# Understand Starshipit WMS
URL: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/14700000000001-understand-starshipit-wms
Canonical: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/14700000000001-understand-starshipit-wms
Markdown: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/14700000000001-understand-starshipit-wms.md
Updated: 2026-11-08

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.starshipit.com/llms.txt).

> Learn what Starshipit WMS is, how it differs from a basic inventory system, and how it connects to Starshipit, commerce platforms, and warehouse tools.

Starshipit WMS manages stock and warehouse work alongside Starshipit Shipping. Use it to record where inventory is stored and guide receiving, putaway, picking, packing and stock counts.

## How WMS fits with Starshipit

| System | Main responsibility |
| --- | --- |
| **Starshipit Shipping** | Orders, carrier configuration, shipping rules, labels and shipment updates |
| **Starshipit WMS** | Warehouse locations, inventory and the physical work that receives, moves and fulfils stock |
| **Connected commerce or inventory system** | The product, purchasing or stock fields your chosen integration owns |

With **Enable WMS integration** and **Send order events to WMS** on, order and shipment events flow automatically. If automatic events are off, use manual **Send to WMS** and do not expect automatic updates.

## What you can manage in WMS

* Receive purchase orders and put stock into warehouse locations.
* Track products by quantity, batch or serial, with expiry details where required.
* Release orders, allocate stock, and guide workers through picking and packing.
* Replenish pick faces, run stocktakes and investigate movements.
* Process physical returns and review warehouse reports.
* Complete supported floor workflows in WMS Mobile.

Choose the [integration guide](/articles/14700000000044-understand-wms-integrations) for your source system before enabling stock writeback. WMS and a connected system must not independently overwrite the same inventory without an agreed ownership rule.

## Choose how to use WMS

Use the full WMS outbound workflow when your team needs location-based allocation and guided jobs. You can also [keep selected shipping workflows in Starshipit](/articles/14700000000004-run-wms-alongside-starshipit) while WMS manages inventory and inbound work. WMS is optional; teams that do not need warehouse-location inventory can continue with Starshipit Shipping’s existing workflows.

## Get started

1. [Choose your WMS operating model](/articles/14700000000042-choose-your-wms-operating-model).
2. [Set up Starshipit WMS](/articles/14700000000002-set-up-starshipit-wms).
3. [Prepare your warehouse for go-live](/articles/14700000000043-prepare-your-warehouse-for-wms-go-live).

## Related articles

* [Understand WMS terms and key concepts](/articles/14700000000003-understand-wms-terms-and-key-concepts)
* [Choose one or multiple WMS instances](/articles/14700000000061-choose-one-or-multiple-wms-instances)