Dakota WMS for Third-Party Logistics
Built for Multi-Client Warehouse Operations
Dakota WMS is a warehouse management system designed for 3PL providers who manage multiple customers from a single facility. Our multi-tenant architecture lets you onboard new clients quickly while keeping their inventory, rules, and billing completely separate.
Key Capabilities for 3PL Operations
Multi-Tenant by Design
Every record in Dakota includes a warehouse code (WHCODE) that isolates customer data. You can run dozens of clients from one system without cross-contamination of inventory, orders, or configurations.
What This Means:
- Onboard new clients in days, not weeks
- Each client gets their own rules, labels, and reports
- No risk of shipping Client A's product to Client B
Flexible Billing Integration
Dakota tracks every billable event: receiving, putaway, picks, storage days, and more. Export this data to your billing system or use our built-in activity reports.
Billable Events Tracked:
- Pallet receipts and putaways
- Case picks and each picks
- Storage by location type
- Value-added services
- Accessorial charges
Client-Specific Workflows
Each client can have different receiving rules, pick methods, and shipping requirements. Dakota stores these as configurations, not code changes.
Examples:
- Client A requires lot tracking; Client B does not
- Client C uses voice picking; Client D uses RF
- Client E needs FIFO; Client F needs FEFO
Core Modules
Receiving
Process inbound shipments against POs or ASNs. Support for GS1-128 barcode scanning speeds receiving by 40-60%. Handle mixed pallets, catch-weight items, and date-sensitive products.
Inventory Management
Track inventory by location, lot, license plate, and expiration date. Support multiple units of measure with automatic conversion. Cycle counting and adjustment workflows maintain accuracy.
Order Fulfillment
Flexible wave planning lets you group orders by client, carrier, or priority. Pick methods include single-order, batch, zone, and cluster picking. Voice-directed and RF options available.
Shipping
Rate shop across carriers, generate compliant labels, and produce ASNs for retail customers. Support for parcel, LTL, and truckload shipments. Trailer loading with stop sequencing.
Scalability
Dakota runs on IBM Power Systems, the same infrastructure used by banks and airlines. This platform handles:
- Millions of transactions per day
- Hundreds of concurrent users
- 99.9% uptime over 20+ years
When you grow, Dakota grows with you. Add clients, add warehouses, add volume—without replacing your core system.
Integration Ready
Dakota connects to your ecosystem through:
- EDI: 850, 856, 810, 940, 945 and more
- APIs: REST endpoints for real-time data
- File Exchange: CSV, XML, flat file imports/exports
- ERP Connectors: SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite
Why 3PLs Choose Dakota
| Challenge | Dakota Solution |
|---|---|
| Client onboarding takes too long | Template-based setup with WHCODE isolation |
| Billing disputes with clients | Detailed activity logging with timestamps |
| Each client wants different rules | Configuration-driven, not custom code |
| System can't handle peak volume | IBM Power platform scales to millions of transactions |
| Need visibility across clients | Consolidated dashboards with client filtering |
Getting Started
Discovery Call: We'll discuss your operation, client mix, and growth plans.
Demo: See Dakota handle multi-client scenarios in a live environment.
Pilot: Run a proof-of-concept with one client before full rollout.
Implementation: Our team configures Dakota for your operation, typically 8-12 weeks.
Contact
Ready to see how Dakota can streamline your 3PL operation?
Email: sales@dakotawms.com Phone: 1-800-DAKOTA-WMS Web: www.dakotawms.com/3pl
Dakota WMS - Warehouse Management for Complex Operations