What’s the best cloud-based warehouse management system?
Share a real-life example that showcases why you think it’s the top choice. How would you rate it out of 5 eCommerce stars?
Here is what six thought leaders have to say.
- NetSuite WMS Boosts E-commerce Efficiency
- NetSuite WMS Enhances SharkNinja’s Productivity
- Oracle Cloud WMS Excels in High-Value Orders
- ShipBob Simplifies Florist Inventory Management
- Custom Google Sheets Solution for Small Businesses
- Fulfil.io Optimizes Jewelry Brand Operations
WMS | Key Features | Example / Case Study | Rating (out of 5) | Commentary | Website URL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NetSuite WMS | Real-time inventory, order fulfillment, ERP/CRM integration, mobile barcode scanning | A health and wellness brand improved inventory accuracy to 98% and fulfillment speed by 30% | 4.8 | Scalable and efficient, though has a steep learning curve for smaller businesses. | NetSuite |
SharkNinja saw a 30% increase in productivity and faster delivery | 5 | User-friendly, supports multiple warehouses, extensive reporting. | |||
Oracle Cloud WMS | Advanced picking logic, real-time sync, multi-location handling | MioJewelry processed a $2M rush order swiftly, maintaining precise inventory accuracy | 4.5 | Best for high-value items; supports complex setups and mobile access. | Oracle Cloud |
ShipBob | Intuitive inventory tracking, real-time updates | A florist used ShipBob to manage stock during high-demand events like Valentine’s Day | 4.5 | Reliable and straightforward, ideal for small businesses and seasonal demands. | ShipBob |
Custom Google Sheets | Cost-effective, customizable with Google Apps Script, integrates with WooCommerce | Cosmetics brand Balavander Cosmetics saved costs using a custom Google Sheets + WooCommerce integration | 5 | Perfect for small businesses needing flexibility without high costs; fully customizable. | Google Sheets |
Fulfil.io | Advanced order routing, inventory tracking, real-time visibility, automation | A jewelry brand expanded smoothly with real-time tracking across e-commerce and retail | 4.8 | Feature-rich and highly scalable; some customizations require technical expertise. | Fulfil.io |
NetSuite WMS Boosts E-commerce Efficiency
In my opinion, NetSuite Warehouse Management System (WMS) stands out as one of the best cloud-based WMS options, particularly for e-commerce businesses. NetSuite WMS offers robust features tailored to meet the dynamic demands of online retail, including real-time inventory tracking, streamlined order fulfillment, and easy integration with other essential business software like ERP and CRM systems.
A mid-sized e-commerce company specializing in health and wellness products recently implemented NetSuite WMS to manage its rapidly growing order volume. Previously, the company struggled with inventory accuracy, delayed shipments, and inefficient order-picking processes, often resulting in customer complaints.
After implementing NetSuite WMS, the company saw a significant improvement in inventory accuracy—nearly 98%—and a 30% increase in order fulfillment speed. With features like automated pick-and-pack instructions, cycle counting, and mobile barcode scanning, warehouse employees could quickly locate products and process orders, drastically reducing errors and delays.
NetSuite’s seamless integration with the company’s e-commerce platform allowed for real-time inventory updates across all sales channels, minimizing overselling and backorders. This led to increased customer satisfaction and repeat purchases.
I would rate NetSuite WMS at 4.8 out of 5 e-commerce stars. It’s a nearly perfect solution with excellent scalability, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes. The only reason it’s not a full 5 is because it has a slightly steep learning curve, particularly for smaller businesses without a dedicated IT team. However, once onboarded, NetSuite WMS proves invaluable for efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction in the e-commerce space.
Viraj Lele, Industrial Engineer & Business Unit Advisor, DHL Supply Chain
NetSuite WMS Enhances SharkNinja’s Productivity
One of the best cloud-based warehouse management systems (WMS) currently available is NetSuite WMS. Its robust features, scalability, and integration capabilities with other NetSuite ERP solutions make it a top choice for businesses of all sizes. A real-life example that highlights its effectiveness is that of SharkNinja, a kitchen appliance company that faced challenges with inventory accuracy and fulfillment efficiency. After implementing NetSuite WMS, SharkNinja significantly improved its inventory management and order-fulfillment processes, resulting in a 30% increase in warehouse productivity and enhanced customer satisfaction due to faster delivery times.
NetSuite WMS stands out due to its user-friendly interface, real-time inventory tracking, and automation features that streamline operations. It allows companies to manage multiple warehouse locations and offers extensive reporting capabilities, enabling better decision-making. Given its performance and impact on business operations, I would rate NetSuite WMS 5 out of 5 e-commerce stars. Its ability to adapt to the unique needs of different industries and its comprehensive features make it an excellent investment for companies looking to enhance their warehouse efficiency and overall supply-chain management.
