What is a warehouse management system (WMS)?
October 30, 2026
A warehouse management system (WMS) is software that controls stock inside a warehouse. It records where every item is stored, directs picking and packing, books in deliveries and keeps stock counts accurate, so orders go out quickly and correctly.
Why it matters for online retailers
As order volumes grow, finding stock from memory stops working. Pickers walk further, pick the wrong items and miss courier collections. A WMS tells each person what to pick and where to find it, and keeps stock figures right as items move.
What a WMS does
- Bin and shelf locations for every product
- Barcode scanning to confirm the right item is picked
- Picking lists and routes
- Booking in deliveries from suppliers
- Stock counts and adjustments
- Stock across more than one warehouse
WMS vs order management system
An order management system handles the order, from sale to despatch. A WMS handles the stock inside the warehouse that fulfils it. Online retailers usually need both, ideally in one system.
Signs you need a WMS
- Picking errors and wrong items sent to customers
- Stock that the system says you have but nobody can find
- New staff who take weeks to learn where everything is
- Stock counts that close the warehouse for a day
How StoreFeeder handles it
StoreFeeder includes warehouse management alongside order management. Its picking app runs on PDAs and on Android and iOS devices, and it handles despatch rates of 10,000+ orders a day. See also barcode inventory and multi-warehouse management.
Read more about the StoreFeeder warehouse management system.
Frequently asked questions
Do small retailers need a WMS?
Once you ship around 30 or more orders a day, or have more than one person picking, a WMS usually pays for itself through fewer mistakes and faster picking.
What is the difference between a WMS and inventory management?
Inventory management tracks how much stock you have. A WMS also tracks where it is in the warehouse and directs the work of picking, packing and booking in.
Can a WMS run on mobile devices?
Yes. StoreFeeder's picking app runs on PDAs and on Android and iOS devices.
