Systemlandschaft Logistik
Also: IT-Systemlandschaft Logistik, Logistik-IT-Landschaft, Systemarchitektur Logistik, IT-Architektur Logistik, Applikationslandschaft Logistik
AI-generated
The logistics system landscape refers to the totality of all IT systems, applications and integrations deployed within a company for warehousing, transportation and supply chain operations. It encompasses both the individual solutions and their data flows and mutual dependencies.
Key facts
- The logistics system landscape encompasses all IT systems, interfaces and data flows that support logistics processes – from ERP and WMS through to TMS, WCS and BI.
- Comprehensive documentation of the system landscape is a prerequisite for realistic effort estimates in new implementations, migrations or consolidations.
- In grown environments, numerous individual integrations create dependencies that are difficult to manage and risky to modify without a clear system landscape.
- The system landscape can represent both the current as-is state and a planned to-be state; the target architecture supplements this with principles and strategic guardrails.
What is the logistics system landscape?
The logistics system landscape describes the complete picture of all IT systems a company uses for its logistics processes – from procurement through warehouse management to delivery. This includes not only the individual applications, but also the interfaces, middleware components and data flows that connect these systems with one another. The system landscape can be documented as a current state (as-is) or planned as a target state (to-be).
Typical components of a logistics system landscape include:
- ERP systems for order management, procurement and financial data
- Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) for warehouse control
- Transport Management Systems (TMS) for transport planning and carrier connectivity
- Material Flow Controllers (MFC) or Warehouse Control Systems (WCS) for conveyor and automation technology
- Yard management solutions, telematics and track-and-trace platforms
- Business Intelligence (BI) and analytics tools for reporting and planning
- Integration layers such as ESB, API gateways or EDI converters
How does the system landscape work in practice?
In day-to-day operations, the systems within a logistics landscape are rarely built as a single cohesive whole. Over the years, a web of different applications from various vendors has typically grown up, held together by individual interfaces. An incoming order from the ERP, for example, triggers processes in the WMS, which in turn sends control commands to the WCS and passes shipping data to the TMS. At each of these handover points, data errors, latencies or failures can occur.
Visibility into these dependencies is critical: anyone who does not know which system is the leading source for which data risks inconsistent inventory levels, duplicate data maintenance or integration errors when systems change. For this reason, the system landscape is typically captured in architecture diagrams, system inventory lists or enterprise architecture tools.
What matters when evaluating and evolving the system landscape?
When selecting new systems or modernising existing solutions, knowledge of the current system landscape is a fundamental prerequisite. Only those who are familiar with the existing interfaces, data standards and system responsibilities can realistically estimate implementation effort and factor in risks.
Key evaluation criteria include: the number and complexity of existing integrations, the question of whether standardised APIs or proprietary interfaces are in use, data ownership for central master data such as articles or storage locations, and the ability of existing systems to support future requirements such as real-time visibility or automation. Whether a best-of-breed approach or an integrated suite is the better fit depends heavily on the existing system landscape and internal IT resources – no blanket recommendation can be made here.
Related terms
- API
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a defined interface through which two software systems can exchange data in an automated and standardized way. In intralogistics, it connects systems such as WMS, ERP, or TMS with one another and with external services.
- Ausschreibungsmanagement Logistik
Logistics tender management refers to the structured overall process by which companies solicit bids for logistics services or systems on the market, make offers comparable, and prepare a well-founded award decision.
- Automatisierung
Automation refers to the use of technologies and systems to execute processes fully or partially without human intervention. In intralogistics, the spectrum ranges from simple conveyor systems to fully automated high-bay warehouses with autonomous vehicles.
- BI
Business Intelligence (BI) refers to the systematic collection, preparation, and analysis of company data to support informed decision-making in logistics and supply chain management.
- Best-of-Breed
Best-of-Breed refers to an IT strategy in which the highest-performing specialist solution is selected for each function within the organization — rather than deploying a single suite from one vendor.
- Best-of-Breed vs Best-of-Suite
Best-of-Breed refers to an IT strategy in which the most specialized individual system is selected for each logistics process – as opposed to Best-of-Suite, where an integrated platform from a single vendor covers multiple processes.
- Datenbank
A database is a structured system for the persistent storage, management, and querying of data. In intralogistics, it forms the technical foundation for WMS, ERP, and TMS by reliably maintaining master data, transactional data, and historical records.
- Disposition
Disposition refers to the operational planning and control of resources, quantities, and orders in logistics – for example in transport or materials disposition. It encompasses capacity assignment, scheduling, prioritization, and response to disruptions.
- ERP
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) refers to an integrated software platform that maps core business processes such as purchasing, warehousing, production, sales, and finance within a shared system.
- TMS
A Transport Management System (TMS) is a software solution for planning, controlling, and monitoring all transport processes along the supply chain. It supports carrier selection, route planning, freight cost billing, and shipment monitoring.
- WMS
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a software solution for the operational control and management of all warehouse processes – from putaway and picking to goods issue. It coordinates storage locations, inventory, resources, and staff deployment in real time.