Faster order fulfillment/ faster order picking productivity

Order Fulfillment Systems for dramatic increase in order picking productivity

The job of a warehouse manager is not easy.  He or she is accountable for many elements within the four walls of the warehouse to ensure the the order fulfillment operations running as efficiently as possible.  There's people to manage, equipment No one knows better that “the customer is always right”.  Customers’ demands determine what order picking is required in the warehouse with the internet has putting customers in a stronger position today: they want everything “on demand”.  The effect of this demand results in a fulfillment warehouse having to:

• carry a greater variety of products
• add more warehouse inventory
• order pick faster
• increase order picking speeds 
• ship items quicker

Demand for Faster Order Picking

 The increase in customer demands means that the distribution center needs to work even harder... if not smarter.  A successful warehouse fulfillment center needs to:

• Ship faster than the competition
• Store and provide new and popular products faster than the competition
• Gain a payback that goes to your bottom-line year after year
• Reduce operating costs related to order picking system, and labor

Having the capability to fulfill orders faster not only means retaining a customer, but beating the competition for better bottom-line to the business.  That is why optimizing order picking in the warehouse for faster order picking , faster shipping and 100% accuracy (as a goal) is crucial.
Many companies use two scenarios when picking:

• discrete picking
• batch picking

Discrete Order Picking

This picking method is the most basis method that most warehouse operations start with.  It is simple and it works.  Discrete picking is when an order selector picks one order at a time, moving around the entire warehouse until that order is complete, then starting on the next order.

The negative part of discrete order picking is that it is the most time consuming method to fulfill an order.  Imagine you walking through the entire warehouse for each and every order!  There is a lot of time wasted in walking the pick path.

Batch Order Picking

The next common phase for a warehouse operation to go through is to batch all their orders in groups based on their pick locations.  Typically the orders are put into a system to organize orders by the item type and/or pick location.  By picking multiple orders at the same time, you will greatly reduce the walking time of order picking and increase order picking productivity.

The negative of batch picking is that if done in a semi-manual method (paper picking), it may result in a lot of pick errors.  It would be less confusing and more efficient if batch picking is used along a order fulfillment software system.

With new technology on the market today, it makes sense for serious warehouse operations to consider using warehouse order fulfillment software systems.  Typically, these systems allow the warehouse operation to:

• pick multiple orders at a time
•  reduce travel distance and
• increase warehouse picking productivity
• gaining virtually 100% picking accuracy

Order Picking Productivity Tip

60% to 70% of the cost to pick a product is travel time and distance between picks.  Reduce travel by combining orders and you will increase productivity while decreasing warehouse order picking costs.
Cluster picking

To increase warehouse picking productivity, a warehouse manager needs to focus on increase picking speed and accuracy by decreasing pick path travel and combining picking activities in the warehouse.

FastFetch has proven to be one of the best order fulfillment systems on the market.  FastFetch allows you to improve your order picking productivity which means you have faster order picking rates, perhaps your fastest pick rates ever!





 
With FastFetch you are able to increase the pick speed 2 to 3 times that of other systems.  Specifically, you will be able to:

• Cut travel distance by picking multiple orders all in one trip
• Reduce number of stops to pick items with batch picking/ cluster picking
• Eliminate picker “wait time” with dynamic pick zones
• Eliminate scanning high velocity items with pick to light system

FastFetch optimizes order fulfillment by reducing travel distance/ pick path

FastFetch is a patented order fulfillment technology like no other.  It’s unique software allows you to gain many benefits to your order picking operations to give you the competitive advantage you want and need to grow your business.
With FastFetch’s order fulfillment technology, great focus is made on reducing the most labor intensive portion of the order picking process; cutting down the distance that order pickers travel.

How do you increase order fulfillment rates?

FastFetch order fulfillment systems works with your existing WMS, ERP of host system to:

• Reduce travel distance
• Batch pick multiple orders all in one trip
• Eliminate wasteful time handling paper pick tickets
• Cut down time of looking for a location/ pick bay

So what does faster order picking/ fulfillment it mean to you?

