{"id":11383,"date":"2023-12-29T17:33:09","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T17:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/warehouse-operations\/warehouse-order-picking\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T16:23:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:23:50","slug":"warehouse-order-picking","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/warehouse-operations\/warehouse-order-picking\/","title":{"rendered":"Warehouse Order Picking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Warehouse Order Picking Guide <\/h1>\n

Warehouse picking is a key component of a successful fulfilment operation. While it might seem straightforward, the picking process is nuanced. From choosing which picking system will work best for your business to learning how to measure picking efficiency, there are many considerations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll dive into how warehouse picking plays a key role in fulfilment and how you can improve the picking process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what do you want to learn?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

What is warehouse order picking?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is a warehouse order picking system important?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 9 top warehouse picking strategies<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse picking efficiency best practices<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to measure the efficiency of your order picking process<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common challenges with order picking<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safety precautions to take for a successful order picking<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improve warehouse picking efficiency with a WMS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse picking FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

Request Fulfilment Pricing<\/h3>

Let’s talk. Our experts can help you boost your order volume by 30% year over year.<\/h3>

Lorem Ipsum.<\/p>

<\/div>

A fulfilment expert will get back to you shortly. Privacy Policy<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

What is warehouse order picking?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse order picking is the pulling of an item or items in a warehouse or fulfilment centre for the purpose of fulfilling an order placed by a customer. Successful warehouse picking is a critical step within the order fulfilment process that requires high-tech equipment and labour focused processes to maintain high order accuracy rates across all orders leaving the warehouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is a warehouse order picking system important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finding the right order warehouse order picking system is important because it can increase the efficiency of your picking operations, increase order accuracy, and ultimately boost customer satisfaction. A warehouse order picking system will provide the following benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Reduces warehouse costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The warehouse picking process can be expensive given its labour-intensive nature, especially in larger facilities. Warehouse management systems keep track of customer orders and generate automated picking<\/a>lists<\/a> that help guide your pickers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investing in a warehouse order picking system that can group similar orders with nearby inventory to a single picker will make the order picking process more accurate and efficient, saving on both costs and time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Improves customer satisfaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse picking can directly affect customer satisfaction, as it can be the difference between a shipment that arrives as expected or one that has missing or incorrect items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, if it\u2019s taking too much time to pick orders, leading to delayed order fulfilment, some customers will not be pleased with late deliveries and delivery exceptions<\/a>. It\u2019s important to get this stage of the ecommerce supply chain<\/a> right, every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your order accuracy rate<\/a> is an important metric, as it can be tied to the number of customer support inquiries, bad reviews, and even ecommerce exchanges<\/a> and returns you receive. It can even deter customers from purchasing from you a second time, decreasing your customer lifetime value<\/a> and having customer loyalty take a hit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Makes pickers\u2019 jobs easier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The right warehouse picking system helps your warehouse workers do their jobs better with less room for human error. By automatically assigning pickers optimised routes with validations and photos to ensure they are picking the right items from the order, they can improve accuracy while spending less time on each pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth noting that the right picking strategies and technology must go hand in hand with an optimised warehousing (e.g., having a warehouse that is organised, utilises space efficiently, and has items that are commonly ordered together close by one another).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 9 top warehouse picking strategies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Implementing warehouse picking improvements are one of the most effective ways to optimise the supply chain<\/a>. Depending on the warehouse size, number and types of products in it, and total staff count, one picking strategy may suit you better than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to understand how warehouse slotting<\/a> works, so you can organise your warehouse the best way to accommodate your selected picking strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review the most common warehouse picking strategies below to better understand which option works best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Batch picking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Batch picking<\/a> works best when fulfilling many identical orders that use the same SKUs<\/a>. This way, a picker can stay in the same area, rather than travel long distances across a warehouse just to go back to the same area they were just in. Batch picking aims to improve productivity as it reduces repeated trips, steps, and time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Zone picking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zone picking (also known as \u201cpick and pass\u201d) is similar to how zone defense works in sports \u2014 pickers are assigned to a physical area of the warehouse, where they only pick SKUs in that zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means if an order has items in another zone, a different picker will pick that portion of the order, working like an assembly line. Zone picking is best suited for warehouses that fulfil complicated orders with many units or at least a combination of complicated and simple orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The warehouse itself must be organised in a way that makes this model work (e.g., keep fast-moving items with high inventory turnover<\/a> in one zone and slow-moving SKUs in another zone).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits are that a single picker can become familiar with the items in their zone and reduce errors rather than try to learn the ins and outs of the entire warehouse. The downside is that some zones will be much busier than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Wave picking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wave picking is a variation of zone or batch picking that\u2019s best for warehouses with large numbers of SKUs. It\u2019s schedule-based throughout the day for better planning, taking labour, delivery times and ship dates, and carrier pick-ups into account, as well as the physical location of each product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than orders being assigned to pickers chronologically (in the order they are placed), they are all evaluated together to determine an optimal \u201cwave\u201d of orders that can be grouped and prioritized based on time and importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Discrete picking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Considered to be the simplest warehouse picking strategy, discrete order picking refers to when a picker works on one order at a time as each one is placed. The same picker retrieves all SKUs in the order, and can handle orders across the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This method is best for small businesses with low SKU counts and\/or small warehouses or storage facilities. Discrete picking requires a lot more movement than other picking strategies, but it makes sense to use until a business hits a certain scale that warrants one of the picking methods above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Pallet picking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pallet picking takes place when a pallet of items is selected and prepared for storage or shipment. This form of picking is used to transport items in bulk and move them from the warehouse to the dock, where it receives a shipping label. Once correctly labelled, pallets are moved to a trailer that will transport them to their final destination.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of their size, pallets are picked using forklifts or other heavy machinery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Single order picking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Single order picking a more manual form of picking compared to other strategies. Employees will pick items for an individual order, fulfilling a single order before moving on to the next. This form of picking is best suited for small warehouses with simple orders and low order volume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Cluster picking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike single order picking, cluster picking<\/a> is the process of fulfilling multiple orders at the same time. Employees move through the warehouse, choosing SKUs for numerous orders and placing them in separate bins that coincide with each order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an efficient form of picking for businesses that have a warehouse management system and high order volume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Pick-and-pass<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pick-and-pass is a strategy in which warehouse employees are assigned different zones within the warehouse where they pick all of the items a customer ordered within that zone then pass the order onto a picker in the next zone so they can do the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pack method helps boost efficiency while reducing the likelihood for errors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Combined warehouse picking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some warehouses may opt to utilise two or more of the picking strategies outlined above. This is done to improve efficiency and streamline fulfilment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a warehouse might use a combined zone and batch picking strategy in which employees are separated into zones within the warehouse where they batch pick items from their respective zones. Once all of the orders are picked, the carts are taken to packing stations to be prepared for transit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse picking efficiency best practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who runs a warehouse should be on the hunt for the best order picking methods and understand how to get the most out of them. The best strategies minimise picking times by making the frequently picked items more accessible through a quicker pick path. Below are some considerations to get the most out of warehouse picking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Implement a WMS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Implementing warehouse management software<\/a> can complement your warehouse and employees, and improve efficiency without compromising order fulfilment accuracy. A WMS should auto-generate pick lists, accurately display product availability, provide real-time insight into order status, help forecast when to replenish inventory<\/a> through reorder point<\/a> notifications, and even assist with planning staff labour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Use the right warehouse equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse management<\/a> teams must invest in the right tools and equipment<\/a> that enhance safety, help with more efficient movement within the facility, and bring forth automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n