How Low Code-Based WMS Make Integrations Easier and Less Costly
Warehouse operators, we feel you.
Like most, you are probably struggling with labor challenges. Many of you are eager to embrace emerging technologies including robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Maybe you run a high volume, fast-moving e-commerce operation, or a 3PL with multi-location, multi-client complexity. In any case, your efforts may be hamstrung by technical barriers and outdated warehouse management software. The good news is that help is on the way.
Many, if not most warehouse operators have come to dread even the word “integrations”. To them, it may represent high costs, dragging timelines, incomprehensible techspeak, and frustration. In the supply chain industry, integrating a WMS to other solutions is a business essential not a “nice to have”.
- Today, supply chain businesses have a significantly increased need for EDI and integration. This is partially due to the demand for faster, more accurate deliveries.
- Real-time data exchange is critical across supply chains. Supply chain businesses need accurate, efficient data and operations as well as real-time visibility.
These needs, the change of customer expectations, and introduction of new advanced technologies are digitally transforming the supply chain logistics industry and improving customer experiences.
For the moment, let’s set aside traditional software development integrations. Today’s modern WMS are leveraging Low Code Application Platforms (LCAPs) to make integrations easier. In fact, integrations play a significant role in digitally transforming information, making it easier to digest for improved decision making.
Using LCAPs reduces the complexity, cost and effort of integration. It makes integrations more reliable and easier to upgrade and maintain. These improvements may lead to the sale of emerging warehouse technologies including robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning as well as of EDI integrations and services.
For warehouse operators that are using legacy warehouse management software, this may be a game changer. Let’s look at why this is the case.
The Limitations of Using a Legacy Warehouse Management Solution
The supply chain industry is in a constant state of flux. To keep up to date with the latest trends, regulations and changes, warehouses need to use modern technology. Would you use a cell phone that was manufactured 10 years ago and expect to have access to the latest features and security protocols? Most definitely not. At some point, upgrading may not be possible, given the way modern technologies have evolved. Just as Apple and Android are continually upgrading their systems, adding new protections, capabilities, and hardware improvements, so do warehouse management software vendors. A WMS is the heart of the warehouse operation. Think about it. Would you trust your personal business to 10-year-old technology?
Rigid architecture
Many, if not most legacy warehouse management systems were built with rigid, monolithic architecture. This makes traditional warehouse management software difficult to adapt, leading to longer development cycles and higher costs to make changes. Often these older WMS enterprise applications have been built on outdated technologies, limiting performance and efficiency. Some do not include modern capabilities including real-time data analytics, advanced automation or even mobile access.
Non-scalable
Legacy WMS software solutions often do not scale well. In today’s fast-paced, changing world, not being able to accommodate increased volumes of data or new business models limits growth. If the warehouse is unable to adapt to market demands, it is less likely to attract and retain clients and grow its business.
Security vulnerabilities
Often the latest security capabilities are lacking from legacy WMS. This can make the system vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches. Technology continually grows, changes and evolves. Warehouses must keep pace with upgrades and invest in newer technology. When clients continue to use older software and technology, WMS vendors may eventually phase out support, updates, or assistance leaving warehouse clients in the lurch. This is a critical lifecycle management problem of aging WMS software solutions that can leave warehouses unprotected and open to cyberattacks.
Lacks interoperability
Integrations are a notable problem with legacy WMS. When trying to integrate with newer hardware or software, the legacy WMS may use outdated protocols or technologies that are not compatible with modern warehouse management systems. System interoperability and seamless data exchange may be difficult. Real-time data sharing may not be possible, resulting in data silos, information isolated within specific systems. This can affect coordination and decision making. Because many legacy warehouse management software solutions have been significantly customized over the years, time consuming, costly extensive modifications may be required to integrate these systems with other technologies.
How LCAP-Based WMS Cuts the Cost and Implementation Time of Integrations
Low Code Application Platforms Empower Businesses
Low Code Application Platforms are software development environments that enable the creation of applications using visual modeling tools and pre-built re-usable components to minimize the need for hand-coding. This expedites the development process, saving time and money. By simplifying the development process, even those with limited coding experience can become part of the process. Users can create applications, customize actions, and design workflows using drag-and-drop actions on a visual interface. No advanced degree required.
