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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is K\u00f6rber WMS and how does it work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
K\u00f6rber WMS is an enterprise-grade warehouse management system originally developed by HighJump Software and later acquired by K\u00f6rber AG, a German technology conglomerate. The system sits within the broader K\u00f6rber Supply Chain<\/a> software portfolio, which also covers transportation management, order management, and yard management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At its core, the WMS controls all movement of goods within a warehouse. It directs staff and equipment using rules-based logic: where to store incoming stock, which pick path minimises travel time, how to consolidate orders into efficient pick waves. The system connects to warehouse hardware \u2014 barcode scanners, RFID readers, conveyor systems, pick-to-light and voice-directed picking units \u2014 and integrates upward with ERP platforms and carrier management software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The platform covers the following warehouse processing layers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a full picture of the current product under its new identity, the Infios WMS page<\/a> covers the platform’s current positioning and capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. In March 2025, K\u00f6rber Supply Chain Software rebranded as Infios. The rebrand consolidated the K\u00f6rber supply chain software business \u2014 including the WMS, TMS, and OMS products \u2014 under a single brand identity independent of the parent K\u00f6rber AG group. If you encounter references to K\u00f6rber WMS, K.Motion WMS, or HighJump WMS, they all describe the same product lineage now trading as Infios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practically speaking, existing customers on K\u00f6rber\/K.Motion contracts are transitioning to Infios support and licensing structures. Businesses beginning a WMS evaluation now will engage directly with Infios as the vendor. The rebrand does not change the underlying software architecture, but it does signal a strategic move to position the platform as an independent supply chain software business rather than a division of a manufacturing conglomerate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s worth noting this during your evaluation. When you read older reviews, case studies, or analyst reports, the product names K\u00f6rber, K.Motion, and HighJump all refer to the same lineage. User reviews on platforms such as Capterra<\/a> span the full naming history of the product, which can make version and feature comparisons tricky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Directed putaway is one of the most valuable features in any warehouse management system, and it’s an area where K\u00f6rber WMS has historically been strong. Rather than leaving staff to decide where to store incoming stock, the WMS assigns a specific location automatically based on rules you configure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In practice, those rules might specify: fast-moving items go to ground-level pick-face locations near the despatch area; cold chain products go to refrigerated zones; hazardous goods go to a designated COSHH bay; oversized pallets go to wide-aisle racking. The system evaluates each incoming SKU against the rule set and instructs the operator’s handheld device to take the stock to a precise bin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefits are straightforward. Putaway time falls because operators don’t hunt for space. Pick travel distances drop because fast movers end up where they should be. Inventory accuracy improves because every movement is scanned and confirmed. In a busy 3PL environment handling multiple clients with different product types, directed putaway rules can be configured at the client level, so each client’s stock follows its own storage logic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re evaluating any WMS platform, understanding warehouse mapping<\/a> and how it interacts with putaway rules is a good starting point. The layout of your warehouse directly determines the quality of the putaway strategies you can build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Order picking is typically the most labour-intensive activity in a warehouse, often accounting for 50\u201360% of total warehouse operating costs. WMS platforms that reduce unnecessary travel and motion during picking deliver measurable returns. K\u00f6rber WMS supports a range of picking methods designed to match the picking strategy to the order profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the packing side, the system supports packing workstation workflows with cartonisation logic \u2014 the WMS suggests the right box size based on the items being packed \u2014 and generates carrier labels and shipping confirmations automatically. This removes manual steps from the pack bench and reduces the risk of mis-packed shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n K\u00f6rber WMS connects to automated systems including goods-to-person conveyors, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), and robotic picking arms. For large distribution centres processing tens of thousands of lines per day, these integrations can substantially reduce labour costs. For smaller or mid-sized operations, the complexity and cost of setting up these integrations is a significant consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n K\u00f6rber (now Infios) sells the WMS as part of a broader supply chain execution suite. The full portfolio includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For large enterprises running complex, multi-node distribution networks, the appeal of a single vendor covering WMS, TMS, and OMS is clear. However, this breadth also raises the question of whether a business actually needs all