WMS Pioneers
Technology Podcasts
Softeon CEO Jim Hoefflin and CTO Mark Fralick team up in this limited podcast series to share stories, anecdotes, and lessons learned over the last 35 years in the warehousing industry. The two friends and colleagues specifically discuss their role in creating one of the first warehouse management systems (WMS). Watch all the episodes at https://www.softeon.com/wms-pioneers.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Technology Podcasts
Description:
Softeon CEO Jim Hoefflin and CTO Mark Fralick team up in this limited podcast series to share stories, anecdotes, and lessons learned over the last 35 years in the warehousing industry. The two friends and colleagues specifically discuss their role in creating one of the first warehouse management systems (WMS). Watch all the episodes at https://www.softeon.com/wms-pioneers.
Twitter:
@Softeon
Language:
English
Contact:
703-793-0005
Website:
https://www.softeon.com/
Email:
contact@softeon.com
Episodes
Bonus Live Episode: Patrick Maley on Robotics Selection at IntraLogisteX UK
4/8/2025
Softeon Chief Revenue Officer Patrick Maley delivered a well-received presentation on how to evaluate robotics and automation for your warehouse during IntraLogisteX UK 2025. This is a bonus episode of the WMS Pioneers podcast that contains the full audio.
Download the robot guide referenced in the episode at https://www.softeon.com/blog/robot-and-goods-to-person-selection-guide/.
Duration:00:18:27
WMS Pioneers Episode 6: The Power of Micro-tuning
12/17/2024
In this episode, Softeon CEO Jim Hoefflin and CTO Mark Fralick discuss Softeon’s concept of micro-tuning, philosophy for upgrades, and commitment to creating more value for customers and partners as quickly as possible. Plus, a look back at how the executives’ preseason predictions for their favorite NFL teams, the Packers and Eagles, measure up in December!
Duration:00:15:47
WMS Pioneers Episode 5: Why Softeon
11/21/2024
In this episode, Softeon CEO Jim Hoefflin and CTO Mark Fralick discuss their decision to join Softeon, the customer-focused culture they're building, and valuable advice for aspiring supply chain professionals on becoming indispensable in their organizations.
Duration:00:24:37
WMS Pioneers Episode 4: The Rise of the 3PL
10/22/2024
Mark has a sneezing spell, while the Pioneers dive into the rise of third-party logistics (3PL), the intricacies of multi-tenant systems, and how Softeon empowers 3PLs to enhance both speed and flexibility.
Duration:00:35:47
WMS Pioneers Episode 3: What Makes a WMS Implementation Successful?
9/17/2024
In this episode, the Pioneers discuss the secrets to a successful WMS implementation, how to avoid death by a thousand keystrokes, and share battle scars from challenging go-lives.
Duration:00:38:03
WMS Pioneers Episode 2: Coffee Addiction, Robotics and Automation
8/20/2024
Softeon CTO Mark Fralick loves coffee. And efficient, integrated, and harmonious warehouses! Mark joins Softeon CEO Jim Hoefflin in the second episode of the WMS Pioneers limited podcast series. The two friends describe the evolution of warehouse technology, where the industry stands today, and provide tips for leaders to navigate the sometimes-daunting landscape.
Lookout for new episodes every month. Watch them all at https://www.softeon.com/wms-pioneers.
Duration:00:23:23
WMS Pioneers Episode 1: The Early Years of WMS
7/23/2024
“Brothers from different mothers” as they describe it, Softeon CEO Jim Hoefflin and CTO Mark Fralick have worked together over the last 35 years. The duo, known at Softeon as “WMS Pioneers” developed one of the first Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) in 1993 after realizing there was a market shaping.
Lookout for new episodes every month. Watch them all at https://www.softeon.com/wms-pioneers.
Duration:00:32:40
Improving Your Warehouse Management System Vocabulary
9/22/2023
Getting WMS team members on the same page in terms of terminology is a key part of a successful Warehouse Management System project. The WMS Glossary of Terms can help, defining more than 90 terms and acronyms, as an on-line resource or downloadable pdf. Great handout for term members at start of a project.
Duration:00:03:18
Understanding the Gartner WMS Critical Capabilities Report
9/15/2023
Less well-known than the WMS Magic Quadrant, the Gartner Critical Capabilities report ranks WMS vendors purely on functionality across nine attributes, weighted by different levels of warehouse complexity. It is an important companion piece to the MQ to understand the WMS market, as we explain in this podcast.
Duration:00:03:39
Softeon’s Mark Fralick on a New Way to Think about Warehouse Execution Systems and Workload Balancing
9/7/2023
In the second of our two podcasts featuring highlights of Mark Fralick’s interview with Bob Trebilcock of Modern Materials Handling magazine, Fralick suggests a new way to think about how Warehouse Execution Systems might orchestrate order fulfillment to balance work across the distribution center.
Duration:00:05:16
Interfacing versus Integration in Materials Handling Systems
8/31/2023
Highlights from a recent Modern Materials Handling magazine podcast featuring editor Bob Trebilcock and Mark Fralick, Chief Technology Officer at Softeon. “Interfacing is easy. Integration is hard,” when it comes to warehouse automation, Fralick says. Trebilcock wants to know why.
Duration:00:04:01
Understanding Distributed Order Management Part 2
8/24/2023
We conclude our look at this important but little understood type of supply chain software.
Duration:00:04:26
Understanding Distributed Order Management
8/4/2023
Distributed Order Management or DOM is a powerful and unique tool to optimize order sourcing across an extended network. It is most well known in Omnichannel retail applications, but there are a number of use cases in B2B as well. Learn more in this informative podcast.
Duration:00:04:22
A Look at Warehouse Management Systems in the Cloud
7/27/2023
After a somewhat slow start, some lessons learned from dozens of Cloud WMS deployments.
Duration:00:03:41
Highlights from CSCMP’s State of Logistics Report 2023
7/12/2023
Annual study finds US Logistics Costs as Percent of GDP soared to record level last year.
Duration:00:03:59
An Update on State Laws Regulating use of Labor Standards in Distribution
6/28/2023
Washington latest to pass legislation, targeting Amazon but impacting many other companies.
Duration:00:04:25
Improving Your Warehouse Management System Vocabulary
6/14/2023
Softeon’s WMS Glossary of Terms provides a great resource for vendor selection and implementation team members.
Duration:00:03:23
Trends in Warehouse Management Systems from Gartner
6/1/2023
Gartner recently released its annual Magic Quadrant report on Warehouse Management Systems. In addition to the vendor rankings, we’re always interested in the WMS market analysis Garter provides in the report.
Duration:00:03:49
A Look at Trends in Big Box Distribution Centers
5/3/2023
Real estate firm CBRE is out with its latest report, packed with interesting data points.
Duration:00:03:58
Understanding Task Management in WMS
4/21/2023
Task Management is one of the most essential capabilities of an advanced Warehouse Management System, but not well Understood
Duration:00:03:57