Why picking methods are crucial
A large factor in achieving successful ecommerce fulfilment is speed. Customers expect a fast and efficient service, a process that begins with efficient inventory management. If your picking methods are fast and accurate, orders will be processed and delivered in a timely manner, and your business is likely to succeed. If you suspect there may be a faster option available, your business should avoid continuing with your existing picking method that wastes valuable time.
Batch picking vs single order picking
In single order picking, orders are fulfilled by manually picking each item directly from a storage box, case or shelf. Warehouse workers will pick one customer order at a time from a pick list rather than picking up numerous items for various orders, making this a reliable, if time-consuming, method.
In addition to serving as a simple, accurate warehouse inventory process, single-order picking also provides the following benefits for your business:
- It uses little to no technology, which can ultimately save you time and money
- It requires little training, which may be important if your business doesn’t have time to train employees on how to use advanced technology
- Picking by order is less prone to errors than automated batch picking
- Start-up costs are low, with no expensive equipment; it is inexpensive to implement and execute
Possible negative aspects of single-order picking include:
- It means a lot of travel time around the warehouse, as pick lists are handed to workers who then visit a picking location for each order. This can be especially damaging to a company with a large number of orders per day
- It is labour-intensive, with high labour costs and a lot of warehouse workers required
- If your business has a larger number of orders than picks per order, you may struggle to stay on top of your ecommerce fulfilment process, leading to increased pressure on staff and ultimately, slower execution
What is batch picking?
Batch picking, also known as multi order picking, allows pickers to work on multiple orders at the same time, one SKU at a time. This is a faster warehouse operation process than picking single items one order at a time or picking orders with different SKUs and quantities consecutively. Many businesses move to this process when their customer demand increases or when there are a higher number of orders than the number of picks per warehouse order.
Batch picking systems reduce the average time to fulfil an order due to the result of less travel and time between orders. This can result in greater picking productivity and a faster order fulfilment process for the customer.
Fewer members of staff are required
Batch picking is less labour intensive, meaning fewer members of staff are required in the warehouse for order picking. This can benefit you as a manager if you have less time to manage staff and can make room for other responsibilities.
Less foot travel for employees
Batch picking can provide workers with an easier and less time-consuming way of picking orders, as it significantly decreases their foot travel in the warehouse. Batch picking helps centralise warehouse operations, so employees can complete the same task in bulk and travel less distance. When workers batch pick, they can be more productive and put their time to better use.
Ability to handle higher order volume
Batch picking will allow your staff to handle a greater number of orders without becoming overwhelmed or overworked. This means you can allow customer demand to grow without constantly hiring new staff.
Investment in warehouse equipment and technology
As opposed to single order picking, batch picking requires greater investment in warehouse equipment and the necessary technology to make the picking process run smoothly. You will also likely have to train staff on how to use certain equipment for this process and potentially adjust your warehouse layout.
Orders must be sorted and consolidated after picking
After products are picked, they must then be sorted and separated into separate orders. This can make the picking process slightly more complicated than the single order picking process. However, with good organisation, this process can remain efficient.
May result in more mistakes being made if the process is rushed
As the batch picking process is slightly more complicated, rushing the process may cause more mistakes to occur.
May be an unnecessary investment if you have a small warehouse
If you have a small warehouse and stock few items, batch picking may not bring any benefits to your business, as your workers won’t be travelling long distances for single order picking.
Choosing the best picking option for your ecommerce business
The best picking option for you should depend on your warehouse operation goals and trends in customer demands. Single order picking is a good fit for warehouses with many SKUs but low pick amounts per SKU. It is also ideal if there are more picks per order than number of orders. Single order picking is often ideal for start-up businesses with smaller warehouses. If you only sell a few items or all of your inventory fits in one room, then your pickable products will all be in close proximity to the picker with only a short distance required to get to the next SKU.
If your business is struggling to meet customer demands at a fast speed, batch picking can help increase customer satisfaction and reduce pressure placed on your workers. Batch picking is perfect for you if the same SKU with relatively small dimensions is frequently ordered from you by different customers or you have orders with only a few SKUs in each. Using a batch picking process is ideal for dealing with a large volume of orders.
Are you struggling with speed and accuracy with your ecommerce fulfilment service?
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