Your order fulfillment operation will enjoy faster pick times, virtually 100% accuracy and faster shipments… all this with a significant reduction in overhead costs and labor costs.  Whether you are currently on a paper pick system, hand held scanner system, pick-to-light, voice pick or a combination, you will gain significant order fulfillment advantages.

While, we would like to simply say that FastFetch order fulfillment systems is the best voice directed picking 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 voice directed picking, pick to light, and bar code scan picking. In side by side comparisons, it is obvious that:

• FastFetch is 2 to 3 times faster than other voice directed picking technology
• FastFetch batches orders to reduce pick times (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)
• FastFetch downloads “next best order” to replace offloaded order (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)
• FastFetch constantly is optimizing picks to reduce travel distance and increase picking productivity (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)

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What is order picking?

What is order picking?

Let’s face it… the world cannot live without goods, from the food we eat to the products we use daily to function.  This only happens by moving goods we want and need from one location to another.  With today's growing demand for more products... the number of SKU's naturally increase.  The moment goods are brought into a warehouse and set up for breakdown in packages and pieces, the focus then narrows down to order picking.

Why is order picking so important?

Within the 4 walls of the warehouse operation, the most costly and most labor intensive actively goes into order picking (typically 60-70% of the labor).  Imagine the savings if you can cut 40-50% of the labor costs!  As warehouse fulfillment operations are forced to add more products into their facility, the only way to gain a competitive advantage is by cutting costs and increasing productivity.       

The order picking problem:

As the consumer demands for more versions of products, the number of variety and SKUs grow within the warehouse, this not only means less space, but more to organize.  The biggest challenge for any order fulfillment operation is then to answer the question: How do I increase order picking productivity, reduce labor costs and reduce errors?” 

Lets take a look at common order picking methods:

Discrete picking is the most basic form of all order picking methods and is typical for low volume fulfillment operations.  The order picker starts with one order and completes the entire order.  This order fulfillment process may require the order picker to walk throughout a majority of the warehouse.  Items picked are then placed into totes or shipping cartons on the pick cart.

Pick and pass order picking is generally the next type of picking as the volume of orders increase.  SKUs/ pick items are grouped into “zones” to try to minimize walking distance for order pickers.  When an order picker has completed their picks for the order or tote in their area, they pass it to the picker in the next area.  As a result, order pickers become familiar with their designated areas and therefore become more productive with their pick rates. 

Batch picking is fulfilling multiple orders all in one trip.  Orders are downloaded by order picking software that consolidates all orders and optimizes picking.  Order pickers then pick the entire order and sort all orders into a specific tote or shipping carton. 

The process of combining picks from several orders allows faster order picking and reduction in travel time.  Almost any warehouse fulfillment system can be converted to batch picking.  This includes paper picking, pick to light, pick-by-light, pick to voice, bar code scan, and carousel pick systems.
There are various ways in which a pick may be communicated to a picker:

• a simple paper pick list,
• an RF terminal
• a list of labels that list an item's location -one per item being picked
• voice picking system
• pick to light system
• automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). There are many types, but the basics are mini-load, mid-load and unit load. Each system is used to deliver totes, cases, cartons, pallets or inventory with unique physical profiles. Mini-Loads usually range up to 1000 lbs per load; Mid-Load up to 2000 lbs per load; Unit Load for pallets up to 5000 lbs per pound.

What is the best order picking technology on the market?

While, we would like to simply say that FastFetch order fulfillment systems is the best order picking system on the market, we’d like to explain why we think it is so.
FastFetch is a 3-in-1 order picking technology that combines voice directed picking, pick to light, and bar code scan picking.  In side by side comparisons, it is obvious that:

• FastFetch is 2 to 3 times faster than other voice directed picking technology
• FastFetch batches orders to reduce pick times (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)
• FastFetch downloads “next best order” to replace offloaded order (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)
• FastFetch constantly is optimizing picks to reduce travel distance and increase picking productivity (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)

For more information on FastFetch order picking systems, visit our website at www.fastfetchusa.com or call us at (714) 496-4499.  We look forward to serving the growing needs of your order picking fulfillment operation and help you gain the competitive advantage you want and need.

