Go-Live Confidence Starts Before Kickoff
Most WMS implementations struggle not because of the system, but because of what is missed before implementation begins. We help you get it right early, so execution becomes faster, smoother, and more predictable.
Why WMS Implementations Go Off Track
Even with the right platform, implementations can slow down due to:
Misaligned business and system requirements
Late discovery of integration gaps
Lack of stakeholder alignment
Unclear priorities across teams
These issues don't appear during go-live, they start much earlier.
How a Phase Zero Engagement Runs
A structured pre-implementation engagement, typically five to nine weeks, ending with a scope baseline your stakeholders have signed off.
Discovery and Current State
- Current-state process map
- Operational pain point log
- Systems and data source inventory
Process Education Workshops
- Manhattan Active® process walkthrough sessions
- Documented decision log per workshop
Gap Analysis and Prioritization
- Fit-gap register with dispositions
- Prioritized requirements backlog
- Extension and integration candidate list
Alignment and Roadmap
- Signed-off scope baseline
- Implementation readiness roadmap
- Risk and assumption register
Our Phase Zero Approach
We help you address these challenges before implementation begins, so your WMS rollout is built on clarity, not assumptions.
Organizational Readiness & Change Management
Align your teams early, ensuring everyone understands what is changing and how it impacts operations.
Business Process Education & Workshops
Bring clarity to how your warehouse processes map to the system, before decisions are locked in.
Current-State Gap Analysis
Identify what is working, what is not, and where improvements are needed.
Extension & Integration Review
Evaluate integrations and custom requirements early to avoid surprises later.
Requirements Prioritization
Focus on what matters most, so your implementation stays aligned with business outcomes.
Stakeholder Alignment
Ensure all teams are aligned on goals, timelines, and expectations from the start.
How Everest delivers Manhattan Active® Phase Zero
We start by understanding how your warehouse operates today, where delays happen, where visibility is missing, and where decisions slow you down.
From there, we guide you through a structured Phase Zero that brings clarity, alignment, and direction, so when implementation begins, everything is already in place.
What Phase Zero changes for the business
- Fewer surprises once implementation starts
- Better alignment across teams
- Reduced complexity during rollout
- Stronger long-term system performance
What You Get When the Foundation Is Right
With the right foundation in place, you can:
Discover Phase Zero Benefits- Reduce implementation risks
- Avoid rework and delays
- Improve system adoption
- Align technology with real operations
- Move into go-live with confidence
Phase Zero Backed by Full Rollouts
Since 1997 we have delivered 150+ enterprise warehouse, transportation, and order management programs, so our pre-implementation workshops surface the gaps that quietly derail rollouts.
- Since 1997Supply chain programs that sharpen Phase Zero
- 150+Programs revealing where requirements break early
- PlatinumManhattan Platinum Partner running your workshops
Frequently Asked Questions
Phase Zero is the pre-implementation stage where we align business processes, system requirements, integrations, and stakeholders before actual development begins. It helps reduce risks and ensures the implementation starts with clarity instead of assumptions.
Manhattan Active® WMS is a powerful platform, but its success depends on how well it is aligned with your operations. Phase Zero ensures your processes, integrations, and priorities are clearly defined before configuration begins.
Common issues include misaligned requirements, late discovery of integration gaps, rework during testing, and delays in go-live. These problems often increase cost and impact adoption.
Scope is driven by the number of sites in play, how much of the process is already documented, the integration surface across ERP, OMS and TMS, and how far current operations have drifted from how the platform is built to run. We size it against your operation and agree the scope up front, so you know what is being assessed before any work starts.
Key stakeholders across operations, IT, supply chain, and leadership should be involved. Early alignment across these groups helps avoid confusion and delays later in the project.
Yes. We review integrations, extensions, and custom requirements early in the process to identify dependencies and avoid surprises during implementation.
By identifying gaps, aligning stakeholders, and prioritizing requirements upfront, Phase Zero reduces last-minute issues and ensures a smoother, more predictable go-live.
Yes. Even if your project has already started, Phase Zero principles can be applied to realign teams, address gaps, and bring the implementation back on track.
Start Your WMS Journey the Right Way
Getting the foundation right makes everything else easier.
Let's Talk