A Framework for Assessing the IT Readiness of Retail Warehouse Control Systems for Peak Season

International Journal of Industrial Engineering

© 2025 by SSRG - IJIE Journal

Volume 12 Issue 3

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Pankaj Jain

10.14445/23499362/IJIE-V12I3P101

How to Cite?

Pankaj Jain, "A Framework for Assessing the IT Readiness of Retail Warehouse Control Systems for Peak Season," SSRG International Journal of Industrial Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 3, pp. 1-7, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23499362/IJIE-V12I3P101

Abstract:

During the holiday season, retail supply chains are challenged with managing increased order volumes, lower order processing times, and customer expectations. Warehouse Control Systems (WCS) operational resiliency and performance during this peak period are essential to maintaining fulfillment velocity and accuracy. This paper presents a Holiday Readiness Scorecard approach designed to assess the readiness of WCS within Retail Distribution Center (DC) environments. The scorecard evaluates the following six readiness dimensions: System Performance and Capacity, Integration Stability, Hardware Reliability, Operational Readiness, Monitoring and Support, and Contingency Planning. By measuring readiness across these six domains, the scorecard provides a framework for correlating system readiness, identifying system vulnerabilities, prioritizing mitigations, and aligning cross-functional teams during the holiday season. The adoption of the scorecard approach enables operational readiness based on data correlation and provides insight into business continuity during the retail industry’s most critical season.

Keywords:

Retail, Supply Chain, Distribution Centers (DCs), Material Handling Equipment (MHE), Warehouse Control System (WCS), Holiday Readiness Scorecard.

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