Picking and Packing

Each of our customers vary in their approach to distributing effort across the picking and packing processes. For example, picking a large batch into a mixed tote will require more sorting at the Packing stage, while picking smaller batches into sub-divided carts requires more frequent Picking activities. OrderFlow can accommodate numerous picking and packing strategies.

Picking

OrderFlow's default picking method is batch-based picking. Batch based picking allows shipments that can usefully be grouped together to be associated with the most appropriate pick and pack process, for example:

50 single line shipments for small items that can all be picked from the mezzanine
200 shipments, each for the same SKU
20 multiline, high priority shipments
20 multiline shipments which each include at least one item that requires a forklift to pick

If you are using batch-based picking, then OrderFlow will automatically assign a shipment to a batch based on a set of criteria, supplied by you. Typical criteria include:

Shipment priority
Shipment destination
Courier and service selected
Number of order lines in the shipment
Number of items in the shipment
Picking location

We will supply you with a template outlining the information we need from you. This will enable us to write a batch selection script that will automatically group shipments prior to picking.

Alternatives to Batch Picking

Alternatives to batch-based picking that we can accommodate are:

Individual shipment picking
Picking via consolidation
Interleaved task picking

Please ask us if you require more detail on each of these alternatives.

Recommendation

We can talk you through in detail the options available at any stage in the process. However, we recommend you start with a simple picking strategy, then refine these after launch to maximise efficiency gains.

Handheld Picking

If you have chosen to use our Handheld application, we need specifics on the mobile picking locations you intend to use:

Do you wish to pick to a single cart, or a sub-divided cart, as illustrated below?

Picking Cart

Is the size and weight of your stock relatively homogenous, or do you need OrderFlow to select mobile picking locations based on product size and weight?

Short Picks

For a well managed warehouse short picks (where stock cannot be found in the expected location) are rare. OrderFlow is nonetheless flexible in its handling of short picks. It can:

Initiate a stock adjustment
Eject the shipment from the batch being picked
Split off the out-of-stock items into a separate shipment during the pick process

Other options are likely to be introduced in the future.

How do you want OrderFlow to handle short picks?

Packing

OrderFlow's default packing method is scan-to-pack, meaning that every item being packed is scanned by a user at the Packing Station. Once all the shipment items are scanned, the user can mark a shipment as 'Packed' and print out the despatch note, label, and any other required documents (such as customs documentation). The paperwork OrderFlow provides is highly configurable depending on your needs. See the Paperwork chapter for more details.

Alternatively, OrderFlow can accomodate packing processes where there is no scanning of individual items for a shipment in a batch. For example, entire batches can be manually marked as 'Packed' by the user once packing of every shipment in that batch is complete.

Further, some customers require OrderFlow to capture and validate the packaging details when scanning items to pack, as some couriers require specific packaging types.

Please discuss your specific packing needs with us.