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What is the best IMS for multi-3PL logistics?

Written by Hadrien Leandri | Feb 12, 2026 10:46:50 AM

In an increasingly interconnected logistics environment, inventory management can no longer rely on a simple local tool or manual consolidations.

With multiple warehouses, 3PL providers, heterogeneous WMS systems, and omnichannel sales operations, inventory data becomes fragmented, sometimes inconsistent, and often outdated.

Choosing an IMS (Inventory Management System) has therefore become a structural decision. But one question frequently arises: what is the best IMS?

The answer primarily depends on the complexity of your logistics organization and the IMS’s ability to connect all stakeholders without requiring a complete overhaul of existing systems. This is precisely where Spacefill positions itself.

What Is an IMS?

An Inventory Management System (IMS) enables companies to centralize, synchronize, and secure inventory data from multiple warehouses and logistics systems.

In a modern approach like the one offered by Spacefill, an IMS does more than simply aggregate quantities. It becomes a shared source of truth, accessible to brands, logistics providers, and business tools (OMS, ERP, sales channels).

A high-performing IMS enables companies to:

  • consolidate multi-warehouse inventory
  • synchronize data from multiple WMS systems
  • provide real-time visibility into stock levels
  • ensure reliable inventory data for OMS systems
  • automatically synchronize inventory across all sales channels (e-commerce, marketplaces, B2B)

This last capability is often underestimated, even though it addresses a major challenge: preventing overselling, false stockouts, and revenue loss caused by inaccurate inventory data.

Why the Best IMS Depends on Your Logistics Model

In a centralized environment, a basic IMS may be sufficient.

But as soon as logistics operations are outsourced, limitations quickly emerge.

Companies often need to manage:

  • multiple 3PL providers
  • multiple WMS systems
  • inventory distributed across different sites
  • both B2B and B2C flows

In this context, the challenge is no longer simply knowing a stock level. It is about reconciling heterogeneous environments without increasing operational complexity.

The best IMS is therefore one that adapts to operational reality, connects to existing systems, and creates a unified inventory view without imposing a single tool across all partners.

The Limits of Traditional IMS Solutions

Many IMS platforms were designed for centralized logistics organizations.

They often assume:

  • a limited number of warehouses
  • homogeneous systems
  • minimal interaction with external partners

In multi-3PL environments, these assumptions quickly become problematic. Teams still need to manually consolidate data, multiply Excel exports, and manage discrepancies between theoretical and actual stock.

The result:

  • risk of overselling
  • unnecessary stockouts
  • lack of visibility on outsourced inventory
  • commercial decisions based on incomplete data

Spacefill: An IMS Designed for Multi-3PL Environments

Spacefill follows a “connect-and-orchestrate” approach.

Rather than replacing existing WMS systems, Spacefill connects directly to logistics providers’ systems to consolidate inventory in real time.

Concretely, Spacefill enables companies to:

  • synchronize multi-warehouse inventory in real time
  • centralize data from multiple 3PLs
  • provide shared visibility between brands and logistics partners
  • reduce discrepancies between theoretical and actual stock
  • feed OMS systems with reliable inventory data
  • automatically distribute stock levels across all sales channels

The goal is not to add another layer of complexity, but to create a unified and actionable inventory view.

IMS and OMS: A Strategic Synergy

At Spacefill, inventory management and order orchestration are designed to work together.

With consolidated inventory data powered by Spacefill, an OMS can:

  • route orders to the appropriate warehouse

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