5 December 2021 The high complexity of current logistics operations has required managers to seek solutions that bring agility and precision in task execution. There is increasing pressure to sort more orders in less time, and the main thing: to offer a high standard of service to customers. To achieve these goals, the main market players have continuously invested in automation. With the help of intelligent systems and machines, there is a significant increase in productivity combined with a reduction in errors and rework. Ultimately, this means lower expenses and higher profitability for the company. Among the innovations that are gaining great approval is voice picking, also known as pick by voice, voice-directed warehousing (VDW), or speech-based picking, considered the evolution of traditional digitization with radio frequency terminals. The solution promises not only greater efficiency in order picking but also greater accuracy and safety. What is voice picking? Voice picking is a system whose mission is to assist pickers through verbal instructions. We could say that the system manages, through voice recognition, to directly connect the employee with the WMS, responsible for transmitting the commands to perform the task. In a simple linguistic conversation, the employee receives instructions on their headset to separate an order (storage location, quantity, etc.) and continues to confirm, in their microphone, all completed actions. Since everything happens with the help of the headset, the employee does not need to carry a paper pick list or a data collector, leaving their eyes and hands free to perform the separation more efficiently and without distractions. Being a very simple system to use, voice picking is quickly assimilated by the employee, eliminating long training sessions. How does voice picking work? With voice picking, the picker uses a portable terminal attached to their waist and a headset with a microphone. Essentially, the separation occurs according to the following steps: 1 – During the processing of a pick order, the WMS transmits the order information to the voice picking, and the system translates it to the employee, who receives the voice commands. 2 – From there, a dialogue window is established, where voice picking indicates the location (e.g., “Aisle A, Shelf 7, Level 1”), the card moves to the location and informs the verification digits via the microphone to confirm it is at the correct address. Subsequently, the system provides the quantity to separate, and the separator confirms once again through the microphone. The same process then repeats at multiple addresses until the order is completed. 3 – The last step is the indication, via voice picking, of the place where the separator must take the order (e.g., “Dock 37”) for subsequent shipment. It is interesting to note that, since it works integrated with the WMS, voice picking optimizes the pick path throughout the process, to maximize efficiency and minimize movements through the warehouse. Additionally, a great advantage is that when picking occurs and is confirmed, voice picking sends real-time updates to the WMS system, indicating pick completion, batch completion, and other updates. With this, the manager and other employees can have accurate and instant stock monitoring. It is worth noting that voice picking can also be used in other intralogistics processes, such as receiving, storing, cross-docking, quality control, or inventories. The Advantages of voice picking Since it works integrated with the WMS, the system significantly improves separation efficiency, which has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and reduces operational costs. In general, the direct advantages are: Increased Productivity Voice picking allows employees to fully concentrate on the activities they are performing, always keeping their hands and eyes free. Often, when picking occurs with a pick list, the picker needs to pick up and release the paper to load the goods, wasting time and making mistakes. Using only the headset, movements are performed with greater speed and accuracy. In other words, we can say that picking with voice picking eliminates physical obstacles and can increase productivity by up to 35%. Shorter Movements Selectors using voice picking often claim that the system is their greatest ally. This is because, in addition to helping them achieve their goals, it is very easy to use. If previously the company took days to train its employees for picking, with voice separation, training is done in a few hours. This also means a great advantage when hiring temporary employees, as there is no need to spend much time on their training. Since voice picking is highly intuitive and uses simple language, as soon as seasonal workers are hired, they will be quickly operational. Reduction in Picking Errors It is estimated that voice picking can eliminate up to 80% of picking errors. This is because with the dialogue established with the employee and all the necessary confirmations, there is certainty that they are in the right position, picking the right goods and in the right quantity. Greater Safety and Ergonomics for Employees Thanks to the fact that hands and eyes are free, the risk of accidents involving the separator, both during product collection and during movement, is significantly reduced. Additionally, voice picking is more comfortable and ergonomic, even for people with disabilities. Minimal Maintenance Since the employee does not need to touch the handset and the portable terminal attached to the waist, there are fewer chances of device damage, thus requiring little maintenance. Greater Customer Satisfaction Greater accuracy and productivity in order picking mean higher quality in customer service, who expect quick and decisive deliveries. And this is an important competitive advantage, especially in the e-commerce landscape. Incorrect orders or delivery delays can lead to the permanent loss of a customer, as well as incurring costs for more orders for the company, both in exchange and sending the correct product, etc. Real-time Visibility The use of WMS and voice picking allows for instant information updates in the system during separation. This provides managers with complete inventory visibility, enabling quick and decisive decisions. Another advantage is that employees can self-manage from these data made available, checking, for example, how they are doing, if the separation is on schedule, the remaining time to complete tasks, among other important details. Sustainable Warehouse The term “Green Warehouse” is very popular today due to the need to seek sustainable and economical solutions, and the reduction of paper use is among the actions to be taken. With voice picking, printing pick lists is eliminated, reducing costs and benefiting the environment. Ease of Implementation The implementation of voice picking does not require major changes in warehouse infrastructure, making its implementation very simple and quick. To provide more comfort to employees, the headphones isolate ambient noise and, at the same time, can capture the separator’s voice even if there is noise around it. Furthermore, the system can be used in cold storage, which provides great help to warehouses that handle products requiring refrigeration. What to Consider Before Implementing Voice Picking If you are interested in implementing voice picking in your operation, it is important to consider some points in advance, such as: âś” You need to have a good WMS that is robust and perfectly integrates with the voice picking model you want to implement. This will give you the guarantee of good equipment use. âś” In the case of employees using forklifts, it is worth evaluating whether the model with headphones in both ears can affect equipment handling. Ideally, opt for a model with a headset in one ear. âś” Your warehouse must have a good internet network that covers the entire warehouse and all storage and office areas so that communication between systems occurs in the best possible way. âś” You should consider whether you will need to tag addresses with verification codes, as voice picking requires the employee to input them to confirm each action taken. In addition to these suggestions, a recommendation that will help you a lot is to talk to your WMS provider, who will be able to guide you before, during, and after the implementation of voice picking. Logistics experts unanimously affirm that a good implementation of voice picking can lead to a rapid return on investment. Once the system is implemented, the benefits begin to be noticed. Therefore, it is worth considering the possibility of investing in your operation, but do not forget the main ally of this technology: the WMS system! How does voice picking work? Deagor WMS per ecommerce può aiutarti!