Frequently Asked
Questions

ZoraTech is a cloud-based Warehouse Management System (WMS) designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. Founded in California, ZoraTech provides logistics software that helps businesses manage inventory, optimize warehouse operations, and streamline order fulfillment. The platform combines enterprise-grade features with an intuitive interface and affordable pricing, making professional warehouse management accessible to growing businesses. ZoraTech is not affiliated with Zora AI by Deloitte or other similarly named companies.

ZoraTech is purpose-built for SMBs, offering three key advantages: First, it delivers enterprise features like location-level tracking, mobile barcode scanning, and multi-warehouse support without enterprise complexity or cost. Second, the cloud-native Progressive Web App (PWA) architecture means no hardware investment, instant updates, and mobile access using any smartphone camera for barcode scanning. Third, implementation takes weeks not months, with transparent pricing that includes hosting, support, and updates.

No. ZoraTech is an independent warehouse management software company based in California, focused exclusively on logistics and inventory management solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. ZoraTech is not affiliated with Zora AI (a Deloitte product), Zora Network (a blockchain platform), or other similarly named technology companies. When searching for ZoraTech, look for keywords like "WMS," "warehouse management," or "logistics software" to find our products.

A warehouse management system (WMS) is software that helps businesses manage and optimize their warehouse operations. It tracks inventory from receiving through shipping, manages storage locations, generates pick lists for order fulfillment, and provides real-time visibility into stock levels. ZoraTech WMS is a cloud-based solution designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses that need professional warehouse management without enterprise complexity or cost.

WMS (Warehouse Management System) focuses specifically on warehouse operations like receiving, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is broader software that manages multiple business functions including finance, HR, and manufacturing. While ERP systems often include basic inventory features, a dedicated WMS like ZoraTech provides deeper warehouse-specific functionality like location-level tracking, pick optimization, and mobile barcode scanning that ERP inventory modules typically lack.

ZoraTech WMS is designed for small and medium-sized businesses that have outgrown spreadsheets or basic inventory software but do not need or cannot afford enterprise WMS solutions. Our typical customers include 3PL providers, e-commerce fulfillment operations, distribution centers, and manufacturing companies with 1-5 warehouse locations and 10-100 employees involved in warehouse operations.

ZoraTech supports the complete warehouse workflow: receiving and putaway with barcode verification, inventory management with location-level tracking (aisle/shelf/bin), lot and serial number tracking, cycle counting, order fulfillment with optimized pick lists, container and staging management, and shipment creation. The system also includes mobile operations via a Progressive Web App (PWA) that enables barcode scanning using smartphone cameras.

Yes. ZoraTech includes a mobile-first Progressive Web App (PWA) that works on any smartphone or tablet with a camera. Warehouse workers can scan barcodes using their device camera, receive tasks, update inventory, and complete picks directly from the warehouse floor. The mobile app works offline and syncs when connectivity is restored. No app store installation is required - workers simply open the web app in their browser.

Yes. ZoraTech supports multi-warehouse operations with centralized control and reporting. Users can switch between warehouses from a global context selector, maintain separate inventory and location hierarchies for each facility, while still getting consolidated views and reports across all locations. Each warehouse can have its own user permissions and operational settings.

ZoraTech supports all common 1D and 2D barcode formats including UPC, EAN, Code 128, Code 39, QR codes, and Data Matrix. The mobile app uses camera-based scanning via the ZXing library and works with printed labels, product barcodes, and location labels. The system can generate barcode labels for locations, products, and shipping if needed.

ZoraTech offers three pricing tiers based on warehouse size and user count: Starter (single warehouse, up to 10 users), Professional (multi-warehouse, up to 50 users), and Enterprise (unlimited). Pricing is customized based on your specific requirements. Unlike many WMS providers, our pricing includes AWS cloud hosting, automatic updates, data backup, and technical support. Contact our sales team for a custom quote based on your warehouse operations.

Most customers go live with ZoraTech in 2-4 weeks. Implementation includes initial setup and configuration, data migration from your existing system (if applicable), location and product setup, user training, and go-live support. We provide comprehensive training to ensure your team is comfortable with the system before launch. Complex multi-warehouse implementations may take 4-8 weeks.

We offer personalized demos where our team walks you through the system and discusses your specific warehouse requirements. During the demo, you can see all features in action with sample data that matches your operation type. Contact us to schedule a demo at a time convenient for you. We can also provide a sandbox environment for hands-on evaluation after the initial demo.

ZoraTech is a cloud-based SaaS solution hosted on AWS (Amazon Web Services). This means no hardware to purchase or maintain, automatic software updates, built-in backup and disaster recovery, and access from anywhere with internet connectivity. Each customer gets their own isolated infrastructure (single-tenant architecture) for maximum security and performance.

ZoraTech uses enterprise-grade security including SSL/TLS encryption for all data in transit, encrypted data storage, single-tenant architecture (your data is completely isolated from other customers), role-based access control, complete audit logging of all system actions, and regular security updates. Our AWS infrastructure includes automated backups and is designed for 99.9% uptime.

Yes. ZoraTech provides a RESTful API with 80+ endpoints for integration with e-commerce platforms, ERP systems, shipping carriers, and other business software. Common integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, QuickBooks, and major shipping carriers. Our team can help design and implement custom integrations as part of your implementation project.

