You may not have thought much about how heavily e-commerce retailers depend on the warehouse employees where they store their products. Who else would retrieve the right items when a consumer orders something?
There are five different order-picking methods that third-party logistics companies can utilize to retrieve items, from clothing to nutraceutical fulfillment. Read on to see what each method entails as you streamline your warehouse strategy.
#1 Single Order Picking
This aptly named order-picking approach works well for small warehouses with minimal inventory. Typically, a fulfillment specialist will hand-pick the items and prepare them for your shipment.
You can see how this process can be time-consuming in a larger facility and slow down the operation. Some warehouses will use warehouse management systems (WMS) to make things go a little faster for the order pickers.
#2 Batch Picking
Why grab items for one order at a time when you can retrieve several items across a few batches that happen to be on the same shelf? The task-stacking approach is certainly quicker, but to work efficiently, fulfillment centers will need to rely on automated picking systems.
For example, pick-to-light systems aid with order fulfillment by “lighting up” the warehouse shelves holding the items within an order. All the picker has to do is scan the barcode of the order and then follow the lights. It’s speedy, as it stops the pickers from having to make multiple trips to the same warehouse section.
#3 Cluster Picking
Batch and cluster picking are among the most effective order-picking methods for fulfillment centers. Typically, warehouse employees will explore the premises with several containers to hold items for multiple orders separately.
As a specific way to batch pick, one of the biggest advantages of cluster picking is that it removes the need for item sorting later in the fulfillment process. However, implementing cluster picking requires quite a capable warehouse management system.
#4 Zone Picking
Countless warehouse and distribution experts swear by the zone-picking method for order fulfillment. This approach splits the warehouse space and inventory into different areas, with each zone assigned to an employee. As e-commerce orders come in, the pickers in each zone grab the necessary items and then pass their containers onto the next zone’s picker.
A bin goes through all of the warehouse’s zones and then moves to a separate location for packing and shipping. Zone picking is one of the most efficient order-picking methods, especially for larger warehouses, because nobody has to visit different areas multiple times.
#5 Wave Picking
The final option is wave picking, where warehouse employees blend facets of zone and batch picking. Fulfillment centers with high-volume orders often deploy this method, which groups orders in waves based on factors like:
- Order type
- Delivery deadline
- Customer location
- Order frequency
Optimize Your Order Processing With Streamline Fulfillment
Is your e-commerce business reaching new heights but leaving you struggling to keep up with the orders? A trusted third-party logistics provider like Streamline Fulfillment could help you optimize those operations with order-picking methods, flow-through distribution solutions, and more! Call (509) 888-2880 to learn more!