Worldwide Supply Chain Strategies: Warehousing, Inventory and Order Management

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Meet the Experts

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Simon Ellis

Group Vice President

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Stephanie Krishnan

Associate Vice President



Worldwide Supply Chain Strategies: Warehousing, Inventory and Order Management advisory service arms manufacturing, retail, and pharmaceutical companies with the specific knowledge necessary to globally deploy extended supply chain warehousing and order management capabilities and better manage supporting business processes. These business process investments drive interest in research that helps businesses, and their partners, make more insightful and informed decisions on the deployment of global supply chain warehousing and order management strategies and supporting technology applications. Forward-looking research, combined with fact-based analysis of successful global supply chain warehouse strategies, provides clients with practical ways to better manage supply chain trade-offs, support changing business models, improve service performance, and better understand customer and consumer relationships while minimizing cost.

This advisory service provides coverage of warehousing, inventory, and order management technology and services. This includes warehouse management systems, warehouse control and automation systems, inventory management software, distributed order management software, labor management software, and yard management software applications as well as related warehousing services. This program would also be responsible for coverage of the wholesale/distribution industry segment.


Markets and Subjects Analyzed


  • Warehouse Management System Software
  • Inventory Management Software Applications
  • Distributed Order Management Software
  • Warehouse Control and Automation Including Robotics, Labeling, Pick to Voice, Pick to Light, Automated Sorting, and Data Acquisition
  • Warehousing Services — Including Third-Party Warehousing and Fulfillment Houses
  • Labor Management Software
  • Yard Management Software
  • Wholesale/Distribution Industry

Core Research


  • IDC MaturityScape: Warehouse Management Systems
  • IDC MarketScape: Order Orchestration and Fulfillment
  • IDC TechScape: Warehouse Execution and Control Systems
  • IDC MarketScape: Warehouse Management Sytems Vendor Assessment

In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct research on specific topics or emerging market segments via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.


Key Questions Answered


  1. What is the best automation strategy in the warehouse, and what is the business case?
  2. How are digital technologies, and digital transformation in general, impacting warehousing and order management?
  3. Which warehouse management vendor is best for each industry?
  4. What are the new features in inventory management software that buyers will be looking for?
  5. Which warehouse service providers offer the best capabilities?
  6. What are the best approaches to integrating warehouse applications to automation capabilities?
  7. What defines successful customer and supplier relationships?
  8. What are the AI use cases for warehousing?