Millions of cartons and products are picked each day using voice picking systems. These real-time systems are saving thousands of dollars by improving workers productivity and reducing mispick costs.

Where it fits

Voice-picking systems are designed to service fast-medium and medium-slow full case and split case products, making them a flexible choice for order fulfilment.

Use of the technology has shown standards-based picking rates to increase by around 20%, with error rates slashed to one-tenth of a percent or less. The cost of voice-picking systems depends on the number of operators, which makes it an economical choice, where there are a large number of SKUs to be serviced.

World-Leading Voice Recognition Technology

Dematic voice applications use voice recognition technology and voice equipment from Vocollect, logistics industry leaders in voice technologies. Vocollect voice offers speaker-dependent implementation, which provides many advantages over speaker-independent technology:

• Better voice recognition
• Less data across the radio network
• Continued picking even with poor radio coverage.
• Vocollect Talkman mobile computers are equipped with industrial headsets featuring:
  - Sealed microphone and speaker
  - Cupped option for noisy environments
  - Breakaway connector for enhanced OH&S.

The benefits of voice-picking

By providing eyes-free, hands-free operation, workers are able to hear instructions and perform tasks without having to look down at a hand-held computer screen display or sort through a pack of pickinglabels. The voice computer interacts in real-time with the host computer or WMS via an RF link, prompting the operator through a task with audible commands and waiting for a verbal confirmation or request.

Increased Productivity and Accuracy Without the Need for Scanning

Productivity increases as operators hear their next location upon confirming the last completed pick.

To verify they have reached the correct location, pickers are often asked to read a randomly assigned check digit on the slot. This makes the system virtually fool-proof, eliminating costly picking errors and improving customer service levels. Barcodes and scanners are not needed. The response from operators and managers at sites where Voice has been implemented is very positive.Users typically comments that their operators like the fact that they don’t need to handle paperwork or labels, and have their hands and eyes free to do the job.

Easy and Quick to Learn 

A major benefit with Voice compared to conventional RF technology, is that it requires very little training. The operator simply slips on the headset and voice-computer, spends around 15 minutes familiarising the computer with their voice, and they can begin work almost immediately. This is very attractive in distribution operations, where a large number of casual staff are often required during peak periods.

Extending Voice into Split Case Applications

Split case voice picking applications have also been fully integrated into routing and sortation systems. Missed picks are automatically re-diverted to the correct picking zone and short-picked orders are automatically diverted to QA areas.

Split case applications also allow for multiple orders to be batched together for more efficient picking of small orders in pick modules. Alternately, multiple orders can be batched to a cart, to handle the slowest moving area within a warehouse.

Dematic has implemented thousands of Voice terminals around the world during the past couple of years. 

Benefits Summary  

• Hands-free eyes free picking
• Improved picking productivity up to 22%
• Improved picking accuracy up to 99.9%
• Reduced operator training time