Comparison guide · Order picking
Voice picking, RF scanning or paper: how to pick orders.
Updated on · Binari Software Solutions
Short answer
With paper, the operator follows a printed list and nobody checks what they pick until it reaches the customer. With radio frequency (RF), the operator follows the instructions on a terminal screen and confirms each line by scanning the barcode: it is the most versatile option, because it captures lots, expiry dates and serial numbers. With voice picking, they receive instructions through a headset and confirm by speaking, with hands and eyes free: it performs better in intensive picking, in the cold or with gloves on. Many warehouses combine the two: voice for picking and RF for receiving, put-away and stock counts.
Comparison
| Criterion | Paper | RF scanning | Voice |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the task arrives | Printed list. | Terminal screen. | Headset. |
| How it is confirmed | Ticked off on paper. | Barcode scan. | Spoken check digit or quantity. |
| Hands and eyes | Busy with the paper. | One hand on the terminal. | Free. |
| Errors | Found at the customer’s end. | The terminal warns on the spot. | The system warns on the spot. |
| Lots, serial numbers and expiry dates | By hand, if written down. | Read from the barcode. | Spoken, or combined with scanning. |
| Cold and gloves | Awkward. | Possible, with suitable terminals. | The most comfortable. |
| Training | Minimal, but with no control. | Short: the terminal guides. | Short: the system talks. |
| Best for | Very few orders. | Receiving, put-away, stock counts and varied picking. | Intensive picking of many lines. |
Paper
A printed list is cheap and needs nothing else, but it controls nothing: errors are discovered when the customer complains, stock is updated when someone types it in and there is no way of knowing who picked what. It only makes sense with very few orders.
RF scanning
The terminal (the «scanner gun») shows the task and reads the barcode of the location, the article or the pallet. It is the warehouse’s all-rounder: it is used for receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, stock counts and loading, and it is the best tool for capturing lots, expiry dates, serial numbers and SSCC or GS1-128 codes. Current terminals run Android.
Voice
The operator wears a headset and microphone; the system tells them which location to go to and how many units to pick, and they confirm with the slot’s check digit and the quantity. With hands and eyes free they work more safely and faster on picks with many lines, and it is especially useful in cold rooms and with gloves on.
Combining them
You do not have to choose just one. In high-volume warehouses the usual set-up is voice for order picking and RF for receiving, put-away, stock counts and dispatch, where many barcodes have to be scanned. The WMS shares out the work and records it in the same way whichever method it comes from.
What suits you
- Paper if…
- you pick very few orders a day and errors do not cost you customers.
- RF scanning if…
- your orders are varied, you work with lots, expiry dates or serial numbers, or you want to start with a single tool for the whole warehouse.
- Voice if…
- you pick orders with many lines, you work in the cold or with gloves on and picking productivity is what matters most.
Frequently asked questions
- Does voice picking work in a noisy warehouse?
- Warehouse voice equipment is built for noisy environments and recognises each operator’s voice. It is worth trying it in your own warehouse before deciding.
- Can voice be used to capture lots?
- They can be read out, but if there are many lots or serial numbers it is usually better to scan them. That is why the two are combined.
- What is the check digit?
- A short number stuck on each location. The operator says it on arrival and the system checks they are at the right slot.
- Can I use my current terminals?
- If they are Android or Windows RF terminals, usually yes. We check them before implementation.