Warehousing Wednesday: July 02, 2025

Don't Let Perfect Get in the Way of Good Enough in WMS Implementations

In this episode of Warehousing Wednesdays, Mark Lewis reconnects with former colleague Carl Ferreira-Calvet, now an independent consultant specializing in warehouse operations and Oracle Cloud technology.

Carl shares his perspective from a current WMS implementation project and discusses how the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) applies to warehouse management. He explains that focusing on key functions like receiving, putaway, directed picking, replenishment, cycle counting, and RF-directed work can deliver most of the operational benefits—without trying to build a perfect system from the start.

Mark and Carl also touch on:

  • The risks of over-customizing cloud WMS platforms.

  • The importance of adopting standard system capabilities.

  • Challenges with change resistance and the need for clear communication.

  • The role of automation, like vertical lift modules, in boosting picking efficiency.

  • How to align WMS software selection with warehouse maturity level.

Watch the full video.