Gartner® Report: Choose the Right Software and Services for Low-Complexity and Pop-Up Operations

Gartner® describes how the use of pop-up warehouses and low-complexity distribution operations is growing. Top-tier WMSs can be costly and may not fit these environments. Supply chain technology leaders must adapt to fluctuating capacity needs and select from the software and service options in this research.

Key Findings:

• “Supply chain technology leaders must adapt to fluctuating capacity needs and select from the software and service options in this research.”
• “Advanced warehouse management system (WMS) solutions are costly and not suitable for every warehouse and distribution center environment. This is particularly true for those with modest functional needs that require rapid deployment and those not using experienced warehouse operatives.”
• “Demand for faster deliveries and localization are driving the need for more small warehouses closer to consumers than companies’ traditional centralized and regional hub networks.”
• “Organizations increasingly need pop-up warehouses to support rapid migration to direct-to-consumer models, extreme seasonal peaks in demand, capacity pressures and bottlenecks, and to address the changing needs of customers and consumers.”

DISCLAIMER

Gartner, Choose the Right Software and Services for Low-Complexity and Pop-Up Operations. Published 11 June 2025, By Simon Tunstall, Dwight Klappich.

This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request from Flexe.

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