A More Composable Approach to Supply Chain Execution

In supply chain, change is the one thing you can count on. Leaders need execution technology that allows teams to adapt quickly, grows with the business, and keep operations steady when disruptions hit. However, they are often faced with two (not so ideal) options when it comes to new software: buy too much or buy too little.

Buying enterprise-level software with more functionality than what the operation needs creates unnecessary costs and complexity. However, too little can limit growth, create workarounds, and delay modernization. A better approach aligns supply chain execution capabilities with current operational needs while preserving a clear path to scale. That is the opportunity behind Editions for Manhattan Active® solutions.

For a broader introduction to the Editions model, read Editions for Manhattan Active® Solutions: Supply Chain Software that Grows with You. 

Gartner Sees a Shift Toward Composable Supply Chain Execution 

In its research note, First Take: Supply Chain Execution Technology Takes a Big Step Toward Composability, Gartner describes growing demand for composable supply chain execution technology. The analysis, authored by Gartner’s supply chain analysts Simon Tunstall, Brock Johns, Chap Achen, Ed Smith, Federica Stufano, Oscar Sanchez Duran, says Manhattan’s offering, aligned to operational complexity, signals a shift toward “more affordable and scalable SCE."

Gartner also describes the market direction as a move toward “strategic selection, composability, and adaptability” rather than one-size-fits-all applications. This shift reflects what many supply chain leaders expect from technology. As Gartner writes, they want to “more easily buy what they need — and only what they need” while maintaining flexibility as operational complexity changes.

The implication is straightforward: supply chain execution technology should support the business a company operates today, and the business it expects to build tomorrow.

One Unified Platform, More Choice in How Customers Scale

Editions give organizations a clearer way to align functional capabilities, operational complexity, and investment. Businesses can select the Manhattan offering at the right starting point and add capabilities as their requirements evolve.

Gartner describes the model as a solution structure designed to help offerings “scale with operational complexity on a unified platform.”

This matters because operational complexity rarely increases evenly across a network. One distribution center may require core warehouse execution. Another may need advanced automation, constrained-resource planning and complex shipment orchestration. A transportation network may require sophisticated planning and visibility while its facilities use different levels of warehouse automation. A composable approach lets organizations address those differences without treating every operation as if it has the same requirements.

For example, Editions for ActiveWarehouse™ allows customers to match warehouse execution capabilities to the complexity of their operations. 

Establish the Execution Foundation

Essentials supports core warehouse execution for operations that need reliable, scalable processes across receiving, putaway, replenishment, picking, packing, staging, loading and core cross-dock flows. 

It provides a practical starting point for organizations to modernize a single-channel facility or establish a consistent execution foundation across their network.

Add Operational Depth 

The Enterprise edition of ActiveWarehouse adds capabilities for businesses that manage more complex, multichannel or multi-site operations. These environments may require deeper support for appointments, inbound quality, batch and serial tracking, pack operations, value-added services, compliance, and labor throughput. 

The focus is broader operational control across facilities, channels, and workflows. Enterprise edition helps organizations manage more variation while maintaining consistent execution processes across facilities and channels. 

Orchestrate Complex Execution 

Enterprise Premier edition includes advanced orchestration and optimization for complex, automated distribution networks. Capabilities include order streaming, resource-constrained work release, automated putwalls, dynamic replenishment prioritization, shipment orchestration, advanced rating and cubing.  

This level supports operations that need to coordinate people, automation, inventory, capacity, and transportation requirements as workflows through the network.  

The result is a clearer connection between technology investment and operational need. Customers can select the level of execution capability that fits their environment rather than paying for functionality they may not use.  

Connecting Warehouse and Transportation Execution

Supply chain execution does not stop at the warehouse door. Warehouse activity affects shipment readiness, appointment timing, trailer utilization, and transportation plans. Transportation changes can affect warehouse labor, staging capacity, and fulfillment priorities.

ActiveTransportation™ supports the transportation execution lifecycle across planning, dispatch, and modeling. When it works with ActiveWarehouse™, transportation plans can align more closely with warehouse capacity, cutoffs, processing constraints, and execution events.

Together, the solutions help organizations manage execution as a coordinated flow rather than a series of disconnected decisions. It also provides the business teams with a stronger foundation for responding to delays, capacity constraints, and changing customer requirements.

Gartner recommends that buyers request a detailed Editions feature matrix and confirm that bundles can be “mixed and matched to varying complexities across their supply chain execution domains.”

That guidance reinforces an important principle: Edition selection should begin with the customer’s operating requirements, not with a product label.

Scale Operations Without Unnecessary Complexity

The value of composability is a more precise starting decision and with flexibility to adapt as the operation changes.

Organizations can begin with the capabilities required for their current operating model. As the network adds facilities, channels, automation, compliance requirements or complexity, they can evaluate the next level of capability on the same ActivePlatform.

For example, with editions for ActiveWarehouse and ActiveTransportation, organizations can select the level that best fits the current state of their warehouse and transportation operations, then scale as their business grows without an expensive, time-consuming re-platforming.

This model can help reduce the need to pay for unused functionality, simplify investment decisions, and support more deliberate modernization. It also gives business and IT leaders a common framework for discussing current needs, future requirements, implementation scope, and expected value.

Gartner’s First Take: Supply Chain Execution Technology Takes a Big Step Toward Composability, offers a useful buyer lens: organizations should map current and future needs to the available Editions, scrutinize implementation and integration requirements, and validate the feature matrix before making a decision.

Supply Chain Execution That Stays Always Ahead

Supply chain leaders need execution technology that reflects the complexity of their operations without forcing every facility into the same model.

Editions provide a structured way to make that choice. Essentials supports core execution. Enterprise adds broader operational depth. Enterprise Premier provides advanced orchestration and optimization.

Together, these options help organizations build a supply chain execution environment that fits their business today and adapts as requirements change.

That is the value of a more composable approach to supply chain execution: the right capabilities for the operation, on a unified platform, with room to scale.

This article references Gartner, First Take: Supply Chain Execution Technology Takes a Big Step Toward Composability, ID G00860892, published 5 August 2026.  Gartner’s First Take represents an initial analysis and may change as offerings evolve Gartner does not endorse any company, vendor, product or service depicted in its publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s business and technology insights organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this publication, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.