Pick-by-Voice in Fresh Produce Logistics
Order Fulfillment: Pick-by-Voice in Fresh Produce Logistics
Efficiency, Quality, and Ergonomics in Conjunction with SAP
Walking and Picking: A picker’s workday consists primarily of these two activities, with walking accounting for the vast majority of the time. In large logistics centers, it’s not uncommon to take 16,000 steps per shift if there are no optimized routes or electric pallet jacks.
In any case, order picking is one of the most cost-intensive processes in warehouse logistics. Depending on the warehouse structure, up to 60 percent of operating warehouse costs are attributable to the fulfillment of customer orders.
Various Factors
The situation in fresh produce logistics for the food wholesale industry is particularly challenging. This sector involves high order volumes, short delivery times, varying temperature zones, and perishable goods. At the same time, customers expect error-free deliveries and maximum product freshness.
This raises the question of how productivity, quality, and employee efficiency can all be increased equally. One technology that has proven itself in this environment for years is pick-by-voice. When combined with a high-performance warehouse management system such as pLG WMS, the proVoice voice solution, and a leading ERP system such as SAP, it creates an end-to-end process chain that meets the specific requirements of fresh produce logistics.
The Unique Challenges of Fresh Produce Logistics
The picking of fresh produce differs significantly from traditional warehousing processes in other industries. While industrial goods markets often handle large order volumes with relatively stable inventory levels, fresh produce logistics is characterized by a high degree of dynamism. Typical challenges include limited shelf life, batch management, and frequent changes to the product assortment.
In addition, employees often work in refrigerated or frozen storage areas. In these environments, gloves, moisture, or low temperatures make it significantly more difficult to use traditional data-collection devices. This is precisely where Pick-by-Voice really shines.
Challenges in Fresh Produce Logistics:
- short product life cycles,
- daily inventory fluctuations,
- different best-by dates,
- Batch Management,
- various temperature ranges,
- tight deadlines,
- frequent changes to the product lineup,
- sharp spikes in orders.
Hands-Free Thanks to Pick-by-Voice
In voice-guided order picking, employees receive their work instructions directly through a headset. Communication takes place via voice input and voice output. For example, the employee hears:
“Aisle 12, bin 34, remove four units.”
Confirmation is also voice-activated. The order picker confirms the storage location and the quantity picked without having to operate a display or carry paper lists. This keeps both hands free and allows the picker to focus entirely on the merchandise.
Advantages of Pick-by-Voice:
- higher productivity
- lower error rates
- improved ergonomics
- improved workplace safety
- shorter training periods
- Reliable processes, even in refrigerated areas
Pick-by-Voice Increases Productivity
In many fresh-food warehouses, employees must process several thousand items during their shift. Every additional action—such as scanning a barcode or operating a display—takes up valuable time. Pick-by-Voice significantly reduces these non-productive times.
Since order pickers have both hands free, they can focus entirely on picking up, inspecting, and moving the goods. At the same time, they no longer have to constantly shift their gaze between the storage location and the data collection device. This results in shorter picking times and higher productivity per employee.
This can lead to significant efficiency gains, particularly for items with high turnover rates.
Fewer errors despite high processing speeds
In addition to productivity, quality plays a key role in order picking. Incorrect order picking in the food wholesale industry not only results in direct costs but can also have a lasting negative impact on customer satisfaction. For example, incorrectly delivered products lead to customer complaints and high costs due to replacement shipments. Voice-guided processes significantly reduce these and other risks.
Verifying check digits at the storage location and providing immediate feedback during the picking process creates an additional layer of quality control. Errors are detected during the work process itself, rather than only at the time of shipment.
This contributes significantly to process reliability, especially for fresh products with different batches or best-by dates.
The Costly Consequences of Picking Errors:
- Complaints
- Backorders
- increased administrative burden
- additional shipping costs
- bad reviews on customer platforms
Benefits in Refrigerated and Frozen Warehouses
The unique working conditions in temperature-controlled storage areas often make traditional data-collection devices impractical. Touchscreens do not respond well when gloves are worn, displays fog up, and protective clothing makes it difficult to operate the devices. Pick-by-Voice completely eliminates these problems.
This ensures that employees maintain their performance even under demanding conditions. Many companies report particularly significant increases in productivity following the implementation of voice-guided processes, especially in cold storage and frozen food warehouses.
Pick-by-Voice operates independently of:
- Gloves
- Moisture
- low temperatures
- poor lighting conditions
SAP as the central database
The food wholesale industry is increasingly relying on SAP as its central ERP system. This is where relevant business data is generated and managed, including customer orders, product master data, and supplier information. SAP ensures company-wide data consistency and provides the foundation for all downstream processes.
