Best Third Party Logistics Software:
Datex 3PL WMS
Datex 3PL WMS Has What 3PLs Need:
Incredible flexibility to configure customer requirements
Ability to quickly and easily onboard new customers
Capability to handle any kind of inventory for any vertical
Ability to capture and bill for all value-added services
Real time inventory and order information with comprehensive visibility
Integration-ready capabilities including EDI and ASN
Best 3PL billing engine on the market today
Configurable workflow, reporting, dashboards, queries, and business rules
Capability to handle kitting and assembly
Multiple picking strategies and methods, including cart, voice, and wall
MOBILE PROCESSING ON THE FLY
Capture and bill for all the value-added services you provide by using mobile devices
Real time notifications, surveys, and assigned work activities keep labor on track
HTML5-based
Android, iOS, Windows Mobile, and Tablet compatible
Portrait or landscape orientation capable
Developed to handle the complex nature of third party logistics (3PL) operations, Datex Footprint® WMS Third Party Logistics Software can handle multiple clients in multiple facility locations. Our third party logistics software can be used by 3PLs to handle and store virtually any type of goods including food, serialized goods, apparel and fashion inventory, high value cargo, bulk goods, pharmaceuticals and much more.
INBOUND OPERATIONS
Crossdocking - Dock door appointment scheduling
- Quality inspections and audits
- Flow-Through
- Vendor/Carrier Performance
- Returns Processing
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
- Inventory control
- Cycle count/physical count
- Serialization/serial number tracking
- Lot management
- Inventory consolidation
- Warehouse transfers
- Work orders
- Style / color / size
BILLING
Value added accessorial charges- In/outbound handling
- Volume/weight billing
- Owner-specific billing
- Recurring storage
- Anniversary billing
- Work order billing
- Automatic invoice generation
OUTBOUND OPERATIONS
Value added accessorial charges- In/outbound handling
- Volume/weight billing
- Owner-specific billing
- Recurring storage
- Anniversary billing
- Work order billing
- Automatic invoice generation
Here are some of the issues that third party logistics providers tend to encounter when looking for 3PL WMS software:
Have a platform infrastructure and foundation built for 3PL operations
The needs of 3PLs for a WMS platform infrastructure are often not highlighted by software vendors and can be problematic. Many 3PL WMS systems were originally developed with distribution models in mind. In other words, the foundation of the 3PL warehouse management system needs to fit that specific business model. If it does not, system gaps will need to be addressed using patches and fixes.
Third party logistics providers have different needs. The software must be able to:
-
- Segregate inventory by ownership
- Seamlessly enable the transfer of inventory ownership with complete traceability
- Handle value-added service and activity-based billing
- Handle customer requirements including custom labels, invoicing, processes, reports and more
3PL integration needs tend to be significant.
With our open APIs, the Datex 3PL WMS is 3PL integration ready from the start! From enterprise resource planning systems, transportation management systems, shopping carts, material handling systems, marketplaces and more, our system is connection ready.
Customize reports, labels, processes, invoices etc.
To meet the individual requirements of each customer quickly and affordably. Datex 3PL WMS software is workflow-driven and is configurable and can be adapted without having to resort to time consuming, costly source code changes. This makes it simply the best 3PL WMS software on the market today
Third party logistics providers have different needs. The software must be able to:
-
- Segregate inventory by ownership
- Seamlessly enable the transfer of inventory ownership with complete traceability
- Handle value-added service and activity-based billing
- Handle customer requirements including custom labels, invoicing, processes, reports and more
Grow your 3PL business.
Datex Footprint® WMS has an array of features to help you increase your ability to provide and bill for value-added services, increase customer satisfaction levels, optimize warehouse labor to keep costs down and much more.
Scale your 3PL operation to multiple warehouses cost effectively.
Our system relies on workflows, which can be copied and used for multiple warehouses. This significantly reduces the time and expense of the 3PL WMS software implementation when new warehouses are built or acquired.
Provide the type of functionality and operations required by 3PL customers.
Here are some of requirements often specified in multiple customer requirements: pick pack and ship, complete visibility, real time data, cloud based WMS, customer portals, features designed to make operations more efficient and more.
Third party logistics providers have different needs. The software must be able to:
-
- Segregate inventory by ownership
- Seamlessly enable the transfer of inventory ownership with complete traceability
- Handle value-added service and activity-based billing
- Handle customer requirements including custom labels, invoicing, processes, reports and more
Satisfy billing management needs.
To maximize revenue, 3PLs must be able to capture and bill for all the value-added services they provide. Servicing multiple customers necessitates multiple billing strategies. The Datex 3PL warehouse management system has the most accurate, sophisticated, flexible 3PL billing engine on the market today, bar none.
