90% less errors at DHL

The errors are so few that it´s not worth spending time checking the deliveries at MQ´s stores. A good testimonial for the solution, based on pick-by-voice from Optiscan.

Reduce errors

For 20 years DHL has been the logistics partner to the clothes chain MQ. Seven days a week throughout the year the warehouse in Borås serves 100 stores all over Sweden.

DHLs challenge was to streamline MQs logistics from the central warehouse all the way to the shelf at each local store. Two main goals were identified for the project. Increase the quality of the stock balance in each store - which has a huge impact on sales - and eliminate the time consuming job of checking each delivery. To achieve the goals, errors such as picking the wrong product or wrong number of products had to be eliminated at the central warehouse, without affecting the efficiency. A system based on pick-by-voice was the only alternative and Optiscan therefore became the solution provider.

Voice based

Optiscans part of the project was to replace the printed pick lists with a voice based interface between the picker and the existing WMS-system. The solution was implemented by a project group with Optiscan, MQ and the provider of DHLs WMS-system, NYCE Solutions.

Each picker is equipped with Vocollect's personal headset and voice terminal on a belt. The terminal and the WMS communicate through a WLAN connection.

The picking process is operated through giving and receiving voice commands through the headset.

The picker requests a new order and receives information about the location of the product. At the shelf the picker reads the three last numbers of the product´s EAN-code and the voice system responds with the number of items that shall be picked. The picker reads the same number when the items are loaded into the box. The voice system responds by giving the location of the next item. This procedure is repeated until the order is finished and the picker starts over with a new order. 

Increase of productivity

Stefan Carlsson, responsible for the warehouses run by DHL Storage in Sweden, concludes that productivity went up 5% already two months after introducing pick-by-voice. The accuracy of picking has increased from 99.7% till 99.97%, i.e. 90% less errors.

The drop in efficiency during periods with substitute personnel is significantly lower with pick-by-voice and the accuracy of picking is up even for this type of personnel according to the customer.  Another positive side effect of pick-by-voice is decreased education at DHL.

Less errors

Already today the errors are so few that it´s not worth spending time checking the deliveries. A good testimonial for the solution. 

- An accurate stock balance is important, since it has a big impact on sales, says Olof Jonsson, Controller, Logistics, MQ. The daily delivery to each store is namely based on the sales the day before.

According to the pickers at DHL in Borås, the biggest advantage is that you have both hands free and don´t need to handle a pen and a printed pick list. Today the workers do not have to fetch pick-lists and perhaps queue at a printer. Furthermore a new order can be requested when packing the previous order.

According to Stefan Carlsson at DHL, the project has stayed within budget both in terms of money and time. There have been only a few problems along the way and Optiscan has shown a good understanding for this type of business.