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What is Pick to Voice? Benefits & More

Pick to Voice Order Picking

Order Fulfillment System using Voice Pick

A popular warehouse order picking technology is called voice picking or voice directed picking. We've put together this page on voice picking systems to answer the following common questions about what it is, how it works and it's benefits:

• What is voice directed picking?
• What are the benefits of voice directed picking warehousing systems?
• What are ideal applications for voice picking?
• How does voice directed picking work?
• What is the best voice directed picking technology?

What is Voice Directed Picking/ Voice Picking?

Voice picking or voice directed picking is an order picking technology that has been adopted by many warehouse fulfillment systems. It is an order fulfillment system that helps improve picking productivity and accuracy. By eliminating the need to handle paper, voice picking makes the order fulfillment process more efficient. With paper picking, the pick ticket(s) are in the operator's hand, on a cart, or the forklift and the operator travels through most of the warehouse in search of the general location of the item. Once the pick bay is located, then the actual order picking process begins. However with voice directed picking, you eliminate handling the paper and manually searching for the next location to go to. In other words, operators go "hands free" picking, dramatically increasing picking productivity.

Eliminate Paper Picking Go Hands Free Multilingual

Order pickers are simply directed by voice where to go next. Once they reach the pick bay, the order picker is then directed by voice what to pick.

What are the benefits of voice directed picking?

As mentioned earlier, voice directing picking systems allows you to go “paperless picking”. By eliminating the time consuming and manual labor of having your order pickers read each SKU item to pick line by line and having them travel throughout the entire warehouse for an order, you can greatly improve productivity and accuracy. With a voice directed picking system, orders are downloaded from your existing host or WMS computer and then optimized to reduce labor costs related to paper picking. In short, voice picking order fulfillment systems allows any order fulfillment warehouse operations to:

• Increased picking accuracy
• Increased inventory accuracy
• Increased employee productivity
• Improved safety
• Reduced new worker training time
• Increases job satisfaction for warehouse associates
• Eliminates cost of printing and distributing picking documents
• Growing customer satisfaction

One of the great productivity benefits of voice-based systems is that they allow operators to do two things at once whereas other media used in warehouses such as paper or radio frequency terminals tend to require that you surrender the use of at least one hand or you have to stop and read something before proceeding. This productivity benefit tends to be inversely related to the fraction of an operator's day spent walking.

What are ideal applications for Pick to Voice systems?

Voice directed warehousing systems are best fit for any warehouse order fulfillment operations that does piece picking or broken case picking. These operations typically have a large quantity of SKUs that is running a highly labor intensive order picking operations. If you find that 20% of your products or SKUS require 80% of the picking labor, this type of pick to light system would improve your productivity and even accuracy. Below are some ideal voice picking applications:

• eCommerce & Mail-Order
• Apparel & Footwear
• Automotive Aftermarket Parts
• Food, Beverage & Grocery
• Pharmaceutical
• Health & Beauty
• Reverse Logistics
• Consumer Goods Manufacturing
• Value-Added & Customized Products to Order
• Retail
• Vending

 

How does Voice Directed Picking work?

We won’t go into the technical details of how the system communicates at each level throughout the voice picking order fulfillment process, but we’ll explain the main components involved with a FastFetch voice directed picking warehouse system.  
Step 1: Add the voice directed picking software to your existing WMS or host computer  
Step 2: Add voice directed hardware. With FastFetch a headset is not used, instead a Tablet PC directs pickers where to go.
 Step 3: Get your order pickers acquainted with the new picking system! It will be their new best friend!

What is the best voice directed picking technology on the market?

We've put our FastFetch voice directed picking video next to the typical voice directed picking. See the videos yourself and see how much FASTER FastFetch is compared to the typical voice directed picking systems:

While, we would like to simply say that FastFetch order fulfillment systems is the best voice directed picking 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 voice directed picking, pick to light, and bar code scan picking. In side by side comparisons, it is obvious that:

• FastFetch is 2 to 3 times faster than other voice directed picking technology
• FastFetch batches orders to reduce pick times (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)
• FastFetch downloads “next best order” to replace offloaded order (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)
• FastFetch constantly is optimizing picks to reduce travel distance and increase picking productivity (whereas typical voice directed picking doesn’t)

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3 Myths of Voice Picking, Pick to Voice, Pick by Voice

3 Myths of Voice Picking

It is easy to assume that voice directed picking is all the same, but in reality this is false. Voice-directed warehousing (VDW) has been around since the late 1990s, and has been instrumental to many DCs and warehouses. The technology has greatly improved picking productivity and accuracy, therefore providing a significant competitive advantage to those who use it.

