Research from ERP solution provider Forterro has revealed a major digital skills gap in the UK industrial midmarket. AI is one of the biggest skill deficiencies, and even among companies pushing ahead with AI, progress is limited – 30% say it is poor and 34% merely adequate.
The research also found that the logistics department was something of a barrier to AI adoption, with 39% of respondents saying it is the part of operations most resistant to digital change.
This will come as no surprise to anyone that uses a Warehouse Management Solution (WMS). Given its importance to the tech stack, many firms have been slow to incorporate AI into their WMS. There are many reasons for this, according to Carrie Tallett, Senior Product Manager at Forterro’s Orderwise:
“WMS, often the ‘forgotten’ element of operations, has certainly lagged behind when it comes to AI or other innovations. The emphasis here is on the word ‘forgotten’; WMS is a crucial element of an organisation and gets the job done, but it isn’t the driving force in the way that a CRM package is. Because a WMS is steady and reliable, businesses can overlook its potential to do more.
“However, many are now starting to ask questions about AI in their WMS, which has meant that vendors are responding in kind.”
For any organisation that wants to incorporate AI into their WMS, the first step should always be to agree on exactly what it is they want to achieve. There are many benefits and ways in which AI can make life easier, but if an organisation isn’t using AI at all, then it is advisable to start slowly and build from there.
From there, though, the potential is limitless, according to Tallett:
“AI is now enabling WMS platforms to catch up rapidly and deliver immediate operational gains to the business. Forecasting becomes more accurate. Regulatory compliance becomes easier to maintain. Decision-making becomes faster and increasingly data-driven.
“For customers, this translates into clear improvements: better margin management; reduced overstocking; more efficient rolling-stock handling; improved labour and resource planning; and higher picking accuracy and reduced waste.”
Much like AI, warehouse automation is also becoming more popular in WMS, particularly for midmarket companies. The common theme between AI and warehouse automation is doing more with less, enhancing the human experience and achieving operational excellence faster.
With rising logistics costs, workforce pressures and intensifying regulatory demands, AI-enabled WMS will shift in 2026, from a ‘nice to have’ to a core competitive enabler.
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