Third party logistics providers have different needs. The software must be able to:
-
- Segregate inventory by ownership
- Seamlessly enable the transfer of inventory ownership with complete traceability
- Handle value-added service and activity-based billing
- Handle customer requirements including custom labels, invoicing, processes, reports and more
Make no mistake, 3PL software solutions are not all equal. A software comparison of 3PL warehouse management systems, will show you the clear long-term value of selecting Datex for your 3PL operation.
Looking for industry-specific WMS information?
3PL WMS
Cold Storage
Distribution
E-Commerce Fulfillment
Pharmaceutical
CMO/CPO
Healthcare
Pharma 3PL WMS
STATIC SOFTWARE THAT IS COSTLY TO CHANGE
Rapid, Lower Cost Adaptation to Business Demands – It’s a GAME CHANGER
What is Workflow?
A flexible, configurable series of activities built to form an actionable process using conditional rules you create and business logic you approve.
Workflows are used to “customize” business processes and other elements for your 3PL customers
Why the Datex Workflow-Enabled WMS is Superior
- It leverages Microsoft Windows Workflow Foundation, a leading-edge technology tool
- Enables you to integrate each customer’s individual unique requirements into your 3PL operation seamlessly
- Can reduce the burden on IT resources
- Enhances ability to make changes quickly and cost effectively
- Can be copied and used again and in other fulfillment centers, warehouses, and distribution centers
- Facilitates self-reliance, enables 3PL to handle implementations with minimal help from Datex
- Speeds up onboarding of new customers
Grow Your Business… Scale Your Operation with Datex Workflow
Faster and at lower cost for nationwide or global expansion
After training, your IT department can leverage workflow to do configurations, re-use workflow and set up new fulfillment centers, warehouses, and distribution centers
Scale your business and processes to meet dynamic needs and changing requirements
Datex 3PL WMS Includes an Integrated Workflow-Based Flexible Billing Engine
Timely accurate billing is essential to the profitability of your third party logistics business. To make sure you can capture and bill for every value added service you provide and meet the requirements of each specific client contract, Datex 3PL WMS includes a Billing Wizard and workflow-based engine.
- Datex 3PL WMS ensures that your business can accommodate even the most unusual requirements of your clients and requests for any type of time frame or scenario
- Use the Datex 3PL WMS Billing Wizard to make sure that you set up billing exactly as needed-no worries or skipped steps
- Customize billing based on client needs and requirements
- Datex workflow enables you to automate billing, saving your company time and labor
- By incorporating workflow into 3PL WMS billing, Datex is able to eliminate errors and the time your team would spend finding and correcting them
- Use
RF enabled mobile computing devices with Datex 3PL WMS to maximize the effectiveness of your investment. This will ensure that you can capture and bill for everyvalue added service your company performs. No more spreadsheets, tallies or notes needed.
Datex Footprint® WMS 3PL Capabilities
Developed specifically for third party logistics provider operations, Datex software was designed to handle the highly complex nature of multi-client 3PL operations. 3PL requirements were incorporated into the original design of the foundation of Datex Footprint® 3PL WMS. This helps to ensure that your 3PL business will be able to:
- Segregate inventory by ownership
- Handle transfer of inventory ownership with comprehensive traceability
- Provide accurate activity-based billing of value added services
- Use the software for a wide variety of industries, operational conditions including cold storage and refrigerated warehouses. Datex Footprint® 3PL WMS is currently used across the globe.
- Deploy the software quickly in tiers and blocks
- Use a system in which database records do not lock up
- Scale your business- ideal for fast growing, changing organizations
- Store all file types in inventory records to facilitate timely accurate documentation of inventory, freight, warehouse and distribution needs, etc.
- Handle the complex nature of third party logistics operations
- Handle multiple types of inventory all within the same facility or enterprise
- Enable 3PL clients to have access to real time, accurate data needed to manage their operation via a web portal. This helps to reduce customer service expense without sacrificing service levels or customer satisfaction.