- Low code application platforms provide flexibility and take a different development approach.
- LCAPs transform fragmented processes into standardized workflows that can be used again.
- Integrations are made easier by leveraging pre-built connectors and visual tools to remove the burden of custom coding, reducing cost and time.
Traditional integrations often involve extensive coding that is hard-to-maintain. Using modern LCAPs, integrations can be configured quickly. Integration project teams can develop reusable templates for common integration tasks, enabling alignment with the established standards. This still provides adequate flexibility to meet each unique customer ‘s needs.
LCAPs simplify complex integrations and repetitive tasks by automating workflows that scale without additional effort. These integrations handle workloads across multiple areas without diminishing performance or requiring more resources. This is one of the great success stories of low code platforms.
Key Components of Low Code Application Platforms
Visual Modeling Tools
Design applications using drag-and-drop functionality and visual interface.
By using simplified visual modeling, the development process becomes easier to understand and make changes to the application logic.
Component Library
Speed up development by using pre-built re-usable components.
Low-code application platforms reduce the need for writing code. They contain a library that includes connectors, widgets, and templates that can be readily integrated into applications.
Collaboration Tools
Enable multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously.
Using tools such as version control, user stories, and messaging enable collaboration, save time and foster teamwork. Non-technical users without coding experience and coding knowledge can be trained to use low code platform, its pre-built components and drag-and-drop functionality to handle visual programming tasks alongside IT professionals.
Data Integration
Connect seamlessly with other systems.
Leverage the built-in connectors provided by low code platforms to integrate with a variety of external data sources including databases, APIs, and third-party applications.
Deployment Options
Choose the optimal deployment strategy from multiple options.
Allowing businesses to have more flexibility in making the choice between on-premise, cloud, and hybrid solutions enables them to ensure their needs are met.
Application Lifecycle Management
Manage the entire lifecycle of an application.
From deployment to maintenance, low code platforms include version control, project management, testing, monitoring, and reporting.
In today’s complex world, integrations are critical for managing regulatory compliance requirements and the intricacies of the supply chains involved with food and beverage, life sciences, industrial distribution, and third-party logistics. No one system can do everything. Having seamless connectivity ensures the necessary flow of data needed for many purposes, including:
Food and Beverage
- Integrate with blockchain technology to gain traceability and transparency from farm to table to enhance food safety and quality
- Increase the accuracy of demand fluctuations to reduce waste by integrating advanced forecasting tools with supply chain systems
- Adhere to food safety regulations by integrating with compliance management systems or a modern WMS that helps ensure compliance
Life Sciences
- Integrate with IoT devices to gain real-time monitoring of temperature-sensitive products and maintain product integrity
- Reduce compliance risks: ensure SOPs are followed and documentation is completed as needed via integration with a modern WMS that helps ensure compliance or compliance management system and supply chain system
- Mitigate risks and improve planning by integrating with advanced analytic tools to help with scenario planning
Industrial Distribution
- Provide real time inventory updates to reduce overstock and stockout situations via integration between WMS and ERP
- Optimize scheduling and routing to improve delivery times and keep costs under control via integration with TMS
- Transform raw data into actionable insights using advanced analytics platforms to address problems and act on opportunities faster
3PL
- Streamline and automate order processing for increased efficiency and accuracy via integration of 3PL with eCommerce platforms
- Provide real-time visibility into shipments to enhance customer satisfaction via integration with TMS
- Leverage the 3PL’s logistics infrastructure and expertise to scale your business quickly
Traditional Integration Methods
Over the years, warehouse operators have become frustrated with traditional integration methods and the complexities and demands of dealing with the digital landscape. From inconsistent, inaccurate and duplicate data to the sheer volume and speed at which data is generated, need for real-time or near real-time data integration, and challenge of integrating data from different sources, formats, structures, and semantics, traditional integration methods have demonstrated lackluster performance.
