Pick to Light v/s Voice Picking: Which One is Right for You?

Modern warehousing and supply chain operations, combined with eCommerce, demand steady operational efficiency as it is an absolute necessity. Your business success together with customer happiness increases when you process orders at higher speeds and accuracy levels.

The order fulfillment sector primarily relies on two leading technologies which are Pick to Light and Voice Picking. But which one suits your business the best?

The following blog post explains both systems in depth to enable users to select the technology that aligns with their business needs.

What is Pick to Light?

Order-pickers receive visual guidance through Pick to Light system by using light signals installed on racks or shelves.

How It Works:

Workplace systems then display order details after a worker scans a barcode or accepts an incoming assignment through their system.

• A corresponding light activates at the storage position where the item is located.
• The system interface presents an indication of the number of items that the operator needs to collect.
• Workers verify the selection by pressing the available button.
• Pick to Light provides an efficient method for directing employees through frequently handled picking duties.

What is Voice Picking?

Through Voice Picking (Voice-Directed Warehousing) workers receive guidance by using wireless headphones for verbal directions.

 How It Works:

Workers receive verbal instructions from mobile devices through their headset equipment. The system automatically provides spoken instructions to direct workers to find items and their quantities.

• Workers use their voices to verify tasks according to system instructions.
• The system provides instant updates during operations.
• The advantage of Voice Picking is hands-free operation which not only increases safety but also boosts workplace efficiency.

Pick to Light vs Voice Picking – Feature Comparison

Advantages of Pick to Light

• Fast visual guidance is enabled by light indicators that help workers quickly locate items.
• Minimal training is required which makes it suitable for seasonal or temporary staff.
• Workplace accuracy reaches very high levels through the use of this system.
• It is ideal for small parts such as electronics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

 Advantages of Voice Picking

Employees can perform free movement while using both hands thanks to the eyes-free and hands-free operation.

• Increased Mobility: Ideal for larger and more dynamic warehouse layouts. Workers using this method are fully focused because screen usage and lighting are absent from their workspace.
• Multilingual Support: Supports different languages and dialects.

Use Cases – Which One Fits Your Operation?

Cost Comparison

Can You Use Both?

Yes. Various modern warehouses implement advanced hybrid approach by uniting key elements from conventional technologies. The high-volume zones receive Pick to Light technology yet Voice Picking controls mobile zones.

Benefits of a hybrid model:

• Better worker performance
• Improved flexibility across operations

The system generates maximum return on investment when it exactly matches with specific tasks

 Key Factors to Consider

Because of the selection process you should evaluate these points first.

• The order complexity consists of one item or numerous items across the warehouse.
• The system should adopt a warehouse size framework that matches whether businesses operate with a structured and small format or a Human working style in large and dynamic operations.
• Analyzing worker turnover reflects the number of employee onboarding activities in your organization.
• Your spending limits for setup and maintaining processes become the main consideration.
• The selected WMS should integrate with all used technologies.

with your growth.

️ Read more :-  See why industry leaders trust our Pick to Light System. Click here for complete details!

Conclusion

The selection between Pick to Light or Voice Picking must consider your facility design plus the amount of orders and the capabilities of your staff members. A Pick to Light system is the suitable solution when speed and visual simplicity matter in established picking areas. Your system requires the selection of Voice Picking because it brings flexibility and scalable capabilities with hands-free worker operation. The selection of a warehouse picking solution requires assessment of operational efficiency. StackIOT provides end-to-end warehouse automation tools that fit your needs and scale.

FAQs

1. What is Pick to Light?

The system displays LED indicators to show workers their item locations while simultaneously revealing item quantities.

2. What is Voice Picking?

Voice-directed picking enables workers to get spoken directions and perform pick and confirmations through verbal responses.

3. Which one is faster?

Economically-operated Pick to Light systems quickly pick high-volume static products yet Voice Picking functions optimally in big warehouses with multiple zones.

4. Can employees who do not speak English use Voice Picking as an effective solution?

Most warehouse system implementations include support for both language choices and area-specific accent recognition.

5. Can these systems be integrated with my WMS?

Yes, both Pick to Light and Voice Picking can be integrated with modern warehouse management systems.