In the 19th century, Jesse Hartley and Philip Hardwick designed a sophisticated network of docks and warehouses that revolutionized warehousing.  Built in the mid 1800’s, it consisted of dock buildings that took in ship’s cargo and then stored it their massive network of warehouses.  The warehouses held goods like cotton, tobacco, tea, silk, ivory, sugar, even brandy.  It was open yet secure and changed the way shipping and storage was brought into a country.  Another unique feature of the Albert Dock system was that it was build primarily of cast iron, brick and stone, using very little wood.  This made it not only enormously durable.  Equally important, it established an early tradition of what would later become very commonplace equipment in modern-day warehouses – that of using large metal shelving on which to store inventory items. This feature can’t be overstated as all important warehouses in the 21st century rely on metal shelves.  They are strong and can be constructed to hold massive weights and product heights.  Albert dock also used hydraulic cranes to move cargo which again, established an innovation for logistics functions.  During World War II the Albert Dock network was requisitioned by the British Navy, damaged during the war but ultimately outgrew its own innovation.  Docks and warehouses needed to more open and later Albert dock uses changed. Ultimately, it become a tourist destination comprised of restaurants, retail shops, and a museum.

Target, Inc. – moving inventory on a global scale

Unlike Wal-Mart or Ikea, Target Stores utilize a large network of modern day warehousing, either owned or outsourced, depending on geographic area of the world and market establishment or entry.  Since Target’s beginnings in the early 1960’s, they have expanded to the monolithic retailer seen today.  Drawing on more conventional warehouse and inventory distribution protocols, they demonstrate significant innovation in their own right. Target manages four import facilities in the U.S. managed by wms software that further moves inventory to fulfillment centers, of which there are also four.  As mentioned, they also rely on 3PL warehouse or subsidiary fulfillment networks to move specialty items like food or other perishables.

Warehouse systems they draw on include SuperValu, FreshPack Produce, C & S Whole Grocers and PFresh.  Target has plans to replace some, possibly all, of the fulfillment warehouse functions of these vendors in the future.  However, the tradition of utilizing a combination of wholly owned and 3PL (or subsidiary warehouse networks) is an important example of other large international corporations, all of which must rely on sophisticated warehouse software. In fact, the accessibility, accuracy and robust functionality of any wms software system is essential to manage storage, inventory, inbound and outbound logistics functions, whether it’s a proprietary system or web-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) program managing multiple customers. 


From important warehouse pioneers like Albert Dock to contemporary Target Inc. who uses a sophisticated network of vendors around the globe, warehouse software is essential in any modern day operation.  For additional information on wms software management, visit www.3PLCentral.com for details.

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