Dakota WMS for Fulfillment Operations
High-Volume Order Processing at Scale
Dakota WMS powers fulfillment operations that ship thousands of orders daily. Our wave planning, batch picking, and carrier integration turn complex order flows into efficient warehouse execution.
Fulfillment Capabilities
Wave Planning
Group orders intelligently to maximize picker efficiency and meet carrier cutoffs. Dakota's wave planner considers:
- Carrier pickup windows
- Order priority and SLA
- Zone and location proximity
- Picker workload balancing
- Truck departure sequences
Wave Options:
- Manual wave creation
- Scheduled automatic waves
- Real-time waveless flow
- Priority order acceleration
Flexible Pick Methods
Match your pick method to your order profile:
| Method | Best For |
|---|---|
| Single-order picking | High-value, complex orders |
| Batch picking | Multiple similar orders |
| Zone picking | Large facilities with product zones |
| Cluster picking | Multi-order cart workflows |
| Voice-directed | Hands-free environments |
| RF scanning | Verification at every step |
Carrier Integration
Dakota connects to major carriers for rate shopping, label generation, and tracking:
- Parcel: UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, regional carriers
- LTL: YRC, Estes, Old Dominion, XPO, and more
- TMS Integration: Connect to your transportation management system
Shipping Features:
- Multi-carrier rate shopping
- Compliant label generation
- Tracking number capture
- Manifest and end-of-day close
- Return label generation
Multi-Channel Support
Order Sources
Dakota accepts orders from multiple channels through a single integration layer:
- E-commerce platforms (Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento)
- Marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart, eBay)
- EDI from retail customers
- B2B order portals
- Manual entry
Channel-Specific Rules
Each channel can have different fulfillment rules:
- Packing slip formats
- Shipping method defaults
- Gift message handling
- Insert and promotional materials
- Return label inclusion
Inventory Visibility
Real-Time Accuracy
Dakota updates inventory in real time as transactions occur. No batch processing delays.
- Available to promise updates immediately
- Backorder detection at allocation
- Oversell prevention
- Multi-location inventory pooling
Inventory Segmentation
Allocate inventory by channel, customer tier, or promotion:
- Reserve stock for priority customers
- Segment inventory for marketplace orders
- Set aside promotional quantities
- Manage pre-order allocations
Performance at Scale
Throughput
Dakota's IBM Power Systems infrastructure handles:
- 100,000+ orders per day
- Millions of inventory transactions
- Hundreds of concurrent pickers
- Sub-second response times
Peak Season Ready
When volume spikes during holidays or promotions, Dakota scales without degradation. Our customers have processed 5x normal volume during peak periods.
Integration Architecture
APIs
REST APIs provide real-time access to:
- Order status and tracking
- Inventory levels and availability
- Shipment confirmation
- Returns processing
Webhooks
Push notifications for key events:
- Order shipped
- Inventory threshold alerts
- Backorder notifications
- Return received
Standard Integrations
Pre-built connectors for:
- ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Dynamics)
- E-commerce platforms
- Marketplaces
- Shipping carriers
- Returns platforms
Why Fulfillment Operations Choose Dakota
| Challenge | Dakota Solution |
|---|---|
| Can't meet carrier cutoffs | Wave planning optimized for pickup windows |
| Picking takes too long | Batch and cluster picking reduce travel |
| Inventory oversells | Real-time updates prevent allocation errors |
| Peak season crashes system | IBM Power platform scales with demand |
| Too many manual touches | Automation from order to ship |
ROI Drivers
Labor Efficiency: Batch picking and optimized wave planning reduce picks per hour.
Shipping Savings: Rate shopping selects lowest-cost carrier meeting SLA.
Inventory Accuracy: Real-time updates eliminate oversells and stockouts.
Scalability: Handle growth without system replacement.
Implementation Timeline
| Phase | Duration | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | 2 weeks | Requirements, integration mapping |
| Configuration | 4 weeks | System setup, workflow design |
| Integration | 4 weeks | API connections, testing |
| Training | 2 weeks | Role-based user training |
| Go-Live | 1 week | Cutover and support |
Typical implementation: 10-14 weeks from kickoff to live.
Contact
Ready to scale your fulfillment operation?
Email: sales@dakotawms.com Phone: 1-800-DAKOTA-WMS Web: www.dakotawms.com/fulfillment
Dakota WMS - Built for Fulfillment at Scale