WMS automation
When the Order Is Packed, the Freight Should Be Booked
Your warehouse team packs an order at 10am. Then someone walks to a computer, copies shipment details into a carrier portal, or calls a broker. The freight is not booked until 2pm. Pickup happens the next day instead of same day. That 2 to 4 hour gap between packed and booked exists because your WMS cannot talk to your carriers. Warp closes that gap with a single API call.
20,000+ carriers · 9,000+ box trucks and cargo vans · 50+ cross dock facilities
The warehouse to carrier gap
Your WMS knows the order is packed. It knows the dimensions, weight, destination, and SLA. It knows which dock the order is staged at and when it was ready. But it cannot book freight. So a human has to copy that information from the WMS screen into a carrier portal, email it to a broker, or pick up the phone.
This step adds 2 to 4 hours of delay per shipment. For a warehouse processing 50 shipments per day, that is 100 to 200 hours of delay per day, collectively. It also requires dedicated headcount: logistics coordinators whose entire job is copying data between systems and making phone calls.
The cost is not just labor. It is missed pickup windows. A shipment that is ready at 10am but not booked until 2pm misses the same day pickup cutoff. It ships the next day instead. Your customer receives it a day late. Your team spends time explaining the delay. All because the WMS and the carrier could not talk to each other.
What automated booking looks like
When your WMS connects to Warp, the entire booking process becomes a series of API calls with zero human involvement for routine shipments.
Step 1
WMS triggers the API call.
Your WMS marks the order as packed. This triggers an API call to Warp with the shipment details: origin, destination, dimensions, weight, SLA, and any accessorial requirements like liftgate or inside delivery.
Step 2
Warp returns instant rates.
The Warp API returns rates across all available modes (LTL, box truck, cargo van, truckload) in seconds. Your system selects the optimal option based on rules you define: lowest cost, fastest transit, preferred mode, or any combination.
Step 3
Shipment is booked and dispatched.
The system books the selected rate. Warp dispatches a local 3rd party carrier through the Warp driver app. A tracking number flows back to your WMS. Your customer receives a tracking notification. Pickup is scheduled for the same day.
The order is packed at 10am. The freight is booked at 10:01am. Pickup happens the same afternoon. No human copied data between screens. No one made a phone call. No one sent an email. The WMS and the carrier talked directly through the API.
What triggers the booking
Your WMS can trigger the Warp API call on any event that makes sense for your operation. The trigger is configurable to match your workflow, not the other way around.
Event based
Order packed or staged at dock.
The most common trigger. When your WMS marks an order as packed or staged at the dock, it immediately calls the Warp API. This is the fastest path from packed to booked.
Batch based
Daily batch at a set time.
For operations that consolidate outbound freight, trigger the API call as a daily batch. All orders packed by 2pm are submitted to Warp at 2pm. Rates are returned, bookings are made, and pickups are scheduled for the next morning.
Approval based
Manual approval click.
Start here. Your WMS calls the Warp API for a rate, displays the rate and transit time to your logistics coordinator, and the coordinator clicks approve to book. This gives your team visibility and control while you build confidence in the automation.
Most customers start with the approval click and move to fully automated event based triggers within 2 to 4 weeks. The transition is gradual. You set the pace.
What happens after booking
Booking the shipment is just the beginning. The real value of WMS automation is the continuous flow of data back into your systems after the freight is on the road.
Warp dispatches a local 3rd party carrier through the Warp driver app. Your WMS receives webhook events for every scan, GPS update, and delivery confirmation. Every status change includes timestamps and GPS coordinates. Your customers get real time tracking links without your team doing anything.
Our AI backbone, Orbit, monitors every shipment on the Warp network. If a shipment is running late, headed to the wrong address, or experiencing any exception, Orbit flags it in real time. Your team gets exception alerts through Orbit so they can focus on problems instead of monitoring routine shipments. Proof of delivery, including photos and e-signatures captured through the Warp driver app, flows back to your WMS automatically.
Integration options
There are three ways to connect your WMS to Warp. Choose the one that matches your team and timeline.
Direct API integration
Your engineering team builds it.
Your developers connect your WMS to Warp's REST API directly. The API has 10 endpoints with structured JSON responses. Most engineering teams complete the integration in 3 to 5 days. Full documentation at developer.wearewarp.com.
AI coding tool
Describe it and generate the code.
Describe the integration to an AI coding tool like Claude Code and it generates the connection code. Provide the Warp API docs (developer.wearewarp.com) and your WMS API docs. The AI writes the integration layer. Your team reviews and deploys.
Warp managed integration
Warp team handles it for you.
For enterprise customers, the Warp integration team builds and maintains the connection between your WMS and the Warp API. Your team provides WMS access and business rules. Warp handles the technical implementation and ongoing support.
The business case for WMS automation
The ROI of connecting your WMS to Warp comes from three sources: reduced labor, faster shipping, and fewer errors.
Labor savings
Reduce booking headcount.
A logistics coordinator handling 50 shipments per day spends 4 to 6 hours on manual booking tasks: copying data, calling brokers, confirming pickups. Automated booking eliminates this work for routine shipments, freeing your team for exception handling and strategic work.
Speed improvement
Same day pickup instead of next day.
Eliminating the 2 to 4 hour booking delay means more shipments make the same day pickup window. Faster shipping means faster delivery. Faster delivery means happier customers and fewer escalations.
Error reduction
No more manual data entry mistakes.
Every time a human copies data between systems, there is a chance of error: wrong weight, wrong address, wrong accessorial. API integration eliminates transcription errors. The data flows directly from your WMS to the carrier with no human in the middle.
Frequently asked questions
What WMS systems does this work with?
Warp integrates with any WMS that can make HTTP API calls. This includes Manhattan Associates, Blue Yonder, Oracle WMS Cloud, SAP EWM, Infor WMS, Deposco, Logiwa, ShipHero, and custom warehouse systems. If your WMS can call a REST API or trigger a webhook, it can connect to Warp.
How long does the integration take?
Most integrations are live within 1 to 2 weeks. The Warp API has 10 endpoints. The core flow (quote, book, track) requires 3 API calls. Engineering teams that have built carrier integrations before typically complete it in 3 to 5 days. For enterprise customers, the Warp team handles the integration.
Can I still approve shipments manually before they book?
Yes. Most customers start with a manual approval step. Your WMS calls the Warp API for a rate, displays the rate to your logistics coordinator, and the coordinator clicks approve to book. Once you are confident in the routing rules, you can remove the approval step and go fully automated.
What if the WMS data is incomplete or has errors?
The Warp API validates every field and returns specific error messages when data is missing or invalid. If a required field like weight or dimensions is missing, the API returns a clear error that your WMS can display to the warehouse team. The shipment is not booked until all required data is present.
What happens if no Warp rate is available for a shipment?
The API returns a clear response indicating no rate is available for that lane and mode combination. Your WMS can then fall back to your existing carriers or flag the shipment for manual routing. This ensures no shipment is stranded. Most companies use Warp as their primary option with existing carriers as backup.
Your WMS knows the order is ready. Let it book the freight.
Connect your warehouse management system to Warp. When orders are packed, freight is booked automatically. No manual entry. No phone calls. No missed pickup windows. 20,000+ carriers. 50+ cross dock facilities.