Voice-based order picking has become the technology of choice for warehouses wanting to improve operational efficiency ad accuracy. It can typically deliver 99.9% picking accuracy, show a 25% rise in productivity and give a return on investment in under nine months, but further, hitherto unavailable benefits now beckon from migration to cloud-based voice solutions.
The big advantage of cloud-based technology is that it does not require significant internal IT costs because it uses Internet connectivity based on a subscription model. This allows operators to implement voice software quickly and so bypass the traditional upfront costs, time and resource commitments associated with on-premises solutions, says Voxware president, Keith Phillips. This is particularly good news for the smaller retailers who traditionally could not afford to employ a voice deployment project.
Usually, deploying a new technology can mean much financial outlay. By using cloud-based voice, the solution provider has already invested in the infrastructure needed to host and scale the voice solution. The infrastructure is more robust and extensive than any single company would likely implement. Moreover, the installation of static on-site solutions compare unfavourably with the cloud approach because they require extensive customisation that only only increases overall solution costs but extends the bedding in time before up and running. The flexibility of Cloud also lets businesses adapt more easily as needs evolve. A Cloud-based voice solution also includes hardware and software upgrades within the subscription pricing.
Usually, the highest cost centre in any warehouse, after inventory carrying costs, is the cost of order picking, yet how many people are aware that for a relatively modest outlay a change over to voice picking can collectively yield billions of pounds worth of savings. Vocollect, for example, with nearly a million users, conservatively estimates that they have saved their customers $20 billion between January and mid May 2013. The range of voice-enabled technology goes well outside traditional warehouse activities. One Japanese shipbuilder uses Vocollect to build ships. The loading bay is another opportunity area. “We do a lot of installations for the loading bay where our Voice solution integrates with route planning software to ensure the packages are loaded in the right order for delivery,” said a Vocollect spokesman. Voice can also stop frozen or chilled goods being loaded if the temperature is not right. Vocollect said that in 2012 only 10% of its deals were for order picking. All the others had multiple applications and the technology allows for a multi-skilled workforce without costly training.
While voice-activated order picking can improve productivity compared with hand-held barcode readers, and virtually eliminate all picking errors, in certain scenarios the time spent burning shoe leather needs careful consideration to see if automated goods-to-picker would justify greater investment. Recently, Amazon came in for criticism in its use of voice-enabled order pickers typically walking up to seven miles a day but Amazon is no slouch in warehouse efficiency. Interestingly, it has bought Kiva Systems, specialists in mobile robotic picking solutions, whose miniature AGV profiles are remarkably flexible in handling a wide range of pieces, cartons and pallet loads, while also able to scale up easily and very quickly to cope with future business changes. They have just announced that the Kiva AGVs will be unavailable outside Amazons’ needs for two years because their own needs will keep robot production at full stretch. What that means for human order picker numbers one can only guess.
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