Summary
- These WMS implementation case studies highlight how various organizations in retail, distribution, and food and beverage have successfully utilized warehouse management systems to boost productivity, enhance scalability, and gain better operational control.
- The successful WMS rollouts resulted in tangible benefits, such as lower labor costs, increased pick rates, improved throughput, and minimal disruption to business operations.
- By aligning their WMS strategies with overarching business objectives and tapping into expert implementation support, these companies were able to achieve quicker returns on investment, long-term adaptability and enhanced supply chain performance.
Successful WMS Implementation Case Studies
Warehouse management system (WMS) implementations and updates are some of the best investments supply chain leaders can make toward improving efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings in the warehouse. While it can be difficult to gauge an exact time-to-value of your WMS prior to implementation, it’s important to have a business case that incorporates strong ROI signals and a clear path toward value. Without this, getting leadership approval for your implementation will be an uphill battle.
These four case studies, featuring enVista clients, showcase real world examples of a warehouse management system providing significant value post go-live. Use these success stories to bolster your business case with possible outcomes after a successful WMS implementation.
In this blog, we’ll cover four examples of WMS implementations and how they helped companies optimize warehouse operations:
- Specialty jewelry and design house
- North American Mall Retailer
- North American 3PL Provider
- National Fast Food Chain
Four WMS Implementation Success Stories
1. Specialty Jewelry and Design House
The Opportunity
This business was growing rapidly across both B2B and B2C, but with each channel being run out of two separate distribution centers (DCs), inefficiencies began to show. To enable warehouse operations to scale with business growth, leadership partnered with enVista to consolidate the two DCs into one, implementing Manhattan Active WMS to manage both B2B and B2C order fulfillment.
The Implementation
enVista created a detailed project plan and DC operations assessment to align the organization on strategic business goals, success metrics, and a project timeline that would optimize performance and time-to-value. The DC operations assessment supported a system design that aligned with the operational realities across every warehouse process, including receiving, inventory control, and outbound order fulfillment.
enVista then completed a global design of all key warehouse processes in the WMS, including individual configuration processes, as well as a state-of-the-art middleware system to integrate seamlessly into Manhattan Active and replace the complex web of home-grown host systems.
enVista’s team completed extensive testing across user acceptance, factory acceptance, and systems integrations, including the integration with the order management system (OMS) that the retailer already had in place.
The Results
Because enVista facilitated the system go-live across three distinct phases—B2B, B2C, and employee store orders—the customer achieved the following results:
- 33% fewer go-live issues by the final phase.
- Full control of warehouse operations returned in less than two weeks.
Example 2: North American Mall Retailer
The Opportunity
This North American mall retailer was upgrading its custom in-house WMS to Infios Warehouse Advantage WMS with the primary goals of minimizing performance issues and ensuring widespread acceptance and adoption of the system post-go live.
The Solution
The retailer engaged enVista to automate workflows for 14 critical warehouse processes and execute up to 25 performance tests. enVista partnered with Cycle Labs to provide Automated Testing as a Service (TaaS) to scale performance testing for high volumes and ensure a seamless go-live experience and operational excellence during peak season.
enVista and Cycle Labs delivered a comprehensive suite of manual, performance, and regression testing, all of which were executed overnight to avoid disrupting daily operations while validating that the WMS could handle high volumes during peak season.
enVista also provided extensive training and onboarding for client personnel, giving end users the system knowledge needed to adopt the new WMS in their daily roles and support a successful go-live.
The Results
The retailer ultimately achieved its initial goal—a smooth, lag-free WMS go-live and a system that could handle high volume tests with no bottlenecks or operational slowdowns, surpassing benchmarks on all critical warehouse processes.
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Example 3: U.S.-Based 3PL Provider
The Opportunity
A U.S.-based 3PL provider was selected to take over a complex, fully operational distribution center (DC) for a major telecommunications company. The nine-month transition had to maintain uninterrupted fulfillment while supporting more than 600 associates, existing automation, and both automated and manual warehouse workflows. To reduce risk and prepare for peak season, the 3PL engaged enVista to strengthen WMS functionality, coordinate the transition, and modernize the mobile technology and support environment.
The Solution
enVista served as the single partner for program management, WMS enablement, infrastructure modernization, and operational readiness. A formal project management office aligned WMS development with warehouse requirements, validated enhancements, and tracked dependencies and risks across the phased transition.
The team enhanced the WMS to support integration with the facility’s existing automation as well as manual workflows, improving the quality and reliability of the functionality without redesigning the storage or material handling systems.
enVista also standardized the mobile device environment, replaced the wireless infrastructure, and established proactive managed services. Role-based training, documented workflows, defined support levels, and onsite go-live assistance helped associates use the WMS and supporting technology effectively from day one.
This coordinated approach made the WMS a stable operational foundation for the facility, supported by reliable devices, connectivity, and rapid incident response.
The Results
The 3PL completed all three transition phases within the nine-month timeline while maintaining fulfillment performance. The project delivered higher-quality WMS enhancements, improved system reliability during peak season, stronger alignment among operations, IT, and warehouse support teams, and a scalable technology foundation for more than 600 users. Faster issue resolution, reduced device-related downtime, and proactive device and network management also led to a long-term managed services partnership.
Example 4: National Fast Food Chain
The Opportunity
A national fast food chain was looking to combine two of its warehouses into one newly built site and implement Infios Warehouse Advantage WMS, but it didn’t have the internal resources and expertise necessary to ensure the success of such a complex project.
Because of enVista’s deep experience in implementing Infios’ Warehouse Advantage and expertise in everything within the four walls of the warehouse, the fast food chain asked us to guide the implementation through system testing, processes documentation, and go-live.
The Solution
After reviewing the new warehouse design, processes, roles, reporting gaps, and supporting technology, enVista made strategic design recommendations to improve the WMS rollout and maximize post-go-live ROI.
To prepare associates, enVista developed training documents that explained the WMS setup, process impacts, efficiency gains, and operational constraints.
We then led testing, migrated master data into production, supported cutover planning, and prepared for 24/7 go-live support.
After go-live, our team provided 24/7 floor support, issue triage, and ongoing guidance. The project’s success led the client to expand the partnership to four additional WMS rollouts and a new training platform for onboarding and promotions.
The Results
As a result of this WMS implementation, the client has seen:
- An increase in system scalability at other sites
- A four-week reduction in go-live hyper care support time
- Increased WMS adoption and end-user satisfaction
- Reduced direct labor costs
Conclusion: enVista’s WMS Expertise
Getting your WMS right and making sure it’s integrated properly across your supply chain technology stack is critical to realizing quick ROI and improved operational efficiencies.
enVista has completed hundreds of WMS implementation projects in our nearly two decades of experience. Our vendor agnostic approach to consulting and implementation ensures you get objective help for your most critical projects.
If you have a WMS project on the horizon or want to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today.
