Warehouse Management Software Development

What is warehouse management software?

Warehouse management software controls and tracks every movement of inventory through a facility, from the moment goods are received at the dock through putaway, picking, packing, and shipping. A 1% mispick rate at a facility processing 2,000 orders a day produces 20 wrong orders daily, each costing $50 to $300 to correct. Paper pick lists print in SKU order, not floor order, so pickers zigzag across aisles rather than sweeping them in sequence. A custom WMS ties together the specific floor layout, SKU types, picking logic, robotics hardware, and ERP or OMS integrations that define how a particular warehouse operation runs, rather than forcing that operation to fit a generic platform's configuration options.

  • Receiving and putaway workflows with barcode and RFID scan confirmation, directed location assignment, and dock-to-shelf tracking

  • Picking route optimization using shortest-path algorithms across single-order, batch, zone, and wave picking modes

  • Real-time inventory tracking with cycle count scheduling, shrinkage alerting, and multi-location bin management

  • Robotics and conveyor integration via AMR, AGV, and conveyor control APIs including Locus Robotics, Fetch Robotics, and Honeywell Intelligrated

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See our work

The problem

Sound familiar?

  • Your pickers walking the same inefficient routes every shift because no one has mapped an optimized path through the floor?

  • Inventory records in your system never matching what is physically on the shelves, leading to oversells and emergency cycle counts?

Short answer

RaftLabs builds custom warehouse management software for e-commerce businesses, 3PL operators, distribution centers, and manufacturers. We ship receiving and putaway workflows, order picking route optimization, real-time inventory tracking, robotics and conveyor integration, and shipping and returns management. Most warehouse management software development projects deliver in 10 to 16 weeks at a fixed, agreed cost.

Key takeaways

  • Shortest-path pick route generation against the actual floor map can cut 400-600 meters of unnecessary walking per order, translating directly into labor cost and throughput.
  • Directed putaway with mandatory location scan plus perpetual inventory tracking brings system and physical stock into alignment, replacing retrospective adjustments with real-time accuracy.
  • Robotics dispatch integrates with Locus Robotics, Fetch Robotics, and conveyor control systems via REST or MQTT, giving operations managers fleet status without walking the floor.
  • 3PL multi-tenant billing generates monthly invoices directly from logged WMS activity, storage, handling, and value-added services, without a separate billing spreadsheet.

Trusted by

Vodafone logo
Aldi logo
Nike logo
Microsoft logo
Heineken logo
Cisco logo
Calorgas logo
Energia Rewards logo

WMS delivery, by the numbers

week delivery for warehouse management software projects
10-16
software products shipped across logistics and operations
100+
order accuracy achievable with scan-verify picking
99.7%
cost delivery, agreed before development starts
Fixed

What is warehouse management software?

A custom WMS ties together the specific floor layout, SKU types, picking logic, robotics hardware, and ERP/OMS integrations that define how a particular warehouse operation runs, rather than forcing that operation to fit a generic platform's configuration options.

Capabilities

What we build

  • 01
    Receiving and putaway workflows

    Dock-to-shelf scan confirmation with directed putaway rules and cross-docking for open orders awaiting inbound stock.

  • 02
    Order picking route optimization

    Shortest-path routing across single-order, batch, zone, and wave picking, with pick-to-light and voice picking support.

  • 03
    Real-time inventory tracking and cycle counting

    ABC-velocity-scheduled counts with automated recount requests and shrinkage alerting across multi-location bins.

  • 04
    Robotics and conveyor system integration

    REST/MQTT task dispatch to AMR/AGV fleets and WCS-driven sort decisions, with fleet health visible in one dashboard.

    Built with
    Locus Robotics · Dematic
  • 05
    Shipping, carrier integration, and label printing

    Live carrier rate shopping, ZPL label printing without a print-queue intermediary, and automated end-of-day manifesting.

    Built with
    EasyPost · Zebra
  • 06
    3PL multi-client billing and reporting

    Activity-based invoicing generated directly from WMS transactions, with per-client SLA dashboards and portal access.

How we work

From scope to live WMS

  1. Week 1
    01

    Floor and volume scoping

    We map your floor layout, order volume, and where your current process creates errors or bottlenecks. You leave week 1 with a written scope document and a fixed-price quote.

  2. Weeks 2-5
    02

    Data model and pick algorithm design

    Bin hierarchy, pick route logic, and integration contracts designed against your actual floor map and systems.

  3. Weeks 6-14
    03

    Build core first, layer picking logic

    Receiving and inventory ship first, with picking workflows, carrier integration, and dashboards following in two-week cycles.

  4. Final 2-4 weeks
    04

    Parallel run and launch

    The new WMS runs alongside the existing process for two to four weeks before full cutover.

Why us

Why warehouse operators choose RaftLabs

  • 01
    Senior engineers build what they scope

    The engineers who assess your floor layout also build the solution. No bait-and-switch, no offshore handoff after the contract is signed.

  • 02
    Fixed price before development starts

    We scope the work, calculate the cost, and lock it in writing before any development starts.

  • 03
    9 years and 100+ products shipped

    Clients include Vodafone, T-Mobile, Aldi, Nike, Cisco, and Lockheed Martin. Track record building logistics and warehouse platforms.

  • 04
    Hardware tested against your actual devices

    Barcode scanners, printers, and robotics APIs are tested against what's on your floor, not a simulator.

  • 05
    We'll tell you when extending beats replacing

    If your core inventory model works, we recommend extension over a full rebuild.

Ready to build your warehouse management software?

Tell us your floor layout, order volume, and where your current process creates errors or bottlenecks. We will scope the right WMS for your operation.

Start your warehouse automation project

Related services

Warehouse Management Software Development Company, scoped in one call.

Tell us what's broken. Within one business day you get a straight take on cost, timeline, and the right first step. No deck, no pressure.

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Frequently asked questions

Custom becomes the right choice when your operation needs multi-client billing logic that doesn't fit standard tenancy models, picking algorithms tuned to your specific floor layout, tight integration with proprietary robotics or conveyor hardware, or returns workflows with grading logic specific to your product categories.

Yes, if the hardware vendor exposes an API or standard message protocol. Providers including Locus Robotics, Fetch Robotics, Honeywell Intelligrated, Dematic, and Bastian Solutions expose REST or MQTT interfaces for task dispatch and status callbacks.

A focused build covering receiving, picking, and inventory management typically delivers in 10 to 14 weeks and costs $40,000 to $80,000. A full WMS with robotics integration, multi-site support, 3PL billing, and returns management typically costs $80,000 to $180,000.

Yes. Extending an existing platform is often right when the core inventory and location model works but specific workflows are missing, a returns grading portal, a mobile picker app replacing paper, or a robotics dispatch layer on top of the current system.

Work with us

Tell us what you need. We'll tell you what it would take.

We scope Warehouse Management Software Development Company in 30 minutes. You walk away with a clear cost, timeline, and approach. No commitment required.

  • Scope and cost agreed before work starts. No surprises. No obligation.
  • Working prototype within 3 weeks of kickoff.
  • Pay by milestone. You see progress before each invoice.
  • 60-day post-launch warranty. Bug fixes, UI tweaks, and deployment support. No retainer.
  • All conversations are NDA-protected.

Go deeper

Browse our case studies

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