Modern Materials Handling - November 2012

A cloud-based WMS grants remotevisibility into a network, facility, zoneor worker.the top concerns for prospective cloudcustomers, but Kozenski says both areminor issues. He emphasized that acustomer’s centralized WMS and asupplier-hosted WMS have virtuallyidentical security risks. What’s morepressing is the customer’s desire to havecontrol over upgrade cycles, he says.Customers prefer not to be running ona shared instance of software so theyand 10 competitors are upgraded at thesame time. “In a multi-tenant environment,there is no modification, thereis only configuration,” says Kozenski.“This might limit your ability to developcompetitive advantages.”Whatever a company’s concerns andgoals, the best way for end-users toensure they are working with an optimalWMS is to maintain a good relationshipwith their suppliers. “Althoughthey might not think they’re ready toupgrade,” says Kozenski, “they shouldstay in touch with their software providerregularly.”After all, says Hill: “Suppliersaren’t keeping updates secret.” Companies mentionedin this articleAccellos, accellos.comHighJump, highjump.comManhattan Associates, manh.comRedPrairie, redprairie.comSt. Onge Company, stonge.comPROTECH ® Precision PalletsThe SAFE Choicefor Every Industry• Top-quality 40” x 48” pallets• Easy-to-clean hygienic design• Will not trap water• Mold- and insect-resistant• 4-way forklift & jack entry• Superior strength-to-weight ratio vs. wood• Impact absorption protects your freight• Molded, one-piece design for added durability• Optional intermittent lipNow Available: Fire-Retardant Protech 4048 –both decaBDE-free and FM Approved866-713-9446www.tmfcorporation.comwww.protech-pallet.comWWW.TRANSBOTICS.COMmmh.com MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 2 45