Warehouse Management System Integration Overview

Warehouse management systems control inventory movement, such as receiving merchandise, inventory transactions, picking and packing, and shipping merchandise to a customer.

The Warehouse Management System integration allows Order Management System and a warehouse management system (WMS) to pass inventory information in order to keep inventory information in both systems accurate. The WMS is where the actual inventory is located, but Order Management System needs to keep track of the changes to inventory that occur in the WMS so that the data in Order Management System remains accurate. For example, if the WMS adjusts the inventory for an item and does not notify Order Management System, orders placed in Order Management System may reserve items that do not have enough inventory in the warehouse.

The warehouse management system integration creates a bridge between Order Management System and a WMS. This bridge allows Order Management System and a WMS to pass data between the two systems using XML messages transmitted via a queue or web service.

In this chapter:

• What Does Order Management System Send to the Warehouse Management System?

• What Does the Warehouse Management System Send to Order Management System?

• Warehouse Integration Summary

What Does Order Management System Send to the Warehouse Management System?

Order Management System controls item information, vendor information, purchase order information, pick slip information, and return information. Any time you create or modify information in these areas, Order Management System sends the information to the warehouse management system.

 

What Does the Warehouse Management System Send to Order Management System?

The warehouse management system controls changes to inventory, such as purchase order receipts, inventory transactions, and shipping merchandise to customers. Any time the warehouse management system adds or removes inventory in a warehouse, the WMS sends the information to Order Management System.

Warehouse Integration Summary

Function	Performed By:
Items: Order Management System sends new or changed items to the warehouse management system (WMS)	Generic Item Download API
Vendors: Order Management System sends new or changed vendors to the WMS	Generic Vendor Download API
Purchase orders: Order Management System sends new or changed purchase orders to the WMS	Generic Outbound Purchase Order API
Purchase order receipts: Order Management System receives information on purchase order receipts sent from the WMS	Purchase Order Receipt In API
Inventory activity: Order Management System receives information on inventory activity, such as transfers or adjustments, from the WMS	Generic Inventory Transaction Upload
Inventory overlay: Order Management System receives updated inventory information from the WMS	Generic Inventory Transaction Upload
Pick slip generation: Order Management System sends information on generated pick slips to the WMS	Generic Pick Out API
Pick slip void: Order Management System sends information on voided pick slips to the WMS	Generic Pick Out API
Shipment confirmation: Order Management System receives information on full or partial shipments; information on carton contents can also be included	Generic Pick In API (Shipments, Voids, and Backorders)
Unfulfillable pick slips: Order Management System receives information on pick slip voids from the WMS	Generic Pick In API (Shipments, Voids, and Backorders)
Returns: Order Management System sends updates on customer returns to the WMS	Outbound Return API