Gartner defines store inventory management (SIM) as the efficient and effective management of stock across all in-store processes, down to the granularity of SKU/item level, in a retail store. SIM is done on the basis of the quantity of stock, as well as its value. Retailers are now using store inventory to support online order fulfillment, and a SIM application must be capable of enabling store associates to easily manage daily stock operations across a number of key functional processes within the store. The application must also be an integral part of the retailer’s overall enterprise inventory management for unified commerce execution.
Supply Chain Management refers to products and services that enable the planning, execution, monitoring, and optimization of supply chain activities across sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment. This category includes markets that focus on procurement, transportation, warehouse and inventory management, supplier collaboration, sustainability, and supply chain analytics-empowering organizations to improve operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, resilience, and customer service across global supply networks.
Gartner defines transportation management systems (TMSs) as software that supports multimodal planning and execution of the physical transport of goods across the supply chain. It allows a shipper to manage varying levels of transportation complexity across multiple transport modes and geographic regions. TMS solutions are utilized by shippers of differing sizes, operational complexity, industries and geographic locations.
Gartner defines a vehicle routing and scheduling (VRS) solution as an application that creates vehicle routes and schedules, considering multiple constraints and service requirements while minimizing transportation fleet costs and mileage. VRS creates repeatable scheduled static routes and/or dynamic routes based on inputs (orders, deliveries and pickups), rules and constraints for meeting objectives. Transportation delivery fleets include both full truckload and last mile. VRS solutions are capable of running both scenario modeling analysis to support fleet sizing, delivery window optimization, long-term planning and tactical optimization for execution of deliveries.
A Warehouse Labor Management System (WLMS) is a purpose-built solution that enhances the efficiency and productivity of warehouse operations by systematically managing and optimizing workforce performance. It achieves this by enabling precise labor planning, establishing flexible labor standards tailored to operational conditions, and providing real-time visibility into individual and team performance. WLMS supports continuous improvement by identifying performance gaps and streamlining workflows, while also incorporating incentive management mechanisms to drive employee motivation and accountability. Through these integrated capabilities, WLMS ensures that warehouse labor is utilized effectively, consistently meets performance expectations, and contributes to overall operational excellence.
Gartner defines a warehouse management system (WMS) as a software application that helps manage and intelligently execute the operations of a warehouse, distribution center (DC) or fulfillment center (FC). WMS operations natively exploit mobile devices along with bar codes and potentially RFID or other scanning/sensing technologies, to form the transactional foundation of warehouse management. This enables efficiencies of directed work activity (optimization) and the delivery of accurate information in near real time. Core WMS capabilities address, among others, the needs to receive, put away, store, count and pick, pack and ship goods. Gartner also includes additional integrated functionality offered by WMS providers beyond core WMS. These extended WMS capabilities can include more advanced capabilities, such as managing labor or optimizing the locating of inventory within a facility.