- Modern integration methods can implement robust data cleansing and data validation processes with built-in data quality features. These capabilities automatically detect and correct data issues including inconsistent and duplicate data.
- Scalable data integration tools capable of handling larger volumes of data have become more popular. These tools provide pre-built connectors and data mapping tools as well as the capability to handle a wide range of data formats.
- In addition, Change Data Capture (CDC) techniques and data synchronization tools supporting real-time data synchronization, event-driven architectures, and streaming data platforms have also increased in popularity.
With all the differing protocols and data standards, adopting low code or no code integration platforms can reduce the need for extensive hand coding and specialized technical skills. This can expedite the integration process, get new products to market faster, and cut down on costs.
Modern Integration Methods Used by LCAPs
To simplify the integration process, reduce dependence on software developers and technical resources, new modern integration methods have become more popular.
LCAPs provide robust, flexible, scalable solutions to connect systems and automate workflows. LCAPs use modern approaches to solve complex challenges and enable streamlined communications between a wide variety of advanced solutions.
Here are the most common integration methods used by Low Code Application Platforms:
API-Led Integration
Simplify integration efforts by using APIs to act as intermediaries to enable applications to interact and share data so that they can communicate. This method is flexible, scalable, and easier to integrate with cloud services and mobile apps.
Microservices Architecture
Make updates and easier by taking advantage of an important tool in LCAPs: Microservice Architecture supported by LCAPs. This facilitates the development of modular, independent services which communicate through APIs.
Data Integration Patterns
Use standardized data integration patterns including data, migration, data synchronization and data aggregation to provide reliable, consistent flow of data between systems.
Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS)
Utilize a tool often used by LCAPs: Many Low Code Application Platforms incorporate iPaaS solutions. This enables them to provide a cloud-based environment in which applications and data can be integrated. iPaaS simplifies integrations by providing pre-built connectors as well as visual workflow designers, and data mapping tools.
Event-Driven Architecture
Enable real-time data processing and integration in LCAP through the event-driven architecture used to trigger actions and communicate between services.
Hybrid Integration Platforms (HIP)
Connect on-premises and cloud-based systems using hybrid integration platforms to provide a unified integration environment to support a wide range of integration scenarios.
Conclusion
It’s not 2015 any longer. Developing applications is no longer limited to professional developers writing code. Low Code Application Platforms empower businesses to leverage the working experience of WMS business users as citizen development team members.
Over the past ten years or so, there has been a significant push towards making the development process easier using visual programming and other means. We are entering the era of citizen development, in which business users without considerable coding knowledge or experience leverage reusable components, connectors, and a visual interface with a Low Code Application Platform to create or adapt flexible supply chain software, such as a WMS. Companies can be successful in reducing costs by leveraging low code no code methodologies. Now even nontechnical users can build apps and integrations even if they lack formal coding experience.
As artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions are more readily adopted, it is likely that we will see a wide range of both professional developers and business users developing applications and integrations using both low code and no code methodologies.
Whether you are hooked on Microsoft Power Apps, involved with traditional or modern software development, fluent in multiple programming languages, or just like technology, you probably have heard of low code. Low code application platforms provide the flexibility and ready adaptability that warehouses need in today’s dynamic environment.
These non-technical users without coding skills expertise can work alongside IT resources and use the low code platform with its drag-and-drop functionality, pre-built components and connectors to build apps, make changes to the visual interface, build integrations, and tailor the WMS to suit their needs. Warehouse operators benefit from using citizen development teams to work on visual programming as it enables them to reduce costs, have control over the timeline, work and budgets of integrations and change management. No more costly, time-consuming, extensive code changes.
By not requiring IT professionals with coding knowledge and coding skills, warehouse operators can eliminate the cost of having this work done by software vendors.
EDI, used in both the public sector and by a wide range of private businesses, is often considered to be a vital part of the business process, critical for ensuring accuracy and efficiency. It helps to reduce costs and improve the flow of data across business applications including enterprise applications such as WMS and ERP.