Picking Processes

Each picking involves selecting individual items from storage bins or shelving to fulfill customer orders. RDS™ WES-WCS enhances each picking by intelligently grouping orders with common SKUs and releasing them in optimized waves, minimizing travel time and walking distance. Integrated with voice picking or pick-to-light technology, the system guides workers to the exact location, confirms picks in real time, and tracks productivity to ensure accuracy and efficiency, even in high-volume e-commerce environments.

Split case picking, also known as broken case or piece picking, is used when orders contain less than a full case of a product. RDS™ analyzes order profiles and dynamically assigns optimal picking zones and methods, such as pick-to-light walls or put-to-light systems for order consolidation. This ensures high throughput and accuracy, particularly in operations with diverse SKUs and varying order sizes. RDS’s order release module also sequences picks to minimize congestion and maximize picking speed.

In full case picking, entire cartons of a single SKU are picked to fulfill larger or bulk orders. RDS™ WES-WCS streamlines this process by batching orders with common case requirements and directing pickers through efficient paths using voice picking or pick-to-conveyor strategies. The software also balances pick waves across zones and monitors inventory in real time, ensuring that replenishment needs are flagged before they disrupt workflows.

Full pallet picking involves retrieving entire pallets of product—typically from reserve storage locations—for wholesale, retail, or replenishment purposes. RDS™ WES-WCS manages pallet-level order release, coordinating lift truck tasks and directing operators to optimal pick locations. It integrates with mobile devices or vehicle-mounted voice systems for real-time task management, while also sequencing outbound tasks to streamline dock assignments and load planning.

Mixed SKU pallet picking requires selecting various products to be consolidated onto a single pallet. This complex operation is simplified through RDS’s intelligent order release engine, which determines the most efficient picking sequence and builds optimized pallet layers to ensure product stability and packing compliance. RDS coordinates the process using AMRs or manual pickers equipped with voice technology, supporting high-accuracy builds while reducing decision-making on the floor.

Single SKU pallet picking focuses on pulling full pallets that contain only one product type. RDS™ WES-WCS automatically identifies these orders and prioritizes them for quick fulfillment, often routing them through high-speed conveyor or lift truck zones for minimal handling. Because no SKU mixing is involved, the system streamlines task assignment and ensures rapid staging for shipping, contributing to faster cycle times and reduced labor per order.