Whether you're thinking about an order fulfillment technology or not, we've put together an important video on the 3 myths about voice directed picking that everyone should review. This report gives you the knowledge to help you make the right choice to maximize the ROI of any order fulfillment operation.

Benefits of Voice Picking - Efficiencies

Dramatically increase productivity and pick accuracy, by going hands free and allowing them to keep their eyes on the picking instead of the paper pick ticket.

Increase in picking efficiencies:  The biggest gain in order picking productivity is when an order fulfillment operation must pick "eaches" or "pieces".  Many time operations double their pick rates.  The primary reasons why order fulfillment operations really benefit from pick by voice is that:  

• Operators work "hands-free", while their eyes are focused on the picking process.  They eliminate the time and energy of looking at a piece of paper and then back to searching and picking a product. 
• Operators confirm their picks by voice or other form instead of having to typing in their picks or writing it down onto paper.
• When orders are completed the pick to voice system will direct the operator where to go next.  This greatly increases productivity by eliminating any time in between in search of or planning the next pick. 
• Voice directed picking also cuts down administration time to complete paperwork involved with each order.

Benefits of Voice Picking - Accuracy

When you move from a manual paper picking process to a voice direct picking system, you immediate enjoy the benefits of increased picking accuracy.  While results may vary, many times implementation of voice picking can lead to almost 100% picking accuracy. Here are the factors that improve accuracy with a voice pick system:

• Eliminate the back and forth of handling paper pick tickets... focus is removed from checking a list to handling the product.  
• Picks are confirmed by voice to ensure maximum accuracy, this includes verification that the item has been pick and the quantity.
• The performance (productivity and accuracy) of each operator is easily tracked and reported. 

Myth #1: 

Voice Picking is Expensive

Yes, when voice directed picking technology was new to the market, it was extremely expensive to install and implement.  This meant that that there were many cost factors involved, which includes:

•    Custom coding the software to your WMS, ERP, or host system
•    Dedicated servers
•    Changes to business processes to adapt to the software
•    Equipment
•    Training


Like all technologies, pick by voice has become much more advance, easy to use and inexpensive.  

Voice directed picking technology has greatly evolved over the last decade, making it an affordable solution for almost any sized distribution and warehouse operation.  For many voice-directed technologies custom coding is no longer required for implementation.  Many voice directed warehousing systems are deployed across multiple platforms.

Myth: Voice directed picking systems are expensive
Reality: Voice directed picking systems are affordable.  In fact many companies small and large gain an ROI within 12-18 months. 

Myth #2: 

Voice Picking is Difficult to Implement

You’re probably imagining the long process and the headaches involved in implementing a voice directing picking system to your warehouse operation.  You are worried about the time it takes to put in the system (from software to hardware) an worried about training your staff.
Not to worry, since many voice directed picking systems now easily add onto your existing WMS, ERP, or host system, there is no or little interruption to your existing business processes.



Myth: Voice directed picking systems are difficult to implement
Reality: Voice directed picking systems are as easy as 1-2-3. See below: 

With FastFetch, a 3-in-1 pick directed technology, you  accuracy (light, voice, & barcode scan)
1. Simple to interface to WMS: Your WMS, ERP or order management system downloads order data to FastFetch. Next, FastFetch optimizes order picking based on real-time location of your product and order picking personnel. 
2. Easy to Install: Most of the FastFetch system (hardware and software) are assembled  and tested offsite, therefore final installation is quick and easy.
3. Requires minimal training: The FastFetch tablet PC directs new operators, using light, voice, and/or scanning.  Training only takes ~10 minutes!

