If you’re in the middle of planning a new ERP implementation—or even a major upgrade—one of the more important decisions you’ll face is whether to include a Warehouse Management System (WMS) as part of the project.
It’s tempting to hold off, especially when budgets are tight or teams are stretched. But for manufacturers, deferring the WMS could mean missing out on some of the biggest efficiency gains that digital transformation has to offer.
1. ERP Alone Doesn’t Optimize the Warehouse
ERPs are designed for planning and resource management—not real-time execution. That’s where a WMS shines. Without a WMS, your warehouse likely relies on manual processes, tribal knowledge, or disconnected spreadsheets to manage inventory movement. These inefficiencies lead to:
- Inventory inaccuracies
- Mis-picks and shipping delays
- Excess labor costs
- Poor traceability and audit readiness
2. The Integration Window Matters
The best time to connect your WMS and ERP is during implementation. Trying to bolt on a WMS later often results in duplicate efforts, mismatched data structures, and unnecessary costs. By planning the integration upfront, you ensure:
- A unified inventory system
- Seamless material flow between systems
- Faster time to value from both platforms
3. You’ll Accelerate ROI
When paired with your ERP, a modern WMS can:
- Increase picking accuracy by up to 99.9%
- Reduce inventory carrying costs by 20–30%
- Improve labor productivity by 15–25%
4. Your Shop Floor Depends on the Warehouse
In a manufacturing environment, what happens in the warehouse directly affects production. Missed materials, mismanaged staging, or poor replenishment can stall work centers and cause missed deadlines. A WMS ensures the right materials are in the right place at the right time—not just for shipping, but for production.
5. Change Management Is Easier Together
It may seem like “biting off too much,” but bundling ERP and WMS implementations allows you to:
- Align project teams across functions
- Train users in a unified system
- Reduce the disruption of multiple rollouts
Bottom Line: Don’t Leave the Warehouse Behind
If you’re investing in a modern ERP, don’t leave the warehouse operating with legacy tools or manual processes.
At Cella Technologies, we help manufacturers take control of their warehouse operations with a mobile-first, cloud-native WMS that integrates seamlessly with ERP systems. Whether you’re planning a greenfield implementation or modernizing your tech stack, let’s talk about how to make sure the warehouse isn’t an afterthought.
Get in touch today and learn why manufacturers trust Cella to make WMS work.
