Many warehouses in the United States are still using RF or paper based order picking solutions, despite the huge efficiencies and expense decreases that are possible with automated picking solutions. In fact, only about 20% of storage facilities across the country use advanced solutions like voice directed or pick to light systems. These kinds of systems can have a remarkable effect on profitability.

The Business Case For Automated Picking Systems

In the majority of facilities, picking is a laborious job where a picker gets a physical paper list of instructions detailing the products to be picked and their specific locations. They proceed to the designated storage location, evaluate their paper list to determine how many items they need from that pick face, get the products, check the product off of the list, and then transport the items for fulfillment.

Just moving around a warehouse can use up to 65% of a manual order picker's day as they walk or ride about the building. These inefficiencies make order picking the most labor-intensive task in a conventional warehouse. In a lot of cases, more than half of a typical storage facility's operating costs can be linked to order fulfillment. That number is effectively increasing as e-com spurs even more picking demand from storage facilities.

Almost all storage facilities have at least some picking requirements. Almost 50% handle a mixture of pallets, cases, split cases and pieces. Less than 10% of all warehouses throughout the country manage strictly entire pallet orders. And although the majority of storage facilities bear massive picking expenses, only 20% have actually moved beyond conventional RF and paper-based picking systems.

Innovations in Picking Technology

In the last ten years there have actually been excellent advances in picking technology, varying from IoT+ RFID to enhanced reality smart glasses. The 2 most prevalent and developed innovations, however, are light directed and voice directed picking options. Each has a convincing use case in certain scenarios, and some warehouses even use both methods.

Fully implementing technology-based picking solutions can be capital intensive. ROI models for picking automation can be convincing. The majority of projects have a rapid payback and can create substantial cost reductions in labor and pick errors for many years to come. A 2018 research study showed that businesses that utilized voice, light or RFID based picking solutions lowered pick errors by approximately 67%.

Pick To Light

Pick to light systems are ideal for zone picking or high order volume, high speed warehouses. Racks are furnished with LEDs that indicate pick quantities and slots, and workers tap these lights to validate picks and quantities as they make their way down a pick route.

Light directed systems are not as flexible and more expensive than voice directed solutions, but implemented effectively they can considerably improve picking speed and accuracy. According to MHI, most pick to light implementations achieve an average of 30-50% in pick rate performance.

Voice Picking System

Voice picking solutions are ideal for warehouses that stock a greater assortment of SKUs spread across larger warehouses. Employees can move about a building hands-free--they don't need to carry a portable device or sheet of paper.

Picking directives are communicated by the warehouse management system through an earpiece or headset, and the order-picker replies verbally to validate each pick. There is no equipment to hold, no screens to read, no barcodes to scan, and no verification buttons to click. The whole process is performed through voice commands and spoken verification.

Order Picking Automation Systems Near Me

If you would like more details on order picking innovation for your operation, call an Associated automation specialist today!

The Associated Milwaukee service area includes Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, Janesville, West Allis, La Crosse, Sheboygan, Wauwatosa, Fond du Lac, New Berlin, Wausau, Brookfield, Beloit, Greenfield and all surrounding areas.

Associated | Milwaukee Material Handling Equipment Supplier

N102W19300 Willow Crk Wy Suite B
Germantown, WI 53022
(800) 354-7502