How Voice Picking Is Increasing Warehouse Productivity & Accuracy
Distribution centers (DCs) and third-party logistics (3PL) companies are under increasing pressure to accomplish faster accurate fulfillment. In fact, 57% of organizations consider effective supply chain management, enabled by the right tools for the job, as a competitive advantage. As high-volume DCs and warehouses look for ways to meet expectations while addressing continually evolving customer expectations and growing SKU volumes, they often identify picking as a common challenge, which typically accounts for 50%-75% of warehouse costs. The best use of warehouse space and the optimal picking methodology are essential to efficiency. However, DCs and 3PLs can still fall short of efficiency and accuracy goals, leading to higher-than-necessary costs and decreased customer satisfaction. Fortunately, voice picking offers an effective, user-friendly solution.
The Advantages of Voice Picking over Traditional Methods
Implementing a pick-to-voice system streamlines workflows. It eliminates paper pick orders and the need for handheld mobile computers, leaving employees’ hands free to work more quickly and safely. Voice picking solutions allow employees to receive pick orders via headsets. The solutions also direct pickers to the locations where they can find the correct items in the right quantities, increasing picking speed and accuracy.
Additionally, when integrated with a warehouse management system (WMS), DCs and 3PLs can gain company-wide efficiency. Pickers scan barcoded items with a ring or wrist scanner, communicating with the WMS that tasks are complete in real time and updating inventory data. Then, the system immediately directs the picker to the next job, eliminating the time and effort of walking back and forth to get paper orders.
Artificial intelligence (AI) can take pick by voice systems to an even greater level of efficiency. AI can analyze data on orders, inventory, and pickers’ current locations to determine the best routes through the warehouse for the greatest efficiency, even when fulfilling large numbers of orders that include diverse items. An intelligent pick-by-voice solution acts as a voice assistant, giving employees the information and guidance they need to optimize their productivity and performance.
How Pick to Voice Improves Warehouse KPIs
When a pick-to-voice solution is tailored to a DC or warehouse’s specific processes and policies, the organization will benefit with ROI in several areas. Honeywell research has found that voice picking:
● Increases productivity by 30%
● Reduces picking errors by 80% to achieve a 99+% accuracy rate
Honeywell also calculated how much greater accuracy can mean to organizations in dollars and cents. For example, if a wholesaler picks 500,000 cases per week and has an error rate of two per thousand, then the organization will deal with about 50,000 errors per year. If the cost per error, including identification, managing credit claims, the lost profit on the sale, and transportation costs, is $15 per error, the total costs addressing them is $750,000 per year. Reducing the error rate to 0.4 per thousand with voice picking lowers the number of errors to 10,000 per year and the associated costs to $150,000.
In addition to helping employees work faster and more accurately, these solutions give DCs and 3PLs the advantage of collecting data from digitized picking processes. Implementing these systems allows organizations to analyze this data for informed decision-making for more effective inventory and operation management. DCs and warehouses can also share data from pick-to-voice solutions with labor management systems or business intelligence (BI) visualization tools for deep insights into employee performance, labor demand forecasting, and scheduling.
The Impact on Work Culture When Employees Pick by Voice
Another advantage of voice picking is a vast improvement in employee experiences. New employees can confidently get to work independently more quickly with directions provided to them through a headset. Honeywell data shows that pick-by-voice systems can decrease training time by 85%. Additionally, leading solutions have multi-language capabilities, allowing employees to receive orders in their preferred language. This feature helps them perform their jobs more easily and with greater accuracy. Furthermore, because pickers have their hands free, they can hold onto railings when picking from upper shelves, safely use box cutters, and safely lift heavy objects, increasing workplace safety and decreasing lost labor days due to workplace injuries. Honeywell reports that these solutions’ ability to enhance job performance and safety contributes to lowering employee turnover by 30%.
Get the Competitive Advantage You’re Looking For
Whether picking ecommerce orders, parts or assemblies for manufacturers, or products for B2B distribution, DCs and 3PLs need an efficient way to pick orders. Fast, accurate fulfillment is an expectation, and organizations need solutions that allow them to upgrade from traditional, slow, error-prone picking processes to solutions that optimize performance.
Take the next step to learn more about voice picking systems by contacting our team with a track record of successfully implementing this technology. We’ll provide you with information on the right solution for your operation and explain how we back it with expert service and support.
Honeywell 10 Pick Challenge
Achieve higher levels of productivity and accuracy in your demanding distribution center (DC) and warehouse operations with Honeywell Voice technology. We’ll move your workers safely and efficiently through voice-guided workflows, making their jobs easier and helping you run a smarter, better business. Honeywell Voice technology can direct your associates—working both hands-free and eyes-free- through their mobile workflows to minimize steps and maximize efficiencies.