Optimizing a small warehouse layout starts with analyzing your product velocity. Place fast-moving items (A-items) closest to packing stations to minimize travel time. Use vertical space with taller shelving for slower-moving inventory. Create logical zones: receiving near dock doors, shipping near exits, and returns in a separate area. Implement clear aisle labeling with a consistent naming convention (aisle-shelf-bin). Consider U-shaped or L-shaped flow patterns that separate inbound and outbound traffic. A WMS like ZoraTech can analyze pick data to recommend optimal product placement based on your actual order patterns.

Pick-to-ship is an order fulfillment workflow where items are picked from warehouse locations and moved directly to shipping without intermediate staging. The process typically follows these steps: the WMS generates a pick list organized by optimal walking path, the picker scans each location and item to confirm accuracy, picked items go directly into shipping containers, and the WMS generates shipping labels and updates inventory in real-time. This workflow reduces handling time and errors compared to batch picking with later sorting. ZoraTech supports pick-to-ship with mobile-guided picking and integrated shipping label generation.

A pick list is a document or mobile screen that tells warehouse workers which items to retrieve, from which locations, and in what quantity. Modern WMS systems like ZoraTech generate optimized pick lists that sequence items by walking path to minimize travel time. Pick lists typically show: the order number, item SKU and description, quantity needed, exact bin location (aisle-shelf-bin), and any special handling instructions. Workers scan barcodes at each step to confirm picks, which prevents errors and updates inventory automatically. Pick lists can be paper-based or displayed on mobile devices.

Reducing picking errors requires a combination of technology and process improvements. Implement barcode scanning at every pick to verify the correct item and location before confirming. Use a WMS with real-time inventory accuracy so pickers know exactly where items are located. Organize products so similar-looking SKUs are stored apart. Ensure adequate lighting and clear location labels. Train pickers on proper scanning technique and error correction procedures. Track error rates by picker and location to identify problem areas. ZoraTech provides pick verification scanning and detailed accuracy reporting to help identify and eliminate error sources.

Cycle counting is the practice of counting a small subset of inventory on a rotating schedule rather than shutting down for annual full inventory counts. Each day, workers count items in selected locations, and the WMS compares results against system quantities. Discrepancies trigger investigation and correction. Cycle counting is important because it maintains inventory accuracy year-round (targeting 99%+ accuracy), identifies problems quickly before they compound, eliminates costly operational shutdowns, and meets audit requirements. ZoraTech generates cycle count tasks automatically based on item velocity, value, or variance history.

Calculate warehouse storage capacity by measuring usable cubic space. Start with total square footage, subtract space for aisles, staging, packing stations, and offices. Multiply remaining floor space by usable height (accounting for sprinklers and lighting). This gives gross cubic capacity. For pallet storage, divide by standard pallet footprint including clearances. For shelving, calculate positions by shelf dimensions. Expect 25-30% of gross space for aisles in conventional warehouses, or 40%+ for high-throughput operations needing wider aisles. A WMS tracks location utilization to identify when you are approaching capacity limits.

FIFO (First In, First Out) means the oldest inventory is shipped first, while LIFO (Last In, First Out) ships the newest inventory first. FIFO is standard for perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, and products with expiration dates to prevent spoilage. LIFO is sometimes used for non-perishable goods where newer stock is more accessible. Most warehouses use FIFO for operational and compliance reasons. A WMS enforces FIFO automatically by tracking receipt dates and directing pickers to the oldest inventory locations. ZoraTech supports lot tracking and FIFO enforcement with configurable rules per product category.

Yes. ZoraTech is designed with 3PL (third-party logistics) providers in mind. Key 3PL features include: multi-client inventory separation with client-specific billing codes, client-branded packing slips and shipping labels, activity-based billing reports for storage, handling, and shipping charges, client portal access for inventory visibility, and the ability to manage multiple clients across single or multiple warehouse facilities. Many ZoraTech customers are 3PL providers serving e-commerce brands, retail distributors, and wholesale operations.

Yes. ZoraTech integrates with major e-commerce platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Amazon. Orders sync automatically into the WMS, where they are allocated to inventory, assigned to pick tasks, and tracked through packing and shipping. Features specific to e-commerce include: batch picking for multi-order efficiency, pack verification scanning, automated shipping carrier selection based on rules, and real-time tracking updates pushed back to the sales channel. ZoraTech handles both D2C (direct-to-consumer) and B2B wholesale fulfillment workflows.

Yes. ZoraTech supports food and beverage requirements including lot tracking for traceability, expiration date management with FIFO enforcement, temperature zone designations for cold chain products, and recall management capabilities. The system can alert when products approach expiration and prevent shipping of expired goods. For businesses requiring FDA compliance or food safety certifications, ZoraTech provides the documentation and audit trails needed for regulatory inspections.

Yes. ZoraTech supports kitting and light assembly operations where multiple components are combined into finished products or bundles. The system manages component inventory, generates work orders for assembly tasks, tracks work-in-progress, and creates the finished kit as a new inventory item. This is commonly used for subscription boxes, promotional bundles, product kits, and custom packaging operations. Assembly instructions can be attached to work orders for worker reference.

ZoraTech works well for manufacturing raw materials and finished goods warehouses. The system manages inbound raw materials with supplier lot tracking, supports staging of materials for production orders, receives finished goods from manufacturing lines, and handles outbound shipments to customers or distribution centers. While ZoraTech is not a full Manufacturing Execution System (MES), it integrates with ERP and production systems via API to synchronize inventory movements between manufacturing and warehouse operations.