Warehouse Management Software for Small Distributors
A small distributor or wholesaler needs a WMS that knows what is in every bin, guides receiving, picking and shipping on the phones or handhelds the team already carries, tracks lots and expiry dates, and goes live in weeks without an IT department. Here is what to look for, and where Rocket Inventory fits.
Rocket Inventory at a Glance
- Cloud WMS for small and growing distributors, wholesalers and retailers
- Runs on any phone or tablet, or on Zebra handhelds, with no app store download
- Guided receiving, putaway, picking, packing and shipping
- Lot and expiry control, with earliest-expiry-first (FEFO) picking
- Typically live in 3 to 6 weeks, depending on customizations and training
- Built and supported in the USA by E2 Solutions
Signs You Have Outgrown Spreadsheets
Six problems growing warehouses run into, and how a WMS handles each one.
Unreliable Inventory Data
When your team can't trust the numbers, every decision becomes a guess.
See how Rocket handles it →Manual Processes and Spreadsheets
When your operation runs on paper and spreadsheets, growth becomes the enemy.
See how Rocket handles it →Inefficient Order Fulfillment
Late shipments and mis-picks eat margin and erode customer trust.
See how Rocket handles it →Overstock and Understock
Too much cash on shelves or too many stockouts: both hurt your bottom line.
See how Rocket handles it →Lack of Financial Visibility
You know how much stock you hold, but not which SKUs are quietly costing you orders.
See how Rocket handles it →Fragmented Systems
Your team has become human middleware: exporting, importing and cleaning up files instead of running the operation.
See how Rocket handles it →What to Look For in a WMS for a Small Distributor
The questions worth asking any vendor, and how Rocket Inventory answers each one.
Inventory by location, kept current
A WMS should know which bin holds what, updated as each receipt, move, pick and shipment is scanned, so the counts stay true between audits.
One always-current record: every receipt, move, pick and shipment updates your counts, across every site you run.
Guided work on devices your team already has
Receiving, putaway and picking should be guided step by step, with a barcode scan confirming each step, on hardware a small team can afford.
Any phone or tablet with a camera scans barcodes in the app, which installs to the home screen from the browser. Zebra handhelds and other external hardware scanners work too, including Bluetooth ring and wrist scanners.
Lot and expiry control, if you sell anything dated
Food, beverage, chemicals and other dated stock need lots and expiry dates tracked through every move, and the oldest stock picked first.
Lot and expiration tracking with earliest-expiry-first (FEFO) picking. A single GS1 or UDI scan fills in product, lot and expiry together.
Counting without shutting down
Cycle counting keeps the record right without closing the warehouse for a full physical count, counting fast movers more often than slow ones.
ABC cycle counting on a per-grade interval, with defaults of 30, 90 and 180 days.
Connections to the systems you already run
Ask exactly which systems a WMS connects to and what moves between them, so nobody is retyping orders or stock.
Square POS, Retail Management Hero (RMH) point of sale through Rocket Local, EasyPost for carrier rates and labels, and Rocket Local for an on-premise database that stays where it is. See every integration.
Setup measured in weeks
A small team can't pause the warehouse for months. Ask how long setup takes, what it depends on, and who does the work.
Typically live in 3 to 6 weeks, depending on customizations and training. The Green Chemical Store moved from Excel spreadsheets to barcode scanning in three weeks.
People who know your operation
Training and support decide whether a WMS sticks. Ask who trains your team and who answers when something goes wrong.
Train-the-trainer onboarding, then support through the support portal from a U.S.-based team.
A price you can get for your actual setup
Ask what the price depends on, then get a quote for the way you actually run.
Pricing depends on which integrations you need, how many users you have, and how many warehouses you run, so Rocket Inventory is quoted per customer rather than listed.
Where Rocket Fits, and Where It Doesn't
Stated plainly, so you can rule it in or out quickly.
Rocket fits if you
- Run one warehouse or several sites
- Pick from bins and shelves with handheld scanning
- Track lots or expiry dates
- Want to be live in weeks, with the setup done alongside you
- Want a U.S.-based team that knows your operation
Look elsewhere if you need
- Voice-directed picking or smart glasses
- Demand forecasting
- An open API your developers can build on today
- Warehouse automation such as conveyors, sorters or robots
Running complex, high-volume distribution? E2 Solutions, the team behind Rocket, also implements the enterprise WMS Infios Warehouse Advantage.
What Going Live Looks Like
Typically 3 to 6 weeks from the first conversation to a working warehouse.
- Discovery meetingWalk us through your floor, your systems and what isn't working. We will tell you whether Rocket fits.
- Setup with youSites, locations, items and labels, configured with your team. Our free guides cover how to plan each one.
- Connections and trainingIntegrations connected, and your own trainer brought up to speed to train the rest of the team.
- Go-live and supportYour team works in Rocket. After go-live, support runs through the support portal.
From Distributors Already Running Rocket
Questions Small Distributors Ask
What is the best WMS for a small distributor?
The one that fits how your warehouse actually runs. For most small distributors that means inventory by location, guided picking and receiving on phones or handhelds, lot and expiry control for dated stock, connections to the systems you already use, and a setup measured in weeks. Rocket Inventory is built for that. If you need voice picking, demand forecasting or warehouse automation, look at a larger system.
How much does a WMS cost for a small distributor?
Rocket Inventory's price depends on which integrations you need, how many users you have, and how many warehouses you run, so it is quoted per customer rather than listed. Tell us your setup on a discovery call and we will price it.
How long does it take to implement a WMS?
Rocket Inventory is typically live in 3 to 6 weeks, depending on customizations and training. A straightforward project can be done at the shorter end.
Do I need to buy barcode scanners?
No. Any phone or tablet with a camera scans barcodes in the Rocket app, which installs to the home screen from the browser. Zebra handhelds and other external hardware scanners work too.
Is there a free trial?
A free trial is available for Visual Audit. Rocket Inventory is sold with a guided evaluation rather than a self-serve trial.
Let's Talk About Your Inventory
See Rocket running in a warehouse like yours. Book a discovery meeting with our U.S.-based team.