The Co-operative optimises its warehouse with voice picking solution
The Co-operative Group is working with Zetes to expand its use of voice picking technology and ensure customers receive a timely and accurate service.
Voice was the right technology for faster picking
Covering warehouse users across six Distribution Centres (DCs) serving over 3,200 retail stores, voice was selected as the right technology to enable faster picking because of the speed and complexity of their warehouse operation and high numbers of product lines stocked. Although The Co-operative’s business case for its WMS overhaul and voice implementation was built around a three to four year payback, the organisation has seen much higher than anticipated returns, particularly for Zetes’ voice system, with pick errors down by up to 70% and picking rates improved beyond original business case estimations. Operational and management performance targets are also being continually improved upon, beyond expectations, at live ‘voice’ sites and training of new users can now be completed in less than four hours.
Preferred technology partner
Zetes was selected as The Co-operative’s preferred voice technology partner because of its reputation as the auto ID system integrator with the most extensive voice expertise and pan-European experience. “Zetes not only matched our requirements regarding availability, cost and other critical criteria, they also understood our issues from the beginning and we were impressed by their pro-active approach,” says Tim Edwards, Retail Logistics Business Projects Manager at The Co-operative.
The voice system is used for all picking and marshalling activities across multiple warehouse environments including ambient, produce, chilled and frozen areas. In addition the voice system has proved very popular with The Co-operative’s multilingual workforce who found it both easy to begin using and convenient to work in their native tongues. “Voice technology allows us to ensure our customers receive a timely and accurate service, and that’s what is most important to the business,” says Tim Edwards, Retail Logistics Business Projects Manager.