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The difference between IMS, WMS, ERP, BI, and Inact

Written by Anna Ellegaard Buhl | 15. December 2025

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Do you actually understand the difference between ERP, BI, IMS, WMS, and Inact?

It can be difficult to navigate the different system types in the supply chain landscape.

And most companies lack a clear understanding of exactly where the best investment lies.

You already have an ERP system. Perhaps also an IMS, WMS, and BI dashboards.

Data is pulled from the ERP.

Inventory data is fetched from the IMS.

BI displays a dashboard.

And in the end, it's all compiled manually in Excel.

The systems have the data.

But they don't necessarily give you the answer.

And that's precisely where many companies are left without the most important thing:

Insight into where value is created – and where it disappears.