Introducing Wave Picking on the mobile app

Wave Picking is a way of picking multiple Sale Orders simultaneously. Wave Picking can increase picking efficiency and allow you to allocate specific Sale Orders for picking to particular staff members. 

In the below video, Vicent introduces you to Wave Picking with CartonCloud. 

 

How to create a Wave Pick?

Wave Picks are created on the CartonCloud web app and can then be executed using either the web app or the mobile app. It is recommended that you use the mobile app for the most efficient way of completing the Wave Pick. 

There are two ways in which you can create a Wave Pick, either by the Customer or for a selected Run Sheet. Selecting the Wave Pick type is the first step when creating a Wave Pick. Use the below links for detailed instructions on creating a Wave Pick for each Wave Pick type. 

Creating a Wave Pick for a single Customer

Creating a Wave Pick for a Run Sheet

Wave Pick Process Types

Nick from Coffee Warehousing and Distribution is interested in Wave PIcking and is considering implementing this technique of picking Sale Orders into the warehouse processes. Firstly, Nick looks at some of the types of Wave Picks to see which would best suit his operational setup and processes. 

There are three different workflows a Wave Pick can follow. 

• Combined Wave Pick
• Split Pick and Pack
• Bulk Pick
• Pick to Tote

It is important to select the correct Wave Pick process type for your operation as each is designed for different workflows. We will step through each Wave Pick process type in the next units. 

Accessing Wave Picking on the Mobile App

• Select Wave Picking from the Switch Mode screen.

Combined Wave Picks 

The first Wave Pick process type we will cover is Combined Wave Pick. 

Combination Wave Pick allows multiple Sale Orders to be grouped by a specific Customer or Run Sheet. This is the same way a Sale Order is usually picked and packed; however, it provides a way for orders to be grouped and then assigned to pickers. The Wave Pick can be assigned to the picker by naming the Wave Pick by the picker's name. 

In the below example, the 3PL has multiple pickers to which they assign wave picks. The pickers will complete both the pick and pack process as they move through the Warehouse. 

Nick from Coffee Warehousing and Distribution believes this type of Wave Pick would work well in his operation, especially on days when the warehouse receives a large number of orders. Nick will be able to easily allocate orders to be picked to certain pickers,  allowing them to focus on the jobs they have been assigned to. 

How to pick a Combined Wave Pick on the mobile app

Follow along with Vincent as he steps through picking orders using a Combined Wave Pick on the mobile app. 

 

Split Pick and Pack Wave Pick

The next Wave Pick process type we will cover is Split Pick and Pack. Split Pick and Pack allows you to pick orders simultaneously by the product rather than order-by-order, and it separates the picking and packing process. 

Once picking is completed, the user will be prompted to then pack each Sale Order individually; however, this will not necessarily be the same user. In some cases, the pick and pack process may be split, in which case the packer will take over the wave pick once the picking is complete. This is useful when picking and packing occur at two different locations in the warehouse or are completed by a different user. 

Nick from Coffee Warehousing and Distribution believes this will work well in the warehouse as they have a separate area where packing occurs and two teams, one for picking and one for packing. If the team decide to use Split Pick and Pack Wave Picks, pickers will be able to pick all orders by the product and then move the goods to the packing area, where another team will pack the orders (using the Wave Pick) to have the orders ready for dispatch. 

This workflow is demonstrated in the below Soft Drink 3PL  example: 

How to pick and pack orders using Split Pick and Pack Wave Pick

Follow along with Vincent as he steps through picking orders using a Split Pick and Pack Wave Pick on the mobile app. 

 

Bulk Wave Pick

The next Wave Pick process type we will cover is Bulk Pick. When using Bulk Pick, you will be picking orders simultaneously by the product rather than order-by-order. This is especially useful if there are limited pick-face locations to pick from and forklifts are required to pick the products.

Once an order is marked as picked the Sale Order will be updated to the 'Packed' status. When using this workflow, the picking and packing processes are combined into one. Once the orders are picked, they will be moved out of the Warehouse. For example, the orders are moved to a dock or delivery truck, where they will be sorted for delivery using their labels. 

In the example below, a soft drink 3PL uses Bulk Wave Pick by the Run Sheet. They will pick all the different orders (by the soft drink type, not the Sale Order) and load them into the delivery truck. As the driver delivers the goods, he will complete the 'packing' process by sorting the soft drinks by the order using their labels. 

Nick from Coffee Warehousing and Distribution isn’t sure if their operations will be using this Wave Pick process type as it doesn’t quite fit their operations; however, he is still interested to learn more about how the Wave Pick works. 

How to complete a Bulk Wave Pick on the mobile app

Follow along with Vincent as he shows you how to complete a Bulk Pick Wave PIck on the mobile app. 

 

Pick to Tote

The next Wave Pick process type we will cover is Pick to Tote. Pick to Tote streamlines warehouse efficiency by enabling pickers to fulfil multiple orders simultaneously, sorting items directly into totes as they navigate the warehouse. 

Pick to Tote is included in all warehouse plans, however, Wave Pick Auto Generation (Advanced Automation which enables automated wave pick generation is only included within WMS Premium. Please reach out to our team here if you would like more information on WMS Premium. 

Pick to Tote Workflow Overview

Pick to Tote is a picking workflow designed to reduce the time spent picking. This is achieved by allowing pickers to pick multiple orders (usually 10-30) simultaneously, sorting them into totes as they go. This reduces the total walking time through the warehouse and the speed of the picking process. After picking, the trolley containing the totes is wheeled back to a packing station where the packing is completed. 

Follow along with Vincent in the below video, as Vincent steps through the Pick to Tote workflow.