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

 

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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: