Interwarehouse

Interwarehouse is a term used in logistics and supply chain management to describe operations, movements, and processes that occur between multiple warehouses within a single network or organization. It encompasses the planning, execution, and control of goods transfers from one facility to another, to balance inventory, meet demand across regions, and optimize overall network performance. Interwarehouse activities include interfacility stock transfers, cross-docking between warehouses, consolidation or deconsolidation of shipments, and the rerouting of inbound and outbound flows.

Operations are typically supported by integrated information systems such as warehouse management systems, enterprise resource planning, and transportation management systems, enabling visibility, sequencing, and measurement across sites. Key tasks include demand synchronization across facilities, inventory allocation, transfer planning, capacity management, and performance monitoring using metrics like service level, fill rate, inventory turns, and interfacility transport cost.

Benefits include improved service levels, reduced stockouts, more efficient use of warehouse space, faster replenishment, and lower total distribution costs. Interwarehouse networks can support seasonal demand, omnichannel fulfillment, and international operations by enabling centralized planning and regional execution.

Challenges involve data quality, system integration, transfer lead times, transportation costs, and complex regulatory or tariff considerations in cross-border transfers. Effective interwarehouse management requires clear governance, standardized processes, and reliable data to optimize the flow of goods within a multi-warehouse network.

See also: cross-docking, multi-echelon inventory, network design.