robots, and provides inventory accuracy and traceability. With dashboards and alerts, managers balance waves/waveless flows, reduce dwell, touches, and improve throughput, service, and especially during peaks.