Rethinking Warehouse Fulfillment Systems Architecture: Why IT Leaders Endorse WES
Guest blog by Mike Conrath, Chief Product & Technology Officer at KPI Solutions (MHI member)
As supply chain operations become more complex, IT leaders are being asked to do more than just maintain infrastructure. They are expected to enable agility, support automation, and deliver real-time visibility across increasingly fragmented technology environments. In this landscape, the traditional warehouse management system is no longer sufficient on its own.
Enter WES
A warehouse execution system, or WES, has become a critical layer in the modern fulfillment stack. It is designed to bridge the gap between task management and planning systems like WMS/ERP and the real-time execution happening on the warehouse floor. For IT professionals, a WES offers more than operational efficiency. It provides a scalable, secure, and integration-friendly foundation for long-term digital transformation. The demands on fulfillment infrastructure are growing. Distribution centers are now expected to support a mix of automation technologies, from autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), while also managing labor intensive processes. They must handle direct-to-consumer, retail, and hybrid fulfillment models, often within the same facility. These environments require systems that can adapt quickly, integrate seamlessly, and operate reliably under pressure such as volume spikes.
Enable Real-Time Decision Making
Traditional WMS platforms are strong in inventory management and order tracking, but they lack the real-time decision-making capabilities needed to coordinate people, machines, and systems in motion. This is where a WES becomes essential.
Today’s WES options provide the intelligence to manage execution dynamically. A WES evaluates order demand, labor availability, equipment status, and inventory positioning in real time. It then orchestrates that data to prioritize tasks, allocate resources, and adjust workflows as conditions change. For IT teams, this means fewer manual interventions, fewer custom integrations, and more predictable system behavior.
The Benefits Keep Coming
Scalability is a key concern for IT leaders, especially as fulfillment volumes fluctuate with seasonal peaks, promotions, and market shifts. A WES built on modular architecture can scale horizontally, allowing new services to be deployed quickly without disrupting existing operations. This modular approach also supports faster testing, deployment, and rollback, which are critical capabilities in environments where uptime is essential.
Security is, of course, a key priority. As more fulfillment systems connect to cloud services, automation platforms, and third-party APIs, the risk potential expands. A WES that supports secure development practices, encrypted communications, and role-based access control helps IT teams maintain compliance and reduce exposure. Integration with identity providers and support for hybrid deployments also ensures that the system fits within existing enterprise security frameworks.
Visibility to on-floor transactions and trends is not just an operational benefit. It is a strategic asset for supply chain professionals. A WES provides real-time dashboards, alerts, and analytics that help IT and operations teams monitor system health, identify bottlenecks, and respond to issues before they escalate. This level of transparency supports better collaboration across departments and enables more informed decision making at the executive level.
A parameter-driven WES also reduces the burden on IT teams by minimizing the need for custom development. Instead of building one-off solutions to support new workflows or automation systems, teams can configure modules within the WES to meet evolving business needs. This approach shortens deployment timelines and reduces long-term maintenance overhead.
Why IT Leaders Endorse WES
As fulfillment operations continue to evolve, IT leaders are being asked to support more complexity with fewer resources. The ability to deploy systems that are flexible, secure, and scalable has become a core requirement. A feature-rich and robust WES provides the tools to meet these demands while aligning with broader enterprise architecture goals.
