Your Challenges with Picking
Online trading is experiencing an unparalleled boom and is driving the demands of warehouse logistics through the roof like never before. Same-day delivery, free returns, as well as the global networking of supply chains, demographic change, and digitization are presenting the industry with completely new challenges. In order to manage these challenges successfully and cope with the growing competition and time pressure, it is necessary to incorporate a maximum degree of flexibility and efficiency in the existing processes and methods.
The automation of process stages is the first and most obvious solution – but by no means can all steps be automated without a problem. For this reason, manual systems such as so-called “person-to-goods” picking are often used. The advantages over an automated system are the particularly high degree of flexibility and technically supported minimum error rate – despite the human component.
Implementing person-to-goods picking
The easiest and still the most frequent way of implementing person-to-goods picking is pick-by-paper. Here, the warehouse location, ID number, and quantity of articles to be collected are noted on a picking slip. The picking slip serves as a basis for the employee to process the orders. Pick-by-paper is certainly relatively easy, but inefficient and prone to error.
Because of these limitations of pick-by-paper, more and more completely new approaches that make use of current technical possibilities have emerged:
- Pick-by-light
- Pick-by-voice
- Pick-by-scan
- Pick-by-Vision
Each of these methods has its own particular advantages and reservations, but Pick-by-Vision is noticeably better than all the other picking methods: As an innovative, AR-supported solution based on the use of data glasses, Pick-by-Vision is currently developing as the leading manual picking technology – which can also elevate your picking process to a new level of efficiency.
The Advantages of Using Pick-by-Vision
The obvious advantages of Pick-by-Vision are greater picking speed and a minimization of the error rate.
This leaves both the employee’s hands free, and tools no longer have to be picked up, put down, or stored in pockets. The order pickers are spared a lot of unnecessary movements, enabling them to work ergonomically and intuitively with free hands.
The system itself is very flexible and adaptable. The software runs in the data glasses themselves, and if desired, can be adjusted quickly with regard to the location and the job. The audiovisual operation is very intuitive – employees understand the clear instructions and actions even without having received expensive training in advance. This enables new, untrained employees to start faster and without complication.
Bidirectional communication.Source: Novatec internal
A data glasses connection to the warehouse management or ERP system offers additional important advantages for employees. For example, orders can be posted in real time and the status of a current order can always be monitored.
Also of interest: AR technology often works with spatial information, and as such, not only serves as a visual support for employees, but can also be expanded to include indoor navigation.
With Pick-by-Vision, you benefit from many important advantages
- High picking speed
- Low error rate
- High flexibility
- Intuitive audiovisual support
- Ergonomic operation
- Reduced training costs
- Navigation
- Integration in WMS and ERP
How Pick-by-Vision Works
Data glasses with the right software and a connection to the warehouse management system are the heart of the Pick-by-Vision picking method.
An employee wears the data glasses and receives orders in real time. All the relevant information required to fill the orders is projected onto his field of view by the display. The employee can see immediately which warehouse position is involved, what the article number is, how large the quantity is to be removed, or where the articles are to be put down.
The data glasses themselves feature sophisticated sensors and the latest software. They are able to consistently sense and process the surroundings, the position, and the viewing direction of the order picker, and convert them to virtual elements. For example, the operator sees a navigation arrow or guiding line displayed in the field of view to guide him dynamically through the warehouse. It is also possible to highlight relevant bins and warehouse positions as well as prominent elements in color. This technology that operates consistently with the real surroundings serves as a basis for expanding the application to include indoor navigation.
Example of a pick-by-vision application.Source: Adobe Stock, zapp2photo
Another strength of AR-supported picking is evident in the processing of returns. Because returns arrive unsorted, sometimes are no longer in their original packaging, or need to be prepared again, picking cannot be performed according to standard procedures. Pick-by-Vision displays important information for processing the returns in the employee’s field of vision, thus enabling the processing to be fast and uncomplicated. This information can range from simple displays to precise step-by-step instructions.
In the warehouse management system, Pick-by-Vision data is provided by voice input or is scanned by the data glasses camera. In this manner, the inventory in the warehouse management system is adjusted automatically based on the picking activities. If scanning by the integrated camera is too cumbersome for your application, a glove with a built-in barcode scanner and Bluetooth interface can also be used as an alternative.
Our Pick-by-Vision Services
We can make Pick-by-Vision an integral part of your warehouse logistics
Because the use of data glasses is the heart of each Pick-by-Vision solution, it is our responsibility to find the optimal software for you.
We place special emphasis on:
- A high degree of robustness
- A long battery life
- Comfortable ergonomics
- Ease of use
Once one has found the right data glasses, the next step is to develop the solution.
We can make Pick-by-Vision an integral part of your warehouse logistics
Following our DNA, we proceed with complete agility:
- Step by step and in close consultation with you, we develop the solution and ensure an optimal implementation that will meet your requirements.
- We will ensure that the new system is integrated into your existing warehouse management system, so your individual Pick-by-Vision solution becomes an integral part of your warehouse logistics.
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