BEC (Systems Integration) Ltd., the UK-based supplier of data capture solutions for supply chain logistics and manufacturing, has recently launched its new eSmart Voice WMS Solution.
Voice-Directed Warehousing, VDW, Voice Picking, Voice in the warehouse
Voice-directed warehousing (VDW) utilises Voice direction and speech recognition software in warehouses and distribution centres (DCs). Other terms related to the deployment of Voice technology in the warehouse include Voice-directed picking and Voice-directed distribution. Voice-enabled workers wear a headset connected to a small wearable computer. The computer provides instructions to the worker in terms of what where to go and what to store or pick within the warehouse or DC. Workers are then required to confirm each task has been completed by saying pre-determined stock phrases and codes found at different warehouse locations or goods. The often cited benefits of 'Voice' include its being hands-free, 'eyes-free' and a faster and more accurate methodology than using paper 'pick lists' etc.
Horseware keeps a tight rein on its warehousing operations thanks to door-to-door Voice solution from BEC and Honeywell
Jan 14, 2016
Founded in 1985, Horseware Ireland is one of the world's most well-known and prestigious designers and manufacturers of riding wear, leisure wear, horse rugs, equestrian products and accessories.
John Lewis deploys Voiteq’s VoiceMan Screen-to-Voice technology across distribution centres
Nov 18, 2015
Voiteq has announced that leading UK retailer, John Lewis, has implemented its VoiceMan Screen-to-Voice solution. As volumes in omni-channel continue to grow and productivity demands increase.
Voice and multi-modal technology – the perfect combination
Nov 12, 2015
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with Bart Riviere, business development director for speech solutions at Zebra Technologies, about what he believes to be some of the primary reasons why it is time to move to Voice and multi-modal solutions.
Out with the old Voice system, in with the new: Coop Netherlands boosts productivity with Vocollect by 10%
Nov 04, 2015
Several years ago, as part of a programme to introduce an integrated SAP system, Coop Netherlands implemented a Voice system which was not from Honeywell Vocollect.
Voice of reason in the warehouse - WMS & Voice Picking Technology report October 2015
Oct 31, 2015
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke to a number of key spokespeople from the vendor and analyst communities about recent developments in the world of Voice-directed software and hardware and warehouse management systems – including those involving mobility, Cloud/SaaS and Big Data.
Voxware announces new food bank community partnership
Oct 14, 2015
Voxware has launched a new programme to support its food bank customers. Speaking to an audience of food bank leaders at the Feeding America FTHR Learning Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, Voxware President and CEO Keith Phillips outlined Voxware's food bank program.
E-commerce trends driving distribution centres’ need for new mobile technology
Oct 14, 2015
The growth of e-commerce increases consumer choice and flexibility, but it also challenges distribution centres to keep pace with consumers' higher expectations for faster and more accurate delivery.
Community FoodBank of New Jersey implements Voxware to serve more hungry families
Sep 23, 2015
Voxware, the independent Voice application company and provider of Cloud-based Voice solutions, has announced the successful implementation of its flagship Cloud Voice Management Suite (VMS) at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, a four-star rated charity serving 17 of New Jersey's 21 counties.
Data indexing - the way forward
Sep 10, 2015
Retired university lecturer Jim Williamson has developed a new approach to indexing of data, with positive implications for the warehousing and logistics industry.
Voice-directed warehousing
Voice Picking or Voice-directed warehousing (VDW) has emerged as the “go-to” technology to improve product selection /order picking in a warehouse. It improves picking accuracy and delivers significant savings by avoiding the various types of pick error which occur in the warehouse. Voice technology uses speech recognition and speech synthesis to allow workers to communicate with the Warehouse Management System (WMS). Warehouse operatives use a wireless, wearable computer with a headset and microphone to receive instructions by voice, and verbally confirm their actions back to the system. The wearable computer, or voice terminal, communicates with the Warehouse Management Software via a radio frequency (RF) local area network (LAN).
Voice-directed warehousing is typically used instead of paper- or mobile computer-based systems that require workers to read instructions and scan barcodes or key-enter information to confirm their tasks. By freeing a worker's hands and eyes, voice directed systems typically improve efficiency, accuracy, and safety. Whilst VDW was originally used in picking orders, now all warehouse functions such as goods receiving, put-away, replenishment, shipping, and returns processing can be coordinated by voice systems.
Improvements in order picking accuracy are dramatic, and accuracy of 99.9% (one error per thousand picks), and often much better, is usually achieved. The improvements that you obtain will depend on your current method of order picking, but if you are moving from a paper-based system to voice directed picking, picking errors are usually reduced by between 80% and 90%. By using voice directed instructions with a headset, the warehouse pickers communicate much more naturally with the hosts system. This enables the picker to focus on identifying stock locations, travelling to next pick and on handling the materials. There is no need to juggle and RF terminal or paper pick lists. In addition there is no requirement to constantly shift focus from a handheld display/keyboard to the product and back – thereby reducing operator fatigue.
In terms of investment or ROI the case for implementing Voice in the warehouse is usually based on the pick accuracy and productivity improvements that voice directed technology delivers. By understanding the real cost of pick inaccuracies it becomes clear how voice picking is able to produce a strong return on investment within a relatively short period of time.
Voice Picking solutions can be integrated with your existing ERP , Supply Chain Software or WMS and can either be proprietary /closed source or open source. A closed source system is one where the licensing of the source code, the programming language calls and functions, is not generally available. Modifications to the Voice system, that is a closed source system requires a contract for services with the software vendor. Open source architecture, enables the software to be used in conjunction with various different types of compatible hardware /mobile computers and fits easily with a wide range of standard and custom warehouse management systems.
Voice solutions are now available in the Cloud, lowering CAPEX –(Capital Expenditure) and enabling smaller to mid-size operations to have access to the same technology as larger organisations on a per-user cost basis. Implementation of a Voice solution can now take days instead of months enabling users to immediately leverage the product's key capabilities and make dramatic improvements in efficiency in the warehouse.
There are three different types of error which can occur in a warehouse during the picking process: short, over and mis-picks.
Short picks- The cost of rectifying a short pick is the administrative effort of telesales and admin staff resolving the credit claim and the margin lost on goods sale.
Over picks are where the customer receives more of an item than they ordered and paid for. Over picks may often go unreported for obvious reasons. If ran over pick is reported, the costs to rectify include return transport costs, admin as per short picks, labour costs in handling the return, and in the case of best before or perishable products the cost of writing off stock.
Mis-picks are where the wrong item is shipped to the customer. If the error is correctly reported as a mis-pick all of the same rectification costs for over picks apply. If the error is reported as a short pick, i.e. not returned or paid for, there is the additional cost of replacing the or crediting the item which was not shipped which means that mis-picks can be the most costly type of error.
