Order picking is one of the most important activities you do in your warehouse operation. It has a direct impact on both productivity and customer satisfaction. But even in the best-designed warehouses, challenges like occasional errors, safety risks, and the pressure to be on time are common. And let’s face it – a small mistake by an order picker can potentially spell disaster for your customers. By integrating voice picking technology, your warehouse can see significant improvements in these areas. Thus creating a faster, safer, and more accurate order-picking process.

The problems with traditional order picking

Traditional order picking is a high-demand, high-speed task. It requires a unique balance between speed and accuracy. Errors can happen when pickers misread lists, pick the wrong items, or forget items altogether. This can easily lead to customer dissatisfaction. Additionally, with eyes glued to screens or paper lists, they are often at a higher risk of accidents, both for themselves and for valuable goods. This is why you need a solution that reduces both errors and risks.

“By integrating voice picking into our picking process, our warehouse employees work more safely and productively, and fewer mistakes are made. This allows us to handle the high volumes our customers rely on with guaranteed quality.”

– Paul van Noortwijk, Director Information Systems NL at STEF.

How voice picking transforms order processing

Voice picking is a streamlined alternative that allows pickers to operate hands-free. All your pickers need is a pair of headsets and a microphone. Equipped with a headset and microphone, pickers receive real-time verbal instructions, guiding them to the exact item and location within the warehouse. This solution allows workers to confirm actions verbally, keeping their hands and eyes free to focus on safe, accurate picking.

The strengths of Voice Picking:

  • Faster Onboarding: By giving speaking orders, the system works completely intuitively. Therefore you do not need any complex training methods anymore to train your employees. This drastically reduces training time. New hires, including temporary staff, can begin picking orders very quickly.
  • Higher Productivity: With voice instructions, workers can focus solely on actual order picking, boosting productivity and efficiency.
  • Reduced Error Rate: Voice picking reduces errors thanks to real-time check digits and verbal confirmation, ensuring accuracy from start to finish.

Voice Picking in action

Linked to 3PL Dynamics’ Warehouse Management system, voice picking provides seamless communication. As your employees follow the verbal prompts, our WMS monitors each pick in real-time, correcting errors immediately and tracking inventory levels to optimize stock and replenish items as needed. This integration ensures that each pick is accurate, reducing error margins and improving the speed at which you process orders.

A Future-Ready Solution

Voice-enabled technology takes user interaction to the next level. That’s why its use in the warehouse is only expected to grow. As more warehouses adopt AI-driven, hands-free solutions, paper lists, and hand-held scanners are better left in the past.

Warehousing: All ins and outs under control

Your warehouse is the cornerstone of your logistics operation. Where you fulfil your customers’ logistics needs. Of course, you want to do that to the best of your ability. Therefore, a state-of-the-art WMS is critical for your current and future success. Boltrics’ Warehouse Management software for 3PL logistics helps you win.