Batch pick

Batch picking is a process in which a store associate picks products such that multiple orders are fulfilled or backroom picked simultaneously.

Products that belong to one or more orders can be spread across departments that are separated by long distances. In the traditional approach of picking products, the store associate has to complete the pick procedure for one order at a time and repeat the same for each order, which is laborious. For example, consider orders A and B that contain T-shirts. The store associate must pick the T-Shirts that belong to the order A and place them in the appropriate staging location. The store associate has to then revisit the apparel department to pick the T-shirts in Order B and then place them in the appropriate staging location. In such situations, the store associate can pick the products in batches. Batch picking minimizes the number of visits to a department. It reduces the total time spent by a store associate by maximizing pick quantities and minimizing the distance traveled, thereby increases the associate's efficiency and in turn expedites the store operations. For example, the store associate can visit the apparel department and collect T-shirts at once for both order A and B, and then place them in the appropriate staging locations at once.

In the Sterling Store Engagement application, a batch can be created based on different criteria such as departments, number of orders, SLA and so on, depending upon the business needs. For example, products that can be collected from the same department, but belong to different orders, can be grouped in a batch. By default, the batches are listed based on the SLA, thereby enabling a store associate to consider a batch of highest priority and immediately pick products to fulfill high priority orders. Further, the products in a batch are displayed based on Pick Sequence, if available. Otherwise, the application determines how the products are displayed. The application also supports handling shortages of products during the batch pick process.

The application supports Sort while pick and Sort after pick batch picking methods.

Sort while picking

A store associate uses this method to sort the picked products based on orders, during the picking process. A store associate can pick products in a batch and include them in one or more totes. The application determines whether the next product has to be scanned to the same tote or a different one and assists the store associate accordingly. All the products that belong to an order are added to the same tote. Once all the products are picked and included in totes, staging locations can be assigned to the totes based on type of order that is, Ship from Store or Pickup in Store order.

Sort after picking

A store associate uses this method to sort the picked products based on orders, after picking all the products in the batch. The store associate can pick the products in a batch and segregate the products into two separate collections, one for Ship from Store orders and the other for Pickup in Store orders, and then assign each product from a collection to the appropriate staging location.