of those modules \u2014 and whether paying for a platform at that scale makes sense when the requirement is focused warehouse management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third-party reviews collected on platforms such as Software Connect<\/a> and from K\u00f6rber implementation partners<\/a> note that the platform performs well in large, complex environments but that smaller businesses frequently find the implementation process lengthy and the ongoing support model oriented toward enterprise accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any honest comparison of K\u00f6rber WMS against alternatives has to start with scale. This is a platform designed for large, complex distribution operations. It has deep functionality, strong hardware integration options, and the backing of a substantial vendor organisation. For a multi-site enterprise processing millions of order lines per year, it competes credibly with other top-tier WMS platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For UK 3PLs, mid-market distributors, and growing businesses, the picture is different. The implementation timelines for enterprise WMS platforms like K\u00f6rber tend to run to months rather than weeks. Licence and support costs reflect the enterprise market. Customisation, which K\u00f6rber’s architecture does support, adds project cost and creates long-term maintenance obligations. When something needs changing, you’re often waiting on a vendor with a large customer queue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re at the stage of working out how to choose a warehouse management system<\/a>, scale and fit matter as much as feature lists. The most powerful system isn’t always the right system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding the cost of warehousing in the UK is essential context when budgeting for a WMS. Labour, property, and technology costs all interact, and an over-engineered WMS that takes a year to implement carries a real opportunity cost that rarely shows up in vendor proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n K\u00f6rber WMS (now Infios) is most appropriate for organisations that meet most of the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If that doesn’t describe your operation, the platform’s power can become a liability. Enterprise WMS systems built for large DCs carry overhead in complexity, cost, and implementation time that smaller and mid-sized operations simply don’t need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clarus WMS is built specifically for UK third-party logistics providers and multi-client warehouses. Where platforms like K\u00f6rber are designed for large enterprise distribution centres and then adapted for 3PL use cases, Clarus starts from the 3PL model and works outward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That distinction matters in practice. A 3PL management system needs to handle client onboarding quickly, separate inventory and billing by client cleanly, and give each client visibility of their own stock without granting access to other clients’ data. It needs to generate accurate invoices automatically based on warehouse activity \u2014 receipts, picks, pallet moves, storage days \u2014 because manual billing in a busy 3PL is a recipe for revenue leakage and client disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clarus handles all of this natively. Client portals<\/a>, activity-based billing<\/a>, multi-client inventory separation, and real-time reporting<\/a> are built into the core system, not bolted on through customisation. For a 3PL that needs to be live within weeks rather than months, the implementation model is a significant advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKey functional areas of K\u00f6rber WMS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Is K\u00f6rber WMS now called Infios?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is directed putaway in a WMS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
K\u00f6rber WMS: picking and packing automation features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Picking methods supported<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Infographic](\"https:\/\/stg-khh4l5.elementor.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Untitled-design-5-1024x572.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAutomation integrations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
K\u00f6rber supply chain solutions overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How does K\u00f6rber WMS compare to alternatives?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
K\u00f6rber WMS vs purpose-built 3PL systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Capability<\/th> K\u00f6rber WMS \/ Infios<\/th> Purpose-built 3PL WMS<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Multi-client warehouse management<\/td> Supported, complex configuration<\/td> Native \u2014 built around client separation<\/td><\/tr> 3PL billing and invoicing<\/td> Requires customisation or third-party tools<\/td> Automated, activity-based billing built in<\/td><\/tr> Client portal and self-service<\/td> Available at additional licence cost<\/td> Included as standard<\/td><\/tr> Implementation timeline<\/td> Typically 6\u201318 months for enterprise<\/td> Typically 6\u201312 weeks<\/td><\/tr> Target operation size<\/td> Large enterprise DCs<\/td> UK 3PLs, mid-market warehouses<\/td><\/tr> Pricing model<\/td> Enterprise licencing, project-based fees<\/td> Subscription, transparent pricing<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n ![\"Side-by-side](\"https:\/\/stg-khh4l5.elementor.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Untitled-design-3-1024x572.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWho should consider K\u00f6rber WMS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Clarus WMS: the purpose-built alternative for UK 3PLs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n