Shehar Yar, CEO, Software House
Oracle Cloud WMS Excels in High-Value Orders
As co-founder of MioJewelry, I’d rate Oracle Cloud WMS 4.5 out of 5 e-commerce stars based on my hands-on work with several systems over the past decade. Our switch to Oracle Cloud WMS in 2019 cut our order-processing time by 60% and reduced inventory errors to less than 1%. The real game-changer was its advanced picking logic—we handle thousands of luxury watches, and the system tracks each piece’s exact location, movement history, and authentication papers without a hitch.
One day, we received a rush order for 25 Patek Philippe watches worth over $2M that needed same-day processing. Oracle Cloud WMS mapped out the fastest picking route for our team, auto-generated all shipping docs, and kept real-time inventory sync with our website. The client got their delivery on time, and our inventory stayed accurate down to the last watch band. That kind of speed and precision matter when you deal with high-value items.
I picked Oracle after testing NetSuite and Manhattan Associates. Oracle wins on three points: it handles complex multi-location inventory without lag, it connects with our existing security systems for high-value items, and its support team responds within 15 minutes. Plus, Oracle’s mobile app lets me check stock levels and approve transfers from anywhere—perfect for our NY and Miami showrooms. For more details on WMS comparisons, check Gartner’s latest report or talk to Mark Stevens at Supply Chain Brain—he runs great analyses on enterprise WMS solutions.
Russ Vall, Co-Founder, MioJewelry
ShipBob Simplifies Florist Inventory Management
A solid warehouse management system is key for inventory-heavy businesses like mine—a florist with more than ten years of experience. I’ve found that ShipBob is one of the best options out there. ShipBob’s cloud-based platform lets me track inventory and manage orders all in one place, which is helpful during peak times.
For instance, during Valentine’s Day, I relied on ShipBob to keep my stock flowing smoothly. I could see which items needed replenishing without any guesswork. Real-time updates also helped me keep customers informed about their orders, which they really appreciated. It’s simple but keeps everything on track.
I’d rate ShipBob 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s intuitive and reliable, especially for high-demand events. I’d recommend it to other small businesses looking for an efficient, all-in-one system that keeps them on top of things without extra stress.
Sophie Marasco, Founder, Thanks A Bunch Florist
Custom Google Sheets Solution for Small Businesses
While popular cloud-based Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), like NetSuite WMS or Fishbowl, offer extensive features, they can be prohibitively expensive for small businesses. For our business, we opted for a custom solution that combines Google Sheets with WooCommerce—and it’s been both cost-effective and incredibly efficient.
Here’s why our approach works so well:
- Inventory Tracking in Google Sheets: We manage our entire inventory in Google Sheets, allowing us to keep detailed records that are accessible and easy to update.
- Custom Functions with Google Apps Script: Using Google Apps Script, we’ve built custom functions that automatically adjust inventory counts, update product statuses, and handle other tasks specific to our needs. This flexibility has saved us from spending on pre-built software that might not fit our requirements.
- Direct WooCommerce Integration: Instead of relying on third-party software, we connected Google Sheets directly to our WooCommerce store, ensuring that inventory updates occur in real-time.
- Time Triggers for Scheduled Syncing: One of the most powerful features of this setup is Google Sheets’ time triggers. With these, we can schedule custom functions to run at regular intervals (for example, every hour) to sync our inventory automatically. This automated scheduling is completely free and is a huge time-saver, as it ensures our stock levels stay up-to-date even when we’re not actively managing them.
- Flexibility and Control: This setup allows us to make changes and improvements as our needs grow without being tied down to a specific WMS provider or recurring fees. We can easily add custom data fields, automate more tasks, or scale up functionality as our business expands.
Keeping costs low is essential for small businesses, and our Google Sheets + WooCommerce system allows us to do just that. With a free, fully customizable setup, we get the benefits of automation and accuracy in inventory management without the cost and constraints of commercial WMS plans. Although this solution may lack the advanced features of enterprise WMS systems, I would rate it 5/5 eCommerce stars for small businesses. It’s a perfect fit for those who need cost-effective, customizable, and reliable inventory management without the added overhead of expensive software.
Veljko Ilkic, Cosmetics Manufacturer, Balavander Cosmetics
Fulfil.io Optimizes Jewelry Brand Operations
Fulfil.io is undoubtedly one of the best cloud-based warehouse management systems (WMS) for e-commerce brands. It shines especially with brands needing real-time inventory visibility, seamless integrations, and automation to scale their operations efficiently.
Real-life example: Take our client, a popular jewelry brand that uses Fulfil.io to manage its inventory and warehouse operations. As they expanded, they needed a WMS to keep up with high order volumes and maintain inventory accuracy across retail locations and e-commerce. Fulfil.io’s advanced order routing, inventory tracking, and automated workflows helped them handle fulfillment with precision and reduce errors significantly. It allowed their team to focus more on customer experience rather than operational headaches.
Rating: I’d give Fulfil.io a solid 4.8 out of 5 stars. It’s incredibly feature-rich and flexible, though some customizations may require technical expertise. Still, for most e-commerce businesses, Fulfil.io delivers on what matters most: reliability, scalability, and ease of use.
Stefan Vermaas, Founder, Codeture