Picking Solutions: innovation and efficiency for modern logistics

22 October 2024

In the field of logistics and warehouse management, efficiency and accuracy are key factors for ensuring successful day-to-day operations. 

In recent years, our picking solutions have transformed the way picking activities are handled, improving speed and reducing errors. Some of the most advanced solutions include Pick to Light, Put to Light, Picking Stations, and Picking Carts.

In the sections below, we will examine how each of these technologies offers specific advantages designed to optimise logistics operations in different industrial sectors.

Pick to Light and Put to Light: smart picking systems for warehouses

The Pick to Light and Put to Light technologies have been developed to minimise picking and sorting errors, guaranteeing a significant increase in productivity and accuracy. Both systems use lights to visually guide the operators, thus facilitating daily picking, sorting, and order preparation operations.

Pick to Light: visual guidance for picking operations

The Pick to Light system is one of the most intuitive and advanced picking solutions available. This technology guides the operator using a system of lights positioned on the shelving units or at the picking points, indicating the specific items and quantities to be picked. When an operator receives an order to be processed, the lights on the shelf displays light up, indicating the locations to be picked from and the quantities required. Once the operator has picked the item, he confirms the action by pressing a button next to the light, and the system updates the progress of the order, possibly displaying additional information.

Application Example:
In an e-commerce warehouse, the operator is guided by the lights on the shelves, showing the exact locations and quantities of the items to be picked. This ensures that the orders are completed quickly and correctly.

Put to Light: optimisation of item distribution

The Put to Light system is similar to the Pick to Light system, in that it guides the operator in placing the picked items in the correct storage areas. This solution is particularly useful for sorting and distribution operations, where it is essential to ensure that each item is allocated correctly. After the items have been picked, the Put to Light system guides the operator in placing these items in the correct bins in order to prepare multi-orders and boxes.

Application Example:
After picking various items, an operator is guided by the Put to Light system’s lights, which light up next to the corresponding containers, indicating where each item should be placed. This ensures that each order is assembled correctly for final dispatch.

Integration into the warehouse workflow

In many modern warehouses, the Pick to Light and Put to Light systems are used in combination. For example, in a clothing distribution warehouse, an operator can use the Pick to Light system to pick items from different areas of the warehouse. Once the items have been picked, the Put to Light system helps sort them into the correct containers for shipment to various customers. This integrated process reduces errors, speeds up order processing, and improves the overall efficiency of the warehouse.

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Picking Stations and Picking Carts: picking solutions for maximum efficiency

Picking Stations and Picking Carts are innovative solutions designed to optimise picking operations. While the Picking Station is designed for operations in a fixed location, the Picking Cart is a mobile solution, ideal for large, sprawling warehouses.

Picking Station: optimised picking stations for greater productivity

The Picking Station is a fixed location within the warehouse designed to optimise picking operations, and often includes tools and technologies designed to facilitate the operators’ work. In addition to being fixed and organised, these stations also offer improved ergonomics, thus reducing the need for operator movement. They are particularly effective in contexts where large numbers of orders need to be processed quickly and accurately.

Application Example:
In an electronics distribution centre, a Picking Station is used to assemble product kits that include various components, thus improving accuracy and reducing the need for physical movements by the operator.

Picking Cart: the mobile solution for fast and flexible picking operations

The Picking Cart is a mobile cart equipped with advanced technology to guide the operator in picking items directly from the shelves. It is usually equipped with systems like Pick to Light, tablets for order management, barcode scanners, and multiple compartments for organising items efficiently. The Picking Cart is also used to distribute plastic totes or boxes to various locations throughout the warehouse.

Application Example:
In a large clothing warehouse, an operator can use a Picking Cart to collect items from various aisles and shelves. The cart is divided into compartments to separate the orders. The Pick to Light system on the cart indicates which shelves to pick from and which compartments to put the items in, allowing multiple orders to be picked at the same time, thus reducing the number of trips required.

Integration of Picking Stations and Picking Carts within the warehouse

The Picking Stations and Picking Carts integrate seamlessly to create flexible and dynamic workflows. In contexts where accuracy is crucial, Picking Stations allow operators to work efficiently from a fixed point. Picking Carts, on the other hand, provide the flexibility and agility to move through various areas of the warehouse, for example when order management requires items to be picked at different points and then transported to the order consolidation area.

Picking Solutions and Modula Warehouses for the logistics of tomorrow

The Picking Solutions can be perfectly combined with Modula vertical warehouses, creating highly efficient and automated logistics systems that guarantee:

  • Reduced picking times: Thanks to the integration of picking systems like Pick to Light, operators are able to pick items faster.
  • Minimisation of errors: The system guides the operator step by step, drastically reducing errors.
  • Space optimisation: Modula vertical warehouses utilise the vertical space available, thus reducing the need for additional storage space.
  • Improved working conditions: These technologies improve ergonomics and operator safety.

Areas of application for the Picking Solutions and Modula warehouses

The Picking Solutions combined with Modula vertical warehouses can be applied in various sectors:

  • E-commerce: To ensure fast and accurate order management.
  • Manufacturing sector: For the efficient management of the production components.
  • Retail: For optimised distribution and returns management.
  • Healthcare: For the fast and accurate management of drugs and medical devices.

Picking Solutions represent a fundamental development in modern warehouse management, offering tailor-made solutions to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and optimise the use of the available space. Moreover, when these technologies are integrated with Modula’s vertical warehouses, companies can achieve state-of-the-art logistics systems capable of meeting the challenges of the global market and adapting to the specific needs of different industries.

Want to know more?

Ask for a quotation for one of our vertical warehouses or simply tell us what it is you need. Our team of experts will be only too happy to help you find the most efficient solution to improving the performance of your warehouse.
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