Voice Picking (Pick-by-Voice) for Warehouses & 3PL
Warehouse solutions · Voice picking · Pick-by-Voice
Honeywell Vocollect · AbakusDirectVoice picking in the warehouse – hands-free, eyes-free order picking
Pick-by-Voice has been the main voice application in warehouses for over 20 years. Today voice covers the whole warehouse, from receiving to shipping. Voice-directed solutions reduce picking errors, improve customer satisfaction and ergonomics, and lower your carbon footprint.
How voice picking works
Request an order
The picker asks for a new order by voice and hears the location of the first product.
Confirm the location
The picker reads the check digit of the storage location, so picks from the wrong place are caught at once.
Pick the quantity
The system tells the quantity, and the picker confirms the number of items placed on the carrier.
Repeat and ship
The cycle repeats until the order is complete and sent to shipping.
Batch picking enhances operations
Batch picking works best for small orders with few lines and small quantities. Combining them into larger batches reduces picking errors and increases efficiency.
Cross-docking – hectic moments in order handling
Cross-docking terminals are busy, and supply-chain errors are costly. Supplier pallets are not stored but routed to a dispatch area and split into individual customer deliveries.
Terminals often handle dozens of pallets and thousands of orders, so the work must be both fast and accurate. Voice picking keeps the picker’s eyes on the pallets and confirms every step – exactly what cross-docking needs.
Picking list display brings optimum picking order
A 3PL’s range can go from cement sacks to furniture and from crowbars to fluorescent lamps. A touchscreen on the forklift or picking cart lists all order lines, so pickers can put heavy and bulky items at the bottom of the pallet and fragile or small items on top. Large quantities can be split across batches and pallets. Voice keeps work hands-free and eyes-free, while the display lets pickers use their expertise – for well-packed pallets that survive the delivery route.
Case story: voice-directed picking at Verkkokauppa.com
Verkkokauppa.com has long been a pioneer in multi-channel order-to-delivery, delivering to homes, offices and pick-up points. Online orders with in-store pick-up are picked when the customer arrives, so speed and accuracy are essential. The key benefit of Vocollect Pick-by-Voice is batch picking, with pickers handling up to 40 orders concurrently.
“With the new voice-directed picking solution the time used for picking one customer order has been reduced by 50%.”Miika Heinonen, Logistics Director, Verkkokauppa.com Read the reference story →
“Since early times, we have been offering our products to customers through multiple channels. One distinct advantage of Pick-by-Voice provided by Vocollect is the possibility for batch picking or handling multiple orders at the same time.”Henrik Weckström, CTO, Verkkokauppa.com Read the reference story →
More voice picking stories: A. Le Coq → · Kaukokiito → · Valio Aimo → · University Pharmacy → · Hospital District of Southwest Finland →
Voice across the whole warehouse
Agile all-in-voice processes
Processes from inbound to outbound can run on voice control, handheld devices, or both.
Shipping accuracy
Mobility and voice control typically improve productivity by 15–35% and bring shipping accuracy to a very high level.
Easy to customise
The workflow is configured to match your business needs.
Process quality and efficiency
AbakusDirect improves process quality and efficiency and lowers labour costs.
Better ergonomics
No paper lists or devices in hand – pickers can move and carry items freely.
Fast onboarding
The system guides new pickers step by step, so they are productive quickly.
Voice picking compared with paper lists and handheld scanning
| Paper pick lists | Handheld scanning | Voice picking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands and eyes | Hands hold the list, eyes move between list and shelf | One hand holds the device, eyes on the screen | Hands and eyes free for the work |
| Error checking | Manual, after the fact | Barcode scan per pick | Check digit per location and spoken quantity confirmation |
| Real-time visibility | None until the list is returned | Yes | Yes – supervisors see progress and order status |
| Training | Fast, but working methods vary | Moderate | Fast – the system tells the picker what to do next |
| Best fit | Very small volumes | Processes that need scanning of every item | High-volume case and batch picking, cold stores, cross-docking |
Voice and scanning can also be combined: for example, voice for picking and a scanner for serial numbers or batch codes.
Solutions and services
Industries: Warehousing → · Distribution & 3PL → · Transportation & logistics → · Retail → · Healthcare logistics →
Frequently asked questions about voice picking
What is voice picking?
Voice picking (pick-by-voice) is a warehouse picking method where the system gives instructions to the picker through a headset and the picker confirms each step by speaking. Hands and eyes stay free for the work, which improves accuracy, ergonomics and productivity.
How does voice picking work step by step?
The picker requests a new order by voice and hears the location of the first product. The picker reads the location check digit, hears the quantity to pick and confirms the number of items placed on the carrier. The cycle repeats until the order is complete and sent to shipping.
How much does voice picking improve productivity?
Mobility and voice control typically improve productivity by 15–35%. At Verkkokauppa.com, the time used for picking one customer order was reduced by 50% with voice-directed picking.
Can several orders be picked at the same time?
Yes. Batch picking combines several small customer orders into one picking round. A confirmation dialogue prevents products from going onto the wrong pallet. Verkkokauppa.com pickers handle up to 40 orders concurrently.
Can voice be used for other processes than picking?
Yes. Processes from inbound to outbound – receiving, putaway, replenishment, cycle counting and loading – can run on voice, on handheld devices, or both.
Which voice system does Optiscan offer?
Optiscan delivers Honeywell Vocollect voice solutions (Honeywell is now part of Brady) together with AbakusDirect, which directs the warehouse work and integrates with your existing ERP or WMS.
Book a free consultation
We go through your picking processes and show how voice would work in your warehouse. Call +358 9 476 6766 · info@optiscangroup.com