The benefits of stacking software
In most companies, order picking is one of the most labour-intensive processes in the warehouse. Moreover, it is also a decisive process: every mistake is immediately pointed out to the customer. It is therefore of great importance that these processes run as efficiently and error-free as possible.
Single order-picking
Single order picking is a common technique where all orders are picked one by one. This means that order pickers complete an order and then pack it into boxes or put it on pallets before starting on a new order.
Pick-to-cart
As the number of items increases, the walking distances of order pickers increase. Walking then becomes the most time-consuming and least value-adding activity. ‘Pick-to-cart’ is a well-known technique for increasing the efficiency of order picking. Multiple orders are combined and handled in batches.
Pick-to-box
With the ‘Pick-to-Box’ principle, you go one step further. The picker goes into the warehouse with different boxes and products are immediately placed in the final shipping box. This shortens the process with another step.
This sounds ideal, but you must be able to determine in advance how big the boxes must be. The operator must also be able to fit the articles correctly into the box on his/her pick route.
StackAssist in combination with Pick-to-cart and Pick-to-box
First of all, StackAssist can help to determine the type of box in which each order should be packed. This way, it is sure to fit and you avoid repacking afterwards.
In addition, StackAssist prescribes the most efficient stacking of the products. This not only helps the picker to load everything appropriately in a short space of time, but also ensures that the shipping box is as small as possible and contains as little empty volume (air) as possible.
Finally, it is known in advance which products are in which box, and the total weight is predicted. When the weight is measured for verification, you know immediately whether there is a picking error. An important precondition is that the master data of the product is in order.
How does your order picking process work?
Single, box or cart, with StackAssist you increase the efficiency of your order picking and reduce mistakes in this process. Questions about how our software can improve your process? Ask them below or contact us directly.
