This article is not intended to introduce a new warehouse management system. Instead, its aim is to set out the viewpoint of a WMS vendor, based on numerous customer projects carried out with various partners including Exotec, Austostore, Scallog, TGW, Dematic, Knapp, SSI Schaeffer, Geek+, and more.
Why an agnostic WMS matters in uncertain times
Rapid digital transformation and the upheavals that have affected the logistics industry in recent years have posed a whole array of challenges for modern warehouses. We’ve grouped these developments into four overarching categories, each of which complicates the decision-making process:
- Legal uncertainties stemming from land-use rules, requirements to reduce waste and carbon emissions, etc.
- Socioeconomic challenges resulting from high labor costs and, more importantly, a shortage of skilled workers in locations suitable for logistics centers
- Rapidly evolving consumer trends such as delivery demands, fast fashion, and patterns and habits
- The frenetic pace of technological innovation
With ever-tighter restrictions on construction on greenfield sites, the options for logistics companies are limited. Warehouse expansion is out of the question, so the alternative is clear: optimize existing facilities in order to boost performance without increasing their physical footprint.
Making the most of vertical space through warehouse densification is one of the first solutions in this respect. Some warehouses are now over 10 meters high, requiring automation to exploit these spaces.
But this is just a start.
Technology is evolving at breakneck speed. To take one example, let’s look at sorting—a manual, space-consuming process that companies are increasingly turning away from due to a lack of space. While buffer sequencers have been around for a while, they’re becoming increasingly popular because they cater to new needs. What this development tells us is that we don’t yet know what the technologies of tomorrow will be, but they’re sure to arrive—and we’ll need to be ready to incorporate them into specialist environments.
Against this backdrop, a “closed” WMS system could quickly become obsolete. Imagine your warehouse brought to a standstill by a system that isn’t compatible with existing or future mechanization technologies. Such a situation would directly erode warehouse ROI—something we all want to avoid.
According to Exotec’s white paper “How to innovate within warehouses,” by 2028, 50% of the world’s biggest companies will be using smart robots in their warehouses to overcome human limitations and optimize performance.
What exactly is an agnostic WMS?
An agnostic WMS leaves your hands free
At this juncture, it’s important to define exactly what we mean by an “agnostic WMS.”
Specifically, an agnostic warehouse management system is one backed by a dedicated module for functional and technical integration with mechanized and automated systems, with a firmly agnostic stance toward its ecosystem.
In other words, it’s a WMS that leaves your hands free to focus on business agility.
One that doesn’t depend on a specific supplier.
This approach gives companies total freedom to opt for the solution that best suits their needs, without being constrained by the limits of a closed ecosystem. They can select products from any existing or future supplier of their choosing—Geek+, Hai Automation, Boston Robotics, and more—with complete control over their technology decisions, for both first installations and upgrades.
Integration is based on standards
The idea behind agnostic warehouse management software is to drive logistics flexibility through standardized protocols and universal connectors, allowing the system to integrate with a vast array of automation technologies, including robots, artificial intelligence systems, and conveyors. Instead of having to contend with multiple applications and specific developments, companies can rely on recognized standards that keep IT costs low and allow for innovation without disrupting logistics activities.
Let’s look at a practical case study: Boiron.
At the company’s Vindry-sur-Turdine site, warehouse automation is managed by Scallog, a firm specializing in robotics solutions for order picking. The WMS sends stock information and replenishment orders to the Scallog system, which autonomously manages the robots and selects shelves and boxes, optimizing the entire process.
This technology choice has significantly raised the bar for order-picking quality, with an accuracy rate of 99.997%. According to figures provided by Boiron, just 200 out of every 600,000 moves need to be restarted, equating to a rate of just 3 errors for every 10,000 orders picked.
Process delegation becomes possible
Another benefit of a WMS built on this model is that it can delegate specific tasks to specialized systems, allowing every piece of technology to operate precisely as it was designed to do. With this approach, the roles and responsibilities of each solution are clearly defined.
Take, for instance, a warehouse where robots are used to cut cables. In this example, the WMS system manages overall operations while leaving these robots to perform their assigned tasks—since they’re better suited to this function.
What’s more, the WMS can delegate tasks without encroaching on the operation of other systems: the warehouse management software assigns tasks according to the specialized abilities of each piece of technology, raising the bar for performance and efficiency.
Now that the theory is out of the way, let’s look at two practical examples of delegation in action at Reflex Logistics customers’ sites:
- Nature & Découvertes: Reflex WMS delegates, to a mechanized station conveyor, the task of sequencing the injection and transportation of handling devices to picking stations, while maintaining control of the at-station picking process.
- Fondation Santé Service: Reflex WMS manages high-level flow picking strategies but delegates the management of part of the granular picking process to an AutoStore system, with integration provided by Element Logic.
The WMS software can interact with, and delegate processes to, third-party systems—according to the capabilities and responsibilities of such systems—in “black box,” “white box,” or “gray box” mode. This topic is worthy of its own article.
Direct performance and ROI benefits of an agnostic WMS
An open warehouse management system delivers concrete, measurable benefits when it comes to boosting warehouse performance and maximizing return on investment (ROI). Here are some key examples:
- Greater flexibility: Companies can integrate new technologies at a time of their choosing, as well as adapt their supply chain to future market developments.
- Easier integration with third-party technologies: Systems can be added or replaced with limited friction, reducing the associated costs.
- No costly software infrastructure upgrades: An agnostic WMS supports continuous updating without the need for a complete infrastructure overhaul.
Challenging your current WMS or system change process
An open WMS system needs to be part of a long-term technology strategy focused on adapting to future innovations. So it’s a good idea to assess your WMS and broader IT vision, as well as your approach to managing your logistics sites. To do so, you can ask yourself these three key questions:
- Does your current WMS align with your master plan for the next five years?
A warehouse management system needs to be able to support your business growth and adapt to market developments by allowing for seamless integration with robots, automated systems, and other technologies. - Does your current WMS have proven open design and operation credentials?
Look for references from similar companies using the system successfully and check whether it’s compatible with modern, off-the-shelf technologies. - Is your current WMS backed by a genuine road map that’s actually followed?
To find out, ask your vendor for a list of changes and upgrades over the past three years, as well as those planned for the next three years.
Make a difference with an agnostic WMS
Is it reasonable to have a warehouse management system that’s only compatible with a small selection of technologies and vendors?
For many years, mechanization meant linking different machines in long chains and rolling out miles and miles of conveyors. But new players are disrupting that model—not just through automation and AI, but also, and above all, through an IT-driven approach.
If there’s one advantage to be had from an agnostic WMS, it’s flexibility. Because flexibility is what this approach is all about, guaranteeing effective integration—in terms of technical compatibility and functional consistency—with a variety of third-party systems.
Although it’s impossible to predict with confidence what the best or most popular picking solution will be in 10 years’ time, what’s absolutely certain is that the WMS will always be the beating heart of any warehouse—even beyond its walls. Because this system has the capacity to adapt, to evolve, and to integrate future technologies.
By opting for an agnostic WMS, logistics organizations can integrate third-party technologies from a wide variety of suppliers—without constraints—and benefit from the latest innovations without finding their hands tied by the presence of other systems. This freedom is what will allow companies to maintain their competitive edge over the long term.