Pick-by-Light

Pick-by-light systems are revolutionizing order picking in warehouses and manufacturing facilities with their intuitive and visually supported technology.

These systems use LED strips to give employees precise instructions on which items to pick from which storage locations. Visual guidance significantly reduces error rates and increases order processing speed. This leads to increased efficiency and productivity in warehouse operations, as employees can work faster and without errors.

The following pick-by-light systems offer seamless integration into existing warehouse structures and can be flexibly adapted to your individual requirements.

Pick-by-Light is particularly suitable for applications where high speed, low error rates and clear processes are required. Typical applications are

• Series and dispatch picking
  Ideal for high order volumes and recurring processes - e.g. in dispatch centers, e-commerce warehouses or replenishment in production.
• Assembly and production areas
  Pick-by-Light can be used as a worker assistance system to control assembly processes and avoid errors - for example through step-by-step displays.
• Flow racks and picking zones*
  Particularly suitable for zone picking with parallel processing of multiple orders.
• Narrow aisle or small parts warehouses
  Where many picks are made in a confined space, Pick-by-Light scores highly with fast orientation and minimal search effort.

The three picking systems differ primarily in the way in which the employee is guided through the picking process:

• Pick-by-Light
  With Pick-by-Light, illuminated displays show the employee directly at the storage location where the item is to be picked. The removal quantity is also usually displayed. The system is particularly fast and error-free, as the visual guidance simplifies orientation.
• Pick-by-Voice
  Here, the employee receives voice commands via a headset, e.g. “Go to shelf A3, pick 5 items.” Feedback is usually given by voice or by scanning. Pick-by-voice enables hands-free working and is well suited to noisy or dynamic environments.
• Pick-by-Scan
  With this method, the employee scans the storage bins and items using a mobile device (e.g. handheld scanner or MDE device). Instructions are given via the device display. The system is flexible, but often slower than pick-by-light.

Pick-by-Light offers several decisive advantages over Pick-by-Voice and Pick-by-Scan:

• Highest speed
  The visual display at the storage location guides the employee directly to the correct picking point - without detours, scanning or listening. This speeds up the entire picking process considerably. Our smartLED technology ensures even better visibility at the shelf
• Minimal error rate
  The clear light display at the correct storage location significantly reduces the risk of picking errors. Our oneGRID Cloud also offers several options for picking confirmation. From scanning the individual products to confirmation directly on the display of the mobile scanner.
• Intuitive operation
  Pick-by-Light requires hardly any training. New employees can work productively after a short time, as the system is self-explanatory. Above all, the intuitive interface of the oneGRID Cloud guides employees quickly and easily through the process.
• Hands-free working
  Hands remain free for the actual picking - ideal for high picking frequencies and ergonomic working.

Despite the many advantages, pick-by-light also has some limitations that should be taken into account when selecting a system:

• High investment costs
  Classic Pick-by-Light requires permanently installed hardware (displays, buttons, cabling or wireless modules) at each storage location. The oneGRID Pick-by-Light solution counteracts this through the use of smartLEDs and the cloud solution. This eliminates the need for complex installations and high investments in hardware and IT.
• Limited flexibility
  With classic pick-by-light solutions, displays are permanently mounted on the shelves and are therefore primarily suitable for static warehouses with a constant article structure. Our oneGRID pick-by-light solution is designed for more flexible applications thanks to the flexible adjustability of the shelf widths on the smartLEDs, simple installation and the option of operating the system with WiFi and battery technology.
• Limited mobility
  Pick-by-Light is not ideal for very large or frequently changing storage areas, as the system is stationary. Mobile picking systems offer more flexibility here. This is why we have developed our ISAC system especially for these applications, which does not require any hardware installation on the rack and the light is carried by the picker directly on the picking trolley.

Yes, modern pick-by-light systems are generally flexible and can be easily integrated into existing warehouse management systems (WMS), ERP or MES systems. Our oneGRID Pick-by-Light system is connected via standardized interfaces (REST API), but can also be implemented by us in other ways on request.