eCommerce
The requirements of the industry are very much focused on volume. The goal is to ship orders quickly, with a maximum number of items ordered. Subsequent deliveries should be avoided as much as possible. Nevertheless, a high volume of returns is to be expected in a shop system.
Quantity or quality in e-commerce?
Depending on the value of the item and other specific requirements (batches, serial numbers, etc.), more or less attention is paid to quality when picking e-commerce items. The high volume and performance-oriented work, as well as the rapid turnover of employees, require simple and self-explanatory picking systems (such as Pick by Light, Pick-by-Frame®, Pick-by-Point®). The systems and LUCA software must therefore be very flexible and quickly adaptable. Due to the high performance, Voice Picking is only suitable for this to a limited extent.
Manual or automatic?
High levels of automation are not always suitable for e-commerce. Depending on seasonal workload at individual warehouses, simple and flexible systems are often better. If warehouse performance and staffing levels remain constant, fully automated warehouses controlled by sophisticated conveyor technology and material flow systems are often the better solution.
single picking
This method involves picking an order from the warehouse. The manual method, which is not very effective, is still often used today in many e-commerce warehouses where paper lists are still used. The walking distances covered by employees during their daily routine are not optimal. The method is well suited for large orders with high volumes and express orders. If automatic conveyor technology with material flow control is used with this method, performance can be significantly increased. LUCA offers various systems to support this picking method and, above all, to ensure quality: Pick-by-Scan,Pick-by-Light System, Voice Picking, material flow systems. The decision as to which system is best suited for e-commerce use with LUCA software is made jointly with planners and customers during workshops.
Multi-Order-Picking
With this method, several orders are picked simultaneously on a picking trolley. Several items for several orders are taken from a storage compartment and distributed directly as required. This means that several orders are picked simultaneously in a single pass through the warehouse. Picking with a paper picking list is not suitable for this and, due to the potential for errors, should only be carried out by experienced employees. The problem with this method without technical support is that distributing the picked items in the correct quantities to the correct compartments often leads to mix-ups. LUCA software supports this method with various systems that are well suited for this purpose (see Pick-by-Cart or Pick-by-Frame®). In order to decide on the right method, various parameters and factors must first be analyzed in workshops.
Multi-step picking
In large warehouses with a diverse range of items and order structures, it often makes sense to divide picking into two stages. First, a batch with N orders is created. In the first stage, all items from the batch are picked from the warehouse and placed in collection boxes or containers, optimized for the route. In the second stage, the items from the activated batch are scanned (advantage: additional quality assurance, disadvantage: additional handling) and sorted into the target compartments (orders). Various LUCA systems with professional LUCA software are available to support both stages.
Packing
Once all picked items have been assigned to an order, the packages are packed and prepared for shipping. Depending on the workflow and requirements, the packing stations are equipped with delivery note and shipping label printers, cardboard boxes, special labels, etc. LUCA systems support, for example, customer- and order-specific sorting of advertising material and/or vouchers. Some highly automated systems also use carton sealers and automatic labeling stations.
Consolidation & Sorting
For large-volume orders, individual cartons or even several pallets must be consolidated and prepared for shipping. LUCA solutions offer a variety of methods for consolidation. Individual cartons and pallets are also sorted manually or fully automatically at the goods issue area, depending on the destination, country, or shipper. The goods issue area is often equipped with suitable conveyor technology.
Find out more about order picking.