Myth #2: 

Pick to Voice is Incompatible with other Systems

We’ve worked with many companies and oftentimes we find that several picking systems are all under one roof.  Compatibility issues between two or three different order fulfillment systems are common.
The two most popular types of order fulfillment systems, (aside from voice directed picking) include light directed picking and bar code scanning systems.
Many warehouse distribution centers start with one type of order fulfillment system and decide to add another system.  So what if your operation dramatically expands and you have a sudden need to have a close watch on your highly valuable goods?  What do you do if you decide to add lights or bar code scanning to the system? 

Myth: Compatibility is an issue if I wanted to add lights and bar code scanning to my voice directed picking system.
Reality: FastFetch’s 3-in-1 voice, light, and bar code scanning directed picking system gives you the flexibility to adapt to customer’s demands and your business needs.



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 no longer have to choose, you can now “HAVE IT ALL” with FastFetch.  FastFetch is a 3-in-1 pick directed technology that combines light, voice, and bar code scanning to gain virtually 100% accuracy.

What FastFetch 3-in-1 order fulfillment system means to you:

FastFetch customers have gained improved picking rates with virtually 100% accuracy.  Labor reduction with FastFetch can be as high as 40% to 50%, savings that customers enjoy year after year. 

FastFetch order picking systems have helped its customers, including GNC, Lucky Vitamin.com, Nash Finch Co., Capay Organic Foods, Atlas Vending, A Beka Book, Stanley Black & Decker, and others.  They enjoy:
•    Increased picking productivity (pick rates)
•    Reduced labor costs
•    Decreased errors with near-perfect picking accuracy

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Warehouse Order Fulfillment Tips

A survey conducted on order picking warehouse operations revealed an increase in the need to improve productivity and reduce operating costs in the coming years to remain profitable and competitive in today’s market.  Survey participants include a broad range of order fulfillment warehouse fulfillment operations from produce, snack foods, health and beauty, and hardware goods.  Positions of those who contributed to the survey ranged from Owners, C-level executives, Director of Operations, Warehouse Managers, and VPs.

While adding more SKUs, reducing labor costs related to order picking, and reducing pick errors are important to any warehouse fulfillment operation, the majority of focus for many is to increase order picking rates.  This implies that many warehouse operations put more attention on getting orders filled and shipped quickly to their customers.  A result should be improvement of customer satisfaction. 

We will dive deeper into each segment of the main goals for order fulfillment and review the 3 specific tips that will help you improve your operation and get ahead on the competition.

 Proliferation of Consumer Products

 

With today's growing demand for more variety of products... the number of SKU's you need to inventory naturally grow with it; thus forcing order picking operations to adapt.  Organizing your warehouse layout, pick slots and pick bays in your warehouse for maximum order filling speed and easy replenishing are part of this challenge. 


As warehouse fulfillment operations are forced to add more products into their facility, the only way to gain a competitive advantage is by cutting costs and increasing productivity.     

While forced to add more SKUs, "How do you increase pick rates, reduce labor costs and reduce errors?” 

Whether you require discrete order picking, batch case picking, or consolidated piece picking, there are proven methods to further improve your order picking process to gain the competitive advantage you want and need.

The more orders you process, the faster you ship orders, and the more you increase customer satisfaction, the more competitive advantage you gain. 

Warehouse Order Fulfillment Tip #1

You MUST increase order picking productivity
There are many ways that you can pick orders.  We will quickly review some of the most common order picking methods and its benefits.  The goal of this information is to help you understand some of the most popular methods used to improve order picking productivity.

Discrete picking is the most basic form of all order picking methods and is typical for low volume fulfillment operations.  The order picker starts with one order and completes the entire order.  This order fulfillment process may require the order picker to walk throughout a majority of the warehouse.  Items picked are then placed into totes or shipping cartons on the pick cart.

Pick and pass order picking is generally the next type of picking as the volume of orders increase.  SKUs/ pick items are grouped into “zones” to try to minimize walking distance for order pickers.  When an order picker has completed their picks for the order or tote in their area, they pass it to the picker in the next area.  As a result, order pickers become familiar with their designated areas and therefore become more productive with their pick rates. 

Batch picking is fulfilling multiple orders all in one trip.  Orders are downloaded by order picking software that consolidates all orders and optimizes picking.  Order pickers then pick the entire order and sort all orders into a specific tote or shipping carton. 

