Voice picking technology, also commonly known as voice-directed warehousing (VDW), pick by voice, and speech-based picking, is a paperless, hands-free, and eyes-free system that employs easy-to-understand voice prompts to direct warehouse operators to picking locations, and to instruct them in picking tasks.

1. Voice Picking Technology
in warehouse
Presented to Mr. Sohail Majeed
Presented by:
Mohammad Abdullah Shah
M.B.A. Supply Chain Management
Karachi University Business School, University of Karachi
Pakistan

2. Introduction
Technology is constantly improving, and
we can all agree that it is crucial for
businesses to continue to upgrade
systems in order to maintain a competitive
advantage.
Pick to voice is a warehouse system that
has eliminated many of the problems
associated with the older picking. With a
voice directed picking solution, the
operator uses a wired or Bluetooth
headset connected to a belt-mounted
small computer that communicates and
confirms picks with the warehouse
operator.
Pick by voice not only drastically
increases accuracy and productivity, but
also allows warehouse workers to pick in a
seamless manner that does not require
them to pause following every pick.

3. Hardware Accessories required (Wired
and Wireless options)
Belt mounted wired mobile
computing device
Wired Headset
Wireless Bluetooth
Headset
Belt mounted Wireless
Bluetooth mobile device

4. How this Technology works
 Assignment/Order from ERP-WMS transmitted to picker’s belt
mounted voice enabled mobile computing device via 802.11b
WLAN (Wi-Fi)
 The device translates assignment data into audible commands, for
e.g. The synthetic computer voice instructs the picker to go to a
pick location.

5. How this Technology works
 On arrival the picker confirms the location by speaking the location
check digits that appear on a label positioned at each pick location
(i.e. the label typically has a random 2 or 3 check digit).
 The system then instructs the picker to pick the designated quantity
along with any other instructions that are required to complete the
work task.

6. How this Technology works
 The system may require a task completion check command by the
picker when finished
 After task completion, the host system is updated

7. Key Benefits of Voice Picking Technology
 Accuracy
 Checking of digits confirms that the picker has arrived at the right slot
location
 99.99% order accuracy achievable with voice ( extremely less to zero
chances to pick a wrong item)
 Productivity
 No paper, labels, or RF screens to read or handle.
 The operator has both hands free to lift products without the time loss
associated with having to manipulate and holster a handheld RF
device or clip board

8.  Training
 About a 50% reduction in training time compared to other
methods like RF Scanning or paper and labels
 High degree of worker acceptance. Supports multiple
languages
 Safety
 Eliminates need to read or key in information
 Hands free, eyes free makes a picker more visually attentive
Key Benefits of Voice Picking Technology

9.  Paper cost
 Eliminating paper picking labels brings a significant saving in the cost of
the paper.
 Information Updating
 Real time radio communication enables real time stock updating.
 Rapid Payoff
 Decrease in errors + higher throughput
= significant cost savings
 Typical return on investment (ROI) is 9 – 12 months
Key Benefits of Voice Picking Technology

10. Factors Paper and Labels RF Scanning Pick-to-Light
Productivity 10 - 25% slower
10 - 15% slower (Better
productivity when dealing with
lengthy sequence of alphanumeric
characters such as serial numbers
or UPC codes)
Same
Accuracy
10 - 20 more errors per
1000 items
2 - 4 more errors per 1000 items 2 - 4 errors per 1000 items
Training 2x longer 2x - 3x longer Same
Issues  Lack of real-time
visibility and
accountability: inventory,
people, system update
 Difficult to batch-pick
 Data entry errors
 Labor and materials cost
to handle paper
 Operator is distracted: data entry,
read, scan
 Safety issues (Heads-down)
 Not ergonomic
 Not hands-/eyes-free
 Battery issues
 Many points of failure (requires
back-up inventory of equipment)
 Expensive to add SKUs
 Can’t efficiently manage two
order selectors in one zone
 Difficult to batch-pick
 Sized based on SKUs vs.
people
 Thousands of points of failure
(we are talking about lights…)
Value of Voice Tech compared to other technologies

11. Which is quickest?
Pick activity time (with and without travel and transport
time)
-Voice-
-RF Scanning-
-Paper based-

12. -
1.000
2.000
3.000
4.000
5.000
6.000
7.000
8.000
9.000
Piece
Picking
Case
Picking
Mixed
Picking
(piece &
units)
Batch
Picking
The Result (including transport & travel time)
Paper
Scanning
Voice
Activity
• 2 experienced pickers
were used.
• Each picker conducted
each trip 10 times
• Each job consisted of
15 picks and 32
individual items
The resulting numbers are
the average of all trips in
minutes for each picking
method.
In every test, Voice tech
took far less time than
either of the other
techniques. When times
were adjusted to exclude
transport & travel, the
results were even better.
Minutes
How does Voice Technology compare?

13. Detailed results, unadjusted*
Paper Scanning Voice Improvement
%
Improvement
%
Pick
Method Average minutes per trip
Voice vs.
Paper
Voice vs.
Scanning
Piece Pick
6.404 5.082 4.189 35% 18%
Unit Pick
7.744 7.549 5.816 25% 23%
Mixed
Pick
6.562 5.916 4.847 26% 18%
Batch
Pick
N/A 8.465 5.398 N/A 36%
How does Voice Technology compare?
*Transport and travel time included

14. Detailed results, adjusted*
Paper Scanning Voice Improvement
%
Improvement
%
Pick
Method Average minutes per trip
Voice vs.
Paper
Voice vs.
Scanning
Piece Pick
3.711 2.893 1.779 52% 39%
Unit Pick
4.381 4.143 3.084 30% 26%
Mixed
Pick
3.538 3.104 1.990 44% 36%
Batch
Pick
N/A 4.206 2.981 N/A 29%
*Transport and travel time removed. Times here were adjusted to remove transfer and travel
(activities that are not influenced by the Voice system). These numbers focus purely on the act of
picking items.
How does Voice Technology compare?

15. Voice systems are not limited just to a picking environment. They can perform
pretty much any of the applications that a RF Scanner based system can
perform. The difference is in the way the information is communicated to and
from the worker. Some applications other than the picking that are commonly
supported with Voice directed technology are:
- Replenishment of Inventory
- Receiving
- Put Systems
- Real-Time Emergency Replenishment and Picking
- Cycle Counting
- Inventory Quality Assurance Functions
Other potential Applications of Voice Technology

16. References
https://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/voice-technology-frees-
the-warehouse-workforce/
https://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/a-mobile-cure-for-the-
warehouse-blues/
https://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/brrr-its-cold-in-there/
https://pdfslide.net/technology/vocollect-voice-fundamentals.html
https://www.optiscangroup.com/doc/HSM---Vocollect-Voice-Brochure---
US-English---October-2014.pdf
https://www.veeqo.com/blog/warehouse-order-picking-systems
https://multichannelmerchant.com/blog/8-things-know-voice-picking-
technology/