Warehouse Execution System

As warehouses add several types of automation, a WES helps keep them all busy and stops bottlenecks between picking, packing, and shipping. Some WMS and automation platforms include WES functions.

What is the difference between a WMS and a WES?

A WMS manages inventory, locations, and orders. A WES decides in real time which work to release to which people or machines, so the floor runs smoothly as conditions change.

• Warehouse Management SystemSoftware that directs and records warehouse activity: receiving, putaway, inventory locations, picking, packing, and shipping.
• Warehouse Control SystemSoftware that directly controls automated equipment such as conveyors, sorters, and storage systems, telling each machine what to do and reporting its status.
• Wave PickingReleasing groups of orders to the floor at scheduled times (waves), often grouped by carrier cutoff, shipping method, or zone.
• ThroughputThe amount of work a warehouse, process, or machine completes in a period of time, such as orders shipped per day or units picked per hour.