Voice Picking | How it Works, Benefits & More

The global adoption of voice picking solutions is evident from its market size valued at USD 2.47 billion in 2023 and projected growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3% from 2024 to 2030. (Grand View Research)

The entire supply chain would collapse if warehouses weren’t functioning well, making them the unseen focal point of supply chain management. The world of warehousing is much more complex than just handling urgent parcels. Modern warehouses grapple with problems like erroneous inventory tracking and unsustainable labor costs! 

Order picking is the backbone of all warehouse operations, including product receipt, storage, order picking, and dispatch. Picking up the correct order is crucial since it has a direct impact on supply chain productivity. Collecting products for every purchase placed by a customer, in the correct quantity, and ensuring that it is the same product as ordered–for millions of customers, every time is no short of a Herculean undertaking!  

Voice picking, also known as Pick-by-Voice, is used to make this task easier and more efficient. It comes to warehousing operations as an enhancement upon the prior version of the HHT-based scanning system for picking and offers a fresh opportunity to gain the upper hand in the aggressive supply-chain market. 

What’s In the Voice and How Does It Function? 

Pick-By-Voice is a small, wearable device with speech recognition and voice directing software loaded. This is how it works. 

• Warehouse staff have the voice unit with them.
• They get vocal prompts from the mobile unit.
• They are routed to specified areas in the warehouse based on the algorithm.
• They read the items’ confirmation codes (check digits) and speak prepared commands into the headset’s microphone.
• The speech recognition module validates the worker’s response and returns with the picking quantity.
• After validating the quantity picked, the worker gets the product and proceeds to the next location.
• The entire system is designed to optimize the operator’s pick path, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system. 

What Makes the Pick-by-Voice Special? 

A system that is solely focused on speaking and listening allows your staff from touching anything other than the product they are intended to be managing. There are no instruction sheets, code scanners, equipment, or checklists that people must place down and pick up before and after working with a product.
This streamlines employee functionality. In reality, this increases productivity and accuracy by 35% and 85%, respectively.

Then there is the issue of labor safety. With fewer barriers to divert your operator’s attention, the risk of product damage or staff accident is reduced. Even if they are picking up a really heavy thing or handling a fragile item, their chances of injuring themselves or vandalizing the goods are greatly reduced. 

Finally, this approach eliminates all documentation requirements. Furthermore, voice selecting training is both rapid and easy. It makes the operator’s task slightly smoother and easier; it eventually leads to a more satisfied and thus loyal operator. 

Zesty Pick by voice 

 Zesty, Addverb’s Pick-by-Voice technology streamlines the order picking process using voice commands to direct workers without paper or RF devices. It offers quick and accurate item picking and packing through real-time instructions with a user-friendly interface delivered with advanced speech recognition. 

Voice Picking solutions are cutting-edge systems that eliminate the need for paper-based processes. By utilising clear and intuitive voice prompts, these hands-free solutions direct order fulfilment workers to precise locations within the warehouse and provide instructions on which products to pick for fulfilling customer orders efficiently. 

Why Pick-by-Voice?

• Here are the problems voice picking solves for you: 
• Improves inventory accuracy, picking accuracy, and employee productivity 
• Increases operator-safety 
• Reduces training time for operators 
• Eliminates paperwork, and hence redundancy 
• Leads to a better customer experience. 

The system converts speech to data with advanced speech recognition software. This software learns what each word sounds like – regardless of language or dialect, so the operator of any region irrespective of their mother tongue, can adjust as easily as those whose first language is English or Hindi. Today, voice technology is available in Indian regional languages as well. In other words, this system can work anywhere around the world without any difficulty. 

END NOTE 

Pick by voice is not just flexible but also offers a stellar increase in productivity and efficiency for warehouses. The market is expected to adopt voice picking systems in the upcoming years readily. With the scale of warehousing picking in India, voice is expected to be the next technology that will hit a tipping point. We suggest you jump on this ship while the good seats are still available. 

FAQ

What is Voice Picking?

Voice picking uses voice-directed technology to guide warehouse workers, replacing paper or handheld devices with vocal prompts.

How does voice picking work?

Workers wear a voice unit and follow vocal instructions, confirming actions with voice commands for efficient and accurate picking.

What are the benefits?

It boosts productivity by 35%, improves accuracy by 85%, reduces labor costs, and enhances safety by eliminating paper and device use.

How does it improve safety?

It minimizes distractions, reducing the risk of injuries and product damage.

Can it be used in multiple languages?

Yes, it supports multiple languages and regional dialects.