Within the four walls of the warehouse, order picking usually gets the most attention. And it deserves the most attention, because 60% to 70% of labor costs in the warehouse are associated with the process of order fulfillment. The purpose of this webpage is to take a deeper look at the different technologies involved with order fulfillment; particularly pick by light systems.
Pick-to-Light/ Pick-by-Light systems are directed order picking with visual display devices (commonly LED displays). The displays are mounted at picking locations. They indicate where to pick and the number of units to be picked. Pick by Light systems significantly reduce pick errors because the order picker no longer relies on paper picking, therefore reducing user error related to referencing back and forth from paper to pick location. Instead, the order picker focuses on the lights illuminating items and the quantities to pick. So what pick to light system is the right choice for your order picking operation?
Real-time sorting of orders and directed replenishment
Pick to light systems are not created equal
When you're trying to determine what order fulfillment technology to use, don't just take a look at the hardware. Pick to light systems greatly differ in quality because of the capability of the software not the hardware. The software is what determines the sequencing of how orders are picked. The better the software, the faster orders are picked, the shorter the walking distances and the more accurate the items are shipped.
Take a look at the chart below to see how FastFetch pick to light system compares to other systems.
Pick by Light Systems Comparison
Features
FastFetch
Pick by Light
Combines pick to light, voice directed, and wireless bar code scanning technologies
Maximum Productivity
Train operators in 10 minutes
Directs pickers to fill multiple (batch) orders in one trip
Fastest order completion time: requests download of next “best” order as picking occurs
Near perfect accuracy
Can force retrieval of correct lot (or serial) #, or capture lot (or serial) # during picking
Picks multiple units of measure and confirms accuracy
Cluster pick/put for 1-to-many operation
Senses equipment problems & changes to a backup method, e.g. barcode scanning
Does not require cutting or altering raceway (channel) covers when adding, removing or relocating lights
Expands system without degradation in performance (scalable)
Reduces total system cost; uses separate picking technologies that math the needs of high & low-velocity items
Does not require a costly, central control computer
Legend
Does Well:
Does Poorly:
Can't Do:
Report on "3 Must Haves" for any order fulfillment operation
We've put together a premium report giving you insight to the 3 "must haves" for any order fulfillment operation (based on our survey). With so many choices in order picking technologies what is the best option? Is it Pick-to-Light/ Pick-by-Light, Bar code scanning or Voice directed picking? You may learn that you don't have to choose between the two. In this premium report, you'll learn the 3 Must Haves for:
Creating a competitive advantage for your order fulfillment operation
So much more
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The sooner you get started, the sooner you can reap the rewards. Download your free report today and get ready to transform your order picking operation with these proven strategies.
FastFetch is a 3-in-1 directed picking technology that combines pick to light, voice and bar code scan picking. In side by side comparisons, it is obvious that:
FastFetch is 2 to 3 times faster than other pick to light technology
FastFetch batches orders to reduce pick times (whereas pick to light doesn’t)
FastFetch downloads “next best order” to replace offloaded order (whereas pick to light doesn’t)
FastFetch constantly is optimizing picks to reduce travel distance and increase picking productivity (whereas pick to light doesn’t)
Don't believe us? Watch this short video clip on why FastFetch is better than a typically pick to light system:
How FastFetch is Better than Pick to Light order fulfillment systems:
What is the best pick to light order fulfillment technology on the market?
While,
we would like to simply say that FastFetch order fulfillment systems is
the best pick to light system on the market, we’d like to explain why
we think it is so.
FastFetch is a 3-in-1 directed picking technology that combines pick to light, voice picking and bar code scan picking.
In side by side comparisons, it is obvious that:
FastFetch is 2 to 3 times faster than other pick to light technology
FastFetch batches orders to reduce pick times (whereas pick to light doesn’t)
FastFetch downloads “next best order” to replace offloaded order (whereas pick to light doesn’t)
FastFetch constantly is optimizing picks to reduce travel distance
and increase picking productivity (whereas pick to light doesn’t)
Don’t believe us? Watch this short video clip on why FastFetch is better than a typically pick to light system:
One of the most popular warehouse order picking or order fulfillment technologies on the market is called pick to light, pick-to-light or pick by light.
Pick to Light is an order picking technology that has been adopted by many warehouse fulfillment systems.
Pick to light is an order fulfillment system that is light directed,
which helps order pickers increase their pick speeds and pick accuracy.
By eliminating paper picking, order picking operators no longer need a
paper order in their hands to manually look and pick an order.
Instead, pick to light systems uses a computer to direct lights at
pick locations (on carousels, carton flow rack, shelving storage, static
shelving and batch picking carts, and others) to indicate the items and
quantities to pick. Once order pickers complete the task indicated by
the light modules, they simply push a button to confirm their picks. In
a Put to Light module, it is the similar, but items are put to carts,
totes or bins where pick lights indicate where items are to be put to.
Images / Photos of a typical pick to light order fulfillment system:
From this illustration of the pick to light order picking warehouse system, you can see that it is common to have the pick to light set up with conveyer systems. Here, order pickers are stationed in a pick zone and put items into the carts/ totes behind them.
Above is a close up image of the light module of the pick to light. Here you can see the order picking pushing a button to confirm their picks.
FastFetch is a 3-in-1 pick to light, voice directed and bar code scanning order fulfillment system.
With FastFetch you not only gain the pick to light benefits, but you get more. Here are just a few additional benefits that FastFetch would give you over your typical pick to light order fulfillment system:
Voice direct order pickers where to go and what to pick next.
Bar code scanning is an additional option to companies that have highly valuable merchandise that require highly accurate order picking
FastFetch is more cost effective than a pick to light system
FastFetch is 2 to 3 times faster than pick to light
Pick-to-Light/ Pick-by-Light systems are directed order picking with visual display devices (commonly LED displays). The displays are mounted at picking locations. They indicate where to pick and the number of units to be picked. Pick by Light systems significantly reduce pick errors because the order picker no longer relies on paper picking, therefore reducing user error related to referencing back and forth from paper to pick location. Instead, the order picker focuses on the lights illuminating items and the quantities to pick. So what pick to light system is the right choice for your order picking operation?
