WorthKnowing: WHS vs WMS Prefixes in D365FO Warehouse Management

Hi folks,

If you've worked with Warehouse Management in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO), you might have come across two different prefixes in the system: WHS and WMS. Ever wondered why both exist and what they signify? Let’s break it down.

The Basics: WHS vs WMS

Both WHS and WMS stand for Warehouse Management System, but they refer to different generations of warehouse management solutions within Microsoft Dynamics.

WMS – The Legacy System

Objects prefixed with WMS belong to the legacy warehouse management system, which was part of earlier AX versions. This system supports basic warehouse operations, such as:

• Inventory location tracking
• Simple picking and receiving
• Basic location control

Examples of WMS objects:

• WMSLocation – Stores warehouse locations
• WMSOrderTrans, WMSJournalTable, etc.

While functional, the legacy WMS lacks the flexibility and scalability required for complex warehouse scenarios. It’s generally not recommended for new implementations.

WHS – The Advanced System

With the release of AX 2012 R3, Microsoft introduced a more robust and feature-rich warehouse management solution, which continues to evolve in D365FO. Objects prefixed with WHS are part of this advanced warehouse management system, designed to handle complex warehouse processes, including:

• Mobile device integration
• Work creation and execution (e.g., picking, putaway)
• Location directives, work templates, and wave processing

Examples of WHS objects:

• WHSWorkTable – Stores work headers
• WHSWorkLine – Stores work lines
• WHSInventEnabled, WHSParameters, etc.

This system is highly configurable and supports modern warehouse operations across industries.

Summary

• Use WHS objects for advanced, scalable warehouse management in D365FO.
• WMS objects are legacy and suitable only for basic scenarios or backward compatibility.

Understanding the distinction between WHS and WMS helps ensure you're building solutions on the right foundation, especially when designing or extending warehouse functionality in D365FO.

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