Warehouse Management Systems

The Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) market research study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current market plus a five-year forecast of the market and segments including regions, revenue types, end-user industries, and functional categories. The study is available in multiple formats including worldwide, all regions, and most major countries. This research is available as a market intelligence workbook (Excel) and/or a concise, executive-level market analysis Report (PDF), with or without detailed charts.

Warehouse Management Systems to Experience Covid-19 Decline and Post-Covid Market Acceleration

The warehouse management systems market will remain relatively stable during the global economic downturn of 2020 caused by Covid-19. This is due to its role as a mission-critical technology supporting fulfillment operations that are essential to business. ARC is forecasting a short-term reduction in demand for WMS implementations and upgrades. However, all but the most distressed warehouse management systems users will continue to support their existing infrastructure in the form of WMS maintenance and software as a service (SaaS) subscriptions.

ARC has been conducting this research and publishing the warehousing management systems report for 20 years.  This history provides valuable in-sights into market dynamics and refines the research process. Demand for WMS will accelerate in 2021 as Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed, business activity picks up, and pent-up demand for WMS is released.  ARC Advisory Group’s WMS forecast illustrates how overall market growth rates during these uncertain times are strongly influenced by end-user demand, consulting and implementation resources, and revenue recognition principles.

E-Commerce Fulfillment Requirements Drive Long-Term Market Growth

The ongoing rapid growth of e-commerce and omni-channel commerce and these channels’ effects on fulfillment requirements continue to be a leading factor contributing to growth in demand for warehouse management systems solutions.  The demand from grocery retail continues to be especially pronounced, as numerous WMS suppliers noted that grocers are investing in WMS.  Furthermore, Covid-19 restrictions are expected to increase the adoption of direct-to-consumer grocery and accelerate demand for WMS to support these operations

Warehouse Automation Integration Increasingly Important

E-commerce fulfillment requirements are also increasing demand for integration between manual and automated processes within the warehouse.  Warehouse management systems vendors that also sell warehouse control systems consider their automation integration capabilities to be a competitive advantage when addressing the needs of partially automated facilities.  The growing importance of warehouse automation to the WMS market is further supported by traditional WMS vendors noting the increased importance of automation within their clients’ facilities and these vendors’ subsequent efforts to build integration capabilities to automation and robotics.