FULLY CONNECTED
Web Service API Integration
Single-facing API for all Footprint products and integrations saves you time and money
REST-based API
Power Bi connection capabilites
Webhook capabilities
Connect your D2C, B2B, and dropshipping channels within a central inventory management and order solution
Shopping carts
e-Commerce platforms
Marketplaces
Shipping Carriers
EDI
Order management system
Transportation management systems
ERP Systems
Timekeeping and labor management solutions
Slotting solutions
Order picking system including:
• Voice-enabled solutions (i.e. pick-to-light, put-to-light)
• Smart carts
• Goods-to-person systems
• Put walls
• Mobile robots
Datex 3PL WMS Uses One of the Most Widely Used Databases in the World:
Microsoft SQL Server
When developing its WMS for the third party logistics industry, Datex chose Microsoft SQL Server to help ensure that database records never lock up when users read or write data into a record. Relying on Microsoft SQL Server helps to ensure that all the data “read” and “write” commands do not impact the parent record. Instead, this data is appended to the record as a child record (a journal record). By taking a more costly and innovative approach to database design, Datex 3PL WMS:
- Handles high volume of data
- Readily accommodates a large numbers of users
- Is better able to minimize loss of data
- Is better able to increase the speed of searches
- Has been able to simplify report writing
- Has been able to enhance system performance
Datex WMS Was Developed Using Microsoft .NET Development Tools
By using Microsoft .NET tools, Datex has made it easier and less costly for your company to find IT resources all around the globe. Datex software relies on Microsoft tools that are commonly used enabling us to:
- Keep pace with advancing technological changes
- Plan our software upgrades
- Strategically advance our platform
POPULAR FEATURES FOR 3PL OPERATIONS
CROSSDOCKING
- Quick transfer goods from inbound receipt to outbound order
- Reduce unnecessary putaway time
- Ramp up efficiency and speed
YARD MANAGEMENT
- Dock door appointment scheduling
- Trailer management
MULTIPLE PICKING METHODS
- Single
- Batch
- Cluster
- Pick-to-cart
- Pick-to-wall
- Voice pick
DIRECTED PUTAWAY
- Configurable workflow-driven putaway
- Optimizes putaway to be the most efficient and productive
- Enables optimization of warehouse layout and putaway locations
USER FRIENDLY
Alerts and notifications
Report subscriptions
3PL billing wizard
Clean modern user interface
Easy navigation
Here is why user friendly 3PL software for warehouse management is critical for your business:
- High turnover in warehouse labor and use of seasonal workers means that your business is constantly training new users. 3PL providers that leverage user friendly 3PL software for warehouse operations report reduced learning time, less frustration, and errors.
- 3PL warehouse managers report that user friendly 3PL WMS systems benefit from increased adoption rates as workers are more comfortable in using them. Managing inventory with a user friendly 3PL warehouse management system is less likely to result in errors, workarounds, and unproductive time on the warehouse floor.
3PL Needs
No matter where your current third party logistics software is in the various phases of product lifecycle management, having the training and support of the software vendor is critical. Flexibility is also essential as logistics service providers have the added challenge of needing to segregate inventory, configure reports, labels, billing, and operational processes to meet the requirements of their customers. A third party logistics WMS is used for much more than simply managing inventory and handling workforce management. It is the brains of the warehouse operated by the third party logistics company.
More Description
Online sellers and shippers rely on 3PLs to efficiently operate distribution centers, warehouses, and fulfillment centers efficiently and keep costs under control. Warehouse management systems can enable a 3PL to have
total control over the business. Datex Footprint® WMS provides a suite of management solutions with incredible visibility and access to real time data and reports. This makes it easier for logistics 3PL operators to have real time, accurate data at their fingertips for quick, responsive decision making.
Cloud solutions are one of today’s most dominant market trends. For years, most transportation management systems were SaaS or cloud solutions, however WMS software has been slower to adapt to these types of WMS software platforms. Many 3PL warehouses still prefer the security of an on premise solution. Datex offers hybridized versions of its warehouse management systems so that 3PL warehouses can select a system that is geared towards their specific needs as not all supply chain solutions are well suited to 3PL needs.
Looking for a WMS for your 3PL? You have found it, the best kept secret in the industry today: Datex Footprint® WMS.
Tackling Omni-Channel and Multichannel Retailing Challenges
3PLs often find that fulfilling orders across multiple channels can be problematic.
According to a 2015 Capgemini study of 3PLs and shippers, the most significant challenges occur with order flexibility, system integration, inventory visibility, inventory accuracy, inventory control, order management, technology, returns management, expedited delivery and other issues.
Today’s consumer can now buy from many different order channels and can select from an array of fulfillment options from click to collect, home delivery, expedited or same delivery and more. Retailers have been struggling to meet consumer expectations and have been making changes to their supply chain in order to help ensure a more seamless experience for the customer. More retailers are now outsourcing aspects of this experience to 3PL companies to help optimize fulfillment options and for other reasons.
More Description
The variety of fulfillment and order options have helped to create a highly complex operating environment for both shippers and 3PLs. Using technology solutions can help to ensure efficient, accurate operations, high order fulfillment rates and streamlined delivery. Having continual access to accurate inventory data is essential to providing excellent customer service, order fulfillment and efficient operations. More and more 3PLs are adapting to meet these challenges and have been investing in supply chain visibility and warehouse management systems.
Information within and across the supply chain is highly prized. Today’s cutting edge technology can enable even smaller 3PL operations to provide information visibility and capabilities to shippers, across the street or around the world. This tends to help “level the playing field” for both shippers and 3PLs. Using real time accurate data can enable both shippers and 3PLs to make more informed decisions, avoid unnecessary supply chain risks, collaborate with others to achieve better service and lower logistics costs.