Which of the following is NOT a typical Warehouse Management System (WMS) function?

• A. Receiving
• B. Demand forecasting
• C. Putaway
• D. Shipping

Answer: (B)

WMS focuses on the execution and real-time management of warehouse operations inside the facility. It handles the hands-on activities that move and store goods: receiving goods into the warehouse, placing them into specific storage locations (putaway), and arranging outbound shipments (shipping). These functions are all about how items physically flow through the warehouse and how inventory is tracked on a day-to-day basis.

Demand forecasting, on the other hand, is a planning activity. It projects future customer demand to drive procurement, production, and inventory planning. That kind of analysis typically lives in demand planning or ERP systems, not in a WMS. The WMS may use forecast data to inform replenishment or slotting decisions, but it does not generate or manage the forecast itself.

So, among the choices, receiving, putaway, and shipping are standard WMS functions because they are about moving and storing goods in real time. Demand forecasting is not a typical WMS function; it’s a planning task that influences how much stock to have, not how to move or store it within the warehouse.