Voice Picking System

Millions of cartons and products are picked each day using voice picking systems. These real-time systems are saving thousands of dollars by improving workers productivity and reducing mispick costs.

Where it fits

Voice-picking systems are designed to service fast-medium and medium-slow split case and full case products, making them a flexible choice for order fulfilment.

Use of the technology has shown standards-based picking rates to increase by around 15%, with error rates slashed to one-tenth of a percent or less. The cost of voice-picking systems depends on the number of operators, which makes it an economical choice, where there are a large number of SKUs to be serviced.

The benefits of voice-picking

By providing eyes-free, hands-free operation, workers are able to hear instructions and perform tasks without having to look down at a hand-held computer screen display or fumble with a pack of picking
labels. The voice computer interacts in real-time with the host computer or WMS via an RF link, prompting the operator through a task with audible commands and waiting for a verbal confirmation or request.

Productivity increases as operators hear their next location upon confirming the last completed pick. To verify they have reached the correct location, pickers read a randomly assigned check digit at the slot location.

Split case voice picking applications have also been fully integrated into routing and sortation systems. Missed picks are automatically re-diverted to the correct picking zone and short-picked orders are automatically diverted to QA areas.

Split case applications also allow for multiple orders to be batched together for more efficient picking of small orders in pick modules. Alternately, multiple orders can be batched to a cart, to handle the slowest moving area within a warehouse.

Benefits Summary

• Hands-free eyes free picking
• Improved picking productivity up to 15%
• Improved picking accuracy up to 99.9%
• Reduced operator training time