A Closer Look At The Benefits Of A Deployed Voice-Picking System

In today’s world of ever-evolving supply chains, it is as important as it’s ever been to keep up with the pace. In doing so, countless businesses around the globe have opted to implement voice-picking technology into their warehouses. At Heartland, through our incredible partnership with Honeywell, we strive to make integrating voice-based solutions as seamless as possible. When working with our team, you get the best of the best—every time. Of course, as is the case for most things, it is important to have a full understanding and all the facts before making such a decision. So, going forward, we intend to provide a closer look at what a deployed voice-picking system looks like, as well as the benefits that it brings.

The implementation of versatile and easy-to-use voice technology can be seamless. Its versatility lies in, but is not limited to, its ability to be modified for specialized circumstances and environments—ensuring smooth integration and optimization, no matter who or where you are. When implementing voice-directed solutions, there are essentially a few facts to grasp:

• The basic understanding of voice – Through our partnership with leading manufacturers—like Honeywell, for example—we ensure that you will get stringent and durable devices.
• Command relaying – Instruct your employees on how and where to get jobs done by having them verbally affirm tasks into their headset, eliminating the need for manual data entry.
• Central connection – Voice-based systems smoothly connect with your database—like a warehouse management system (WMS) or enterprise resource planning (ERP), for example—and then will use artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time data to create and assign job tasks and commands. Not only that, but the stored data automates documentation processes and delivers instant visibility over main workflows.

Related: How to Pick Between Voice Picking and Traditional Picking

With an abundance of evolving tools of modernization, voice-based solutions are rapidly separating themselves from the rest because of their adaptability and user-friendliness. For instance, voice technology will speed up the movement of the shipping and handling processes, and it will also give a chance to enhance the inspection and maintenance of assets to maximize their availability. It will do so by audibly explaining processes step by step, which ultimately aids in asset servicing and protects efficiency levels from unnecessarily long periods of downtime. In addition to that, voice technology frees employees’ eyes and hands to boost efficiency and obtain quicker productivity levels. By implementing voice-based solutions into your operations, you will improve efficiency and productivity through the state-of-the-art features that come along with a deployed voice-directed system, including:

• Durable, noise-cancelling headsets – A dynamic environment such as manufacturing, cold chain, and warehousing can be difficult for your employees. That is why adequate voice-based technological solutions are so important, as they help diminish environmental obstacles with a purpose-built, tough design to withstand all conditions.
• Guiding microphones – These microphones are designed to deliver clear, concise, and crisp audible directions. As your employees complete job assignments, the voice-directed technology will allow them to speak to your database system smoothly and clearly, refining overall task management. Having clear communication throughout your operation will guarantee apt task completion and steadier workflows.
• Wearable mobile devices – These devices are equipped to provide seamless flexibility. Of course, shortages can exhaust the ability to adjust to the ever-changing demands of modern supply chains. Thankfully, voice technology helps handle this by enabling employees with freedom of motion and unlimited mobility to remain adaptable during seasons of high demand.
• Sophisticated software – Thanks to Honeywell technology, our voice-based solutions are easily implementable to whatever your preferred host system may be. Additionally, they provide eminent levels of integration to modernize your employee onboarding processes. By speeding up onboarding, you will be able to assuage labor shortages more effectively—by decreasing training times and getting employees out and working much more quickly.
• Superior wireless networks – With services like AlwaysOn and AlwaysConnected, Heartland works to ensure that your unified wireless network is always ready for the demands of revolutionized supply chains with masterfully tailored network infrastructure. In said network, you will have entirely digitized records, logs, and documents. In addition to that, your employees will be able to upload photos using a mobile device and gain access to information to label parts or clarify procedures. Adaptable implementation with other mobile devices and voice-directed technologies assists your employees to receive the information they require to make fully informed and conscious decisions to properly do their jobs.

Related: How Voice Technologies Are Reshaping Entire Supply Chains

With all of that said, it is important to note, too, that studies have estimated that almost 45% of warehouses throughout the United States will have implemented some kind of voice-based automation by the end of 2024. This estimation is based on the reality of warehouses are dealing with increasing demands from consumers with a shrinking labor pool. The growing trajectory of voice-based technologies really started to catch some steam during the pandemic of 2020, as companies searched for solutions to mitigate their sapped teams. Most commonly, drudging businesses disclosed they experienced high employee turnover rates, additional costs on intricate training processes, a decrease in profitability due to unnoticed mistakes of over 10%, missed deadlines, and breakdowns in communication between picking and receiving teams. Thankfully, at Heartland, we—along with our partnerships with tech leaders, like Honeywell, most notably—have worked to refine the space of voice-picking solutions with easily deployable, durable, and dependable pieces of technology that are congruous with most legacy and next-generation devices and systems. Along with reducing training times by over 80%, voice-picking solutions have also empowered businesses with countless benefits—such as enhanced order accuracy, fast-tracked order fulfillment processes, and consistent and guided inspection and maintenance procedures.

At the end of the day, every company is unique. With that said, however, the contemporarily international supply chains of today compel businesses into somewhat comparable or related concerns. Voice-picking provides pivotal adaptability to fortify distinctive operations and conventional workflows. When collaborating with a resilient support team, implementation and servicing become smoother, granting you the ability to utilize the benefits of our voice-picking solutions with limited disturbances. If you’re interested in taking the next step toward revolutionized modernity within your business’ operations, reach out to our voice automation team today to learn how to get started.