The process of combining picks from several orders allows faster order picking and reduction in travel time.  Almost any warehouse fulfillment system can be converted to batch picking.  This includes paper picking, pick-to-light, pick-by-light, voice directed picking, bar code scan, and carousel pick systems. 

How to Increase Order Picking Productivity

Picking rates go hand in hand with success for any order fulfillment warehouse operation.  Batch picking is one of the fastest ways to dramatically increase your order picking productivity. 

FastFetch is an order picking system that allows you to batch pick orders in “clusters” and is one of the most cost effective systems.  FastFetch allows you to increase pick rates by selecting batches of orders as defined by your parameters -  such as travel distance between picks, picked case weight, weight per shelf, cube per picked order, product commonality per order, required box size, and others. The result is maximized worker productivity.

Warehouse Order Fulfillment Tip #2

You MUST reduce labor costs
As the number of SKUs increase, so does the distance between picking different orders.  In traditional warehouses, order pickers can spend up to 60% to 70% of their time traveling to pick bays, leaving only 30% to 40% for actual order picking. So how do you reduce time spent on traveling during the order picking process? 

How do you optimize time to order pick rather than waste time traveling throughout the entire warehouse?

FastFetch order picking systems are a patented super smart technology that allows you to dramatically CUT TRAVEL DISTANCE related to order picking.  The FastFetch order picking warehouse fulfillment software system will download hundreds of orders at a time and sort orders based on the order picker/ order selector's real time location and optimized pick path to cut down travel distance.

Warehouse Order Fulfillment Tip #3

You MUST Reduce Errors as well as Costs Related to Errors
As order fulfillment volumes increase, it becomes more and more important that you use technology to keep picking errors down.  There are many different options to consider when looking into an order picking system:

•    Bar Code Scan
•    Pick-to-Light/ Pick-by-Light
•    Voice Directed Picking

Bar code scan systems offer 1) very fast data entry of information and 2) extremely high input accuracy.  This is valuable if you are handling extremely costly products and/or need 100% order picking accuracy.  Another benefit for bar code scanning technology is that you can use it for receiving, put away, replenishment, stock verification, and picking.  Instructions are transmitted via the RF network to the local terminal.

Pick-to-Light/ Pick-by-Light is directed order picking by 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-to-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. 

Voice Directed Picking is similar to the bar code scanning method because the information transmitted on a bar code scan display can be spoken to the.  Pick verification is done by speaking the SKU identification number for each pick.  A huge benefit voice directed picking systems have over the bar code scanning method is that order pickers have their hands free while working. 

How to Gain near-perfect Order Accuracy
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 no longer have to choose, you can now “HAVE IT ALL” with FastFetch.  FastFetch is a 3-in-1 pick directed technology that combines light, voice, and bar code scanning to gain virtually 100% accuracy.

FastFetch customers have gained improved picking rates with virtually 100% accuracy.  Labor reduction with FastFetch can be as high as 40% to 50%,  savings that customers enjoy year after year. 

FastFetch order picking systems have helped its customers, including GNC, Lucky Vitamin.com, Capay Organic Foods, Atlas Vending, A Beka Book, Stanley Black & Decker, Nash Finch and others.  FastFetch Customers Enjoy:
•    Increased picking productivity (pick rates)
•    Reduced labor costs
•    Decreased errors with near-perfect picking accuracy

For more information on FastFetch order picking systems, visit our website at www.fastfetchusa.com or call us at (714) 496-4499.  We look forward to serving the growing needs of your order picking fulfillment operation and help you gain the competitive advantage you want and need.

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First Name * Email * Phone: Comments

Pick by Light System - Making the right choice

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?

Pick by Light System Benefits

• Increased picker productivity and accuracy; error rates are near 0%
• Reduced training time
• Quickly increase picking capacity during seasonal peaks
• Fast ROI (usually 12-18 months)
• Picker accountability for every pick
• 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:

• Optimizing picking productivity
• Getting virtually 100% accuracy
• Pros and Cons of different order picking technologies (pick to light, voice directed picking, and bar code scanning)
• Creating a competitive advantage for your order fulfillment operation
• So much more

Download Now

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: