Most warehouse management systems (WMS) were built to track inventory. That worked when supply chains were slow. Today, teams manage thousands of SKUs, multi-channel orders, and tight delivery windows.
Traditional WMS tools lack the functionalities to meet the daily challenges in modern fulfillment.
Da Vinci offers a comprehensive cloud-based suite of solutions to meet the growing and varied demands of logistics and supply chain management.
This article breaks down how Da Vinci replaces disconnected tools with a unified suite.
Why is Traditional WMS No Longer Enough
Traditional warehouse management systems were built when supply chains were simpler, with limited fulfillment channels. These legacy systems focused primarily on tracking inventory and managing basic warehouse tasks like receiving, storing, and shipping products.
While that may have worked for static, single-site operations, they no longer support the multi-channel logistics demands.
For example, a warehouse that once fulfilled bulk pallet shipments to a single retailer might now be handling direct-to-consumer orders, B2B replenishment, and marketplace fulfillment. A basic WMS built for one type of workflow can’t adapt fast enough.
Traditional WMS tools lack functionalities because they:
- Operate in silos and lack real-time visibility across systems
- Struggle with multi-client or multi-site warehouse operations
- Don’t support advanced functions like dynamic picking methods, dock scheduling, or demand forecasting
- Requires heavy customization to scale with business growth
- Integrate with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or Amazon
- Offer limited analytics or insights to improve profit margin or storage utilization.
Modern logistics demand real-time order fulfillment, multiple sales channels (online websites or marketplaces), same-day delivery expectations, and diverse SKUs (stock-keeping units).
That’s why you need a comprehensive WMS suite tailored to your warehouse’s operations. These tools fully integrate to provide end-to-end warehouse and logistics management.
Da Vinci: A Comprehensive Supply Chain Suite
Da Vinci is a cloud-based warehouse management system built for 3PLs, ecommerce, retail, wholesale, and food & beverage businesses. The software gives your team real-time visibility into inventory, orders, and labor activity.
Da Vinci is highly configurable and easy to integrate with your existing systems, making it easier to manage daily operations. The software is mainly built for rapid scaling and helps you fulfill orders faster with less manual effort across your supply chain.
Da Vinci’s Advanced WMS functionalities
Here’s a detailed look at Da Vinci’s WMS functionalities:
Centralized Database
Da Vinci WMS centralizes your entire warehouse operation, from receiving shipments to fulfilling orders, into a single, cloud-based database. The WMS gives your team real-time access to inventory, order status, and performance metrics across all locations and clients.
Your team can then monitor and validate shipments from any device, without switching between spreadsheets or disconnected systems.
Inventory Management
Da Vinci supports inventory management software capabilities with real-time visibility into your storage levels.
As soon as products arrive at your facility, Da Vinci instantly updates inventory counts. It records key data such as lot numbers, expiration dates, and storage assignments.
Da Vinci’s WMS also helps 3PLs manage inventory with:
- Real-time inventory tracking: Monitor inventory levels by SKU, location, and client as items are received, moved, or shipped.
- Barcode scanning: Validate every item and location with barcode-based workflows to prevent mix-ups and mispicks.
- Multi-client visibility: Manage separate inventories for each client in a shared warehouse without data overlap.
- Automated adjustments: Da Vinci auto-updates stock counts as orders are placed, returns are received, or cycle counts are performed.
- Forecasting and demand planning: Use historical trends and turnover data to anticipate inventory needs and avoid stockouts or overstock.
Storage Utilization
Da Vinci helps you make the most of your warehouse space with intelligent, algorithm-based storage optimization.
Instead of placing items randomly, the WMS uses real-time data and historical trends to determine the best locations for each product.
Here’s how Da Vinci improves your storage utilization:
- Improve storage space: Helps you adopt warehouse slotting strategies by automatically classifying items using methods like ABC analysis. This involves placing high-demand SKUs closer to packing stations and low-turnover items farther away.
- Directed putaway for accurate storage: Guides workers to the right storage locations using rules based on item size, weight, picking frequency, and storage needs.
- Client-specific zones: Applies rules to separate client inventories, assigning SKUs to the right zones.
- Space optimization algorithms: Uses item dimensions, order velocity, and turnover rates to assign the right bin, shelf, or pallet space.
- Storage rules for inbound inventory: Automatically applies logic for where and how to store incoming goods based on client preferences or handling needs.
- Reduce storage effort with cross-docking: Send incoming shipments directly to outbound trucks without placing them into storage, cutting down handling steps and warehouse space usage.
Order Picking
Da Vinci uses intelligent routing algorithms to simplify order picking so pickers can retrieve items faster and accurately during order fulfillment.
The software analyzes product location and picking frequency to suggest the best pick paths. This saves time and reduces worker fatigue, especially in high-SKU or multi-client warehouses.
As your order volume grows, Da Vinci supports advanced picking methods like batch picking (group similar orders), wave picking (pick by order frequency), zone picking (pick by zone), and cart picking (pick multiple orders in one route using divided carts).
The system analyzes demand to help you apply the right method at the right time.
For example, if your warehouse handles daily orders for a subscription snack box, Da Vinci can use the batch picking method. A picker can collect all the same SKUs (like granola bars, chips, and juice boxes) in one go before sorting them by order.
Packing
After picking, Da Vinci helps you automate packing with two options: cartonization and scan pack. Both pack orders into cartons, but the workflows are different, and each fits a different warehouse setup.
Cartonization is smart packing. The software creates virtual cartons before picking starts, so your team knows how many boxes they’ll need and what size.
You can pre-print labels to guide packing and apply rules to sort items by item code, lot code, or sublot. Cartonization works best when inventory is stored close together.
If you have fixed packing stations, Da Vinci supports scan-to-pack workflows. Staff scan the order, verify the items with a scanner, and choose the right carton. This option helps you fulfill high-volume, single-item orders faster because you don’t need to scan a packing list repeatedly.
Returns Management
Da Vinci also supports reverse logistics functionalities, allowing workers to receive, validate, and re-integrate returns into your inventory.
When a customer sends a return, you can create a return record by entering essential details such as the shipper number and account information. The system also enters origin, destination points, carrier details, and expected arrival dates.
Then, it uses an algorithm to reassign the right storage of your returned items without disrupting your supply chain.
Real-Time Dashboards
Da Vinci provides real-time dashboards that give you instant visibility into your warehouse KPIs (key performance metrics). The software tracks and updates every step from receiving to inventory movement, picking, packing, and shipping.
Instead of switching between systems, your team can monitor each stage as it happens. This allows managers to quickly identify and resolve issues.
Da Vinci also lets you customize dashboards by role or client. This way, your teams can track relevant metrics like order status, fill rates, inventory turnover, on-time shipments, and labor performance.
Customer Portal
Da Vinci offers a Customer Web Portal as a self-service for clients. This portal allows your clients to:
- Monitor inventory levels: View real-time data on their inventory so they always know about stock statuses.
- Track order status: Monitor updated order processing stages from placement to delivery.
- Download reports: Access various reports for data-driven decisions and insights into your fulfillment.
- Place service requests: Initiate service requests directly, streamlining communication and service provision.
Integrated Supply Chain Management Tools
Da Vinci integrates with your entire supply chain, including ERP, Order Management Systems (OMS), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), online shopping carts, and small parcel carriers.
This integration creates a unified platform, improving control and transparency over all assets, shipments, and personnel involved in the supply chain.
Such a comprehensive approach helps streamline the information and processes flow, which is crucial for high-demand supply chain management.
Configurability and Flexibility
At the heart of Da Vinci’s cloud-based software is its exceptional configurability and flexibility. This adaptability allows the suite to cater to the unique requirements of different industries and distribution models.
Whether for retail, manufacturing, e-commerce, or logistics, Da Vinci can be tailored to meet specific operational needs. The software is highly versatile and effective across various sectors.
Additional Warehouse Management Modules
Da Vinci’s additional modules complement its core WMS. This comprehensive suite gives you complete visibility and control of your supply chain operations.
Yard Management (YMS)
Da Vinci’s Yard Management module helps you manage the delicate balance of inbound and outbound freight effectively. It addresses specific challenges like timing, capacity, and space optimization in the yard for smooth operations.
The YMS module offers advanced scheduling and dock management capabilities. This helps you track and control vehicle movements and loading dock allocations. This level of detailed management significantly reduces waiting times and improves overall throughput in the yard.
Da Vinci also offers real-time visibility into yard activities, so you can quickly respond to any logistical changes or unexpected challenges.
Transportation Management (TMS)
Da Vinci combines its Transportation Management tool (TMS) with cloud-based WMS to connect your transportation directly with warehouse operations. This allows you to create outbound shipments based on real-time WMS data.
You can schedule deliveries, assign loads, and adjust routes based on real-time changes in warehouse staging or shipping priorities.
For example, if a batch of outbound orders is delayed during packing, the TMS can automatically reschedule that stop on the route. It will reassign higher-priority shipments to available trucks, without requiring manual coordination between departments.
Da Vinci’s TMS also improves how you use warehouse space. It syncs outbound planning with inventory and dock activity, so you can stage shipments accurately. This helps you reduce idle inventory and rehandling.
Plus, the TMS also integrates with carrier systems to coordinate and communicate better. This helps you make timely and reliable deliveries for high customer satisfaction.
Labor Management (LMS)
Da Vinci’s Labor Management System (LMS) gives you real-time visibility into your labor performance. Its powerful reporting and analytical features help you make informed decisions to improve productivity and operational intelligence.
The LMS includes tools for tracking individual employee performance and identifying areas for improvement.
It also supports workforce planning and scheduling, so you can allocate tasks to the right number of staff with the necessary skills at available times. This helps you allocate your existing labor force accurately.
3PL Billing and Custom Reporting
Da Vinci automates 3PL billing by applying client-specific rates for storage, handling, and fulfillment in real time. As orders move through your warehouse, the system captures billable activity without manual input.
You can use Da Vinci’s billing to create flexible billing rules based on each customer’s service level agreements (SLAs). This helps you bill your multiple clients accurately for each service you provide.
Da Vinci also generates custom reports by client, order type, or location. This helps you track your revenue and make smarter pricing decisions.
Scalability and Growth
The Da Vinci suite is customizable and scalable to your business needs. As your business grows, the system adapts to your expanding operations without disruptions or the need for significant system overhauls.
The suite’s design allows for easy scaling, accommodating increased volumes, additional facilities, and new logistical challenges.
Competitive Positioning of Da Vinci Versus Other Systems
Many 3PLs choose Da Vinci over basic WMS solutions because it’s purpose-built for 3PL operations rather than generic inventory tracking.
The platform provides real-time multi-client visibility instead of siloed data management, offers an integrated suite approach versus disconnected point solutions, and delivers cloud-based scalability compared to on-premise limitations.
Advanced analytics capabilities far exceed the basic reporting found in traditional systems. Easily produced by the Da Vinci are:
- Order fulfillment rates by client and time period
- Labor productivity metrics by worker and task
- Inventory accuracy percentages by zone
- Pick path efficiency analysis
- Carrier v. carrier performance scorecards.
Book Your Free Demo With Da Vinci
Da Vinci WMS offers a comprehensive suite that caters to the diverse and complex needs of modern supply chains.
With its integrative approach, advanced WMS features, and focus on scalability and growth, the Da Vinci WMS solution can be your supply chain management partner. The system is built to help you overcome complex fulfillment, customer expectations, and automation. Book a demo today.