“Pick-by-Voice” (voice-directed picking) is a speech-guided order picking method in warehouses. Workers receive instructions via headset or wearable (text-to-speech) and confirm steps by voice input (speech-to-text). The approach enables hands-free, eyes-free operations to increase speed, reduce errors, and improve safety—typically integrated with a WMS/ERP.
Voice dialog & recognition: Robust speaker recognition, configurable dialogs, hotwords, and confirmation logic.
Text-to-speech instructions: Step-by-step guidance (aisle, bin, item, quantity) with adjustable speech rate.
Check-digit/location verification: Validation using location codes or check digits to prevent mis-picks.
Order & wave management: Assignment, prioritization, and bundling (multi-order, batch, zone picking).
Path & route optimization: Optimized travel paths, dynamic sequencing, re-sequencing on exceptions.
Real-time integration: APIs to WMS/ERP/MES; feedback of quantities, serial/lot and expiry data.
Exception handling: Short/over picks, substitutes, damages, blocked locations—with rules and escalations.
Quality assurance & audit: Forced confirmations, dual control steps, verification counts, complete logs.
Multilingual support & user profiles: User- and language-specific vocabularies, training mode, personalized workflows.
Device & hardware management: Support for headsets, wearables, optional scanners/smartwatches; device health and battery monitoring.
Noise suppression & environment profiles: Accurate recognition in loud areas (e.g., shipping dock, cold storage).
Security & roles: Role-based access, GDPR compliance, single sign-on, audit trails.
Offline/edge capability: Buffering in dead zones with automatic synchronization.
Reporting & KPIs: Pick rate, error rate, travel time, OEE metrics, heatmaps, and real-time dashboards.
Voice-driven auxiliary tasks: Replenishment requests, relocations, inventory/cycle counting, returns intake.
Fallbacks & hybrid: Combination with barcode/RFID, on-device visuals, visual confirmation for special cases.
A chilled food distribution center reduces mis-picks using check-digit location confirmation and voice quantity entry.
An e-grocery fulfillment site (dark store) uses multi-order voice waves to accelerate click-and-collect orders.
A pharma distributor captures serial/lot and expiry data by voice to ensure full traceability.
A 3PL scales seasonal peaks by onboarding temps via training mode within minutes.
An automotive spare-parts DC combines voice with scanners for high-value items, increasing pick rate while maintaining quality.
A company performs voice-driven cycle counts after shifts to reduce inventory discrepancies.