SAP manages procurement processes, invoicing, and controlling. However, the operational management of warehouse processes requires specialized functions that go beyond traditional ERP tasks.
An ERP system such as SAP generates and manages the following data:
- Customer orders
- Article master data
- Supplier Information
- Inventory Data
pLG WMS takes over operational warehouse management
Where SAP reaches its limits, highly specialized and flexible warehouse management systems—such as proLogistik’s pLG WMS—come into play.
The warehouse management software controls all warehouse movements and ensures that orders from SAP are processed optimally. New customers and changes to requirements and processes can be quickly implemented in pLG WMS.
Key Features of pLG WMS:
- Inbound Goods Control
- Warehouse Management
- Batch Management
- MHD management
- Inventory Control
- Order picking
- Packaging
- Loading
- Inventory
proVoice as a voice interface to the warehouse
The voice-guided solution proVoice enhances pLG WMS with a powerful pick-by-voice component. proVoice serves as a highly integrated and direct communication interface between employees and the warehouse management system.
Employees work exclusively using voice commands, while all process data is automatically documented. The process is fully digital. The result is a seamless flow of information without any media breaks.
Smooth Operations Despite High Turnover
Another advantage of pick-by-voice is its ease of use. In times of a growing shortage of skilled workers and high employee turnover, this aspect is becoming increasingly important. New employees can often be put to work productively after just a few hours, as the system guides them step by step through the process.
The voice-guided instructions reduce the need for training and make it easier for employees—even those without extensive warehouse experience—to get started. This offers significant advantages, especially during peak seasonal periods.
The picking process with proVoice:
- SAP creates the sales order
- pLG WMS optimizes picking orders
- proVoice relays the instructions to the employees
- Employees provide real-time feedback via voice input
- pLG WMS updates inventory levels
- SAP receives the relevant status information in return
ERP, WMS, and Pick-by-Voice: A Symbiotic Relationship
The combination of SAP, pLG WMS, and proVoice provides real-time information from every stage of the warehouse process. This data enables targeted management of warehouse operations and lays the foundation for continuous improvement.
Real-time data from an integrated solution featuring SAP, pLG WMS, and proVoice
- Order Progress
- Picking Performance
- Changes in Inventory
- Resource Utilization
- Error Rates
- Processing Times
Conclusion
The demands on fresh produce logistics will continue to rise in the coming years. Shorter delivery windows, higher service expectations, and increasing cost pressures require warehouse processes to be organized with ever-greater efficiency.
Pick-by-Voice has long since evolved from a niche technology into an established standard with further potential. In the future, voice-guided processes will increasingly be combined with other technologies—such as AI-powered order optimization, automated conveyor systems, or mobile assistance systems.
The integration of SAP, the leading ERP system, pLG WMS, the central platform for warehouse management, and the proVoice voice solution creates a seamless digital process chain.
As a result, the food wholesale industry gains not only in efficiency but also in transparency, flexibility, and future-proofing—crucial factors for long-term success in an increasingly demanding market environment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pick-by-Voice
Pick-by-Voice is voice-guided order picking: Employees receive their work instructions via voice output through a headset and confirm the storage location and quantity via voice input. A display or paper list is not necessary, and both hands remain free.
Fresh produce logistics is characterized by short shelf lives, batch management, varying temperature zones, and tight deadlines. Pick-by-Voice boosts productivity and quality in this environment and works reliably even in situations where traditional data collection devices reach their limits.
Voice-guided order picking leads to higher productivity, lower error rates, improved ergonomics and workplace safety, shorter training times, and reliable processes—even in refrigerated areas.
Yes. Since there are no touchscreens or displays to operate, gloves, moisture, low temperatures, and poor lighting conditions are not an issue. Companies report particularly significant increases in productivity, especially in temperature-controlled areas.
As an ERP system, SAP provides business data such as customer orders and product master data. pLG WMS handles operational warehouse management and optimizes picking orders, while proVoice serves as the voice interface for employees. This creates a seamless digital process chain without any media breaks.
Verifying check digits at the storage location and providing immediate feedback during the picking process creates an additional layer of quality control. Errors are detected during the work process itself, rather than only at the time of shipment.
The system guides users through the process step by step, so new employees can often become productive after just a few hours. This reduces the training burden and is particularly helpful in the face of a skilled labor shortage, high turnover, and seasonal peaks.
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