How does supported (guided) order picking work in RetailVista?
- 07 Jun 2024
- 7 Minutes to read
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How does supported (guided) order picking work in RetailVista?
- Updated on 07 Jun 2024
- 7 Minutes to read
- Contributors
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RetailVista has had the ability to pick orders using RetailVista Mobile (PDA) since 2022.
Essentially, this involves picking reservations. Order picking can be done in two main ways: simple order picking and supported order picking. The difference between simple and supported order picking is that simple order picking is mainly intended for picking one reservation at a time and has very limited functionality.
Supported order picking, on the other hand, is very extensive. It allows for picking multiple orders at the same time, provides support for the most optimal walking route, etc. The task scheduler continuously performs calculations at a maximum adjustable interval of 5 minutes to generate order picking instructions. These instruction sets can also be accessed within RetailVista. When calculating instructions, open reservations with the logistic statuses 'Waiting to be picked' and 'Being picked' are taken into account.
Because not all reservations are the same and not every reservation needs to be handled through order picking, it is possible to indicate in the sales order classification whether order picking should be used for sales orders of that classification.
Furthermore, a table needs to be created in RetailVista for order picking types. These can include wave order picking, discrete, zone, etc. Only certain reservations can be picked using this table.
Order Picking Types
In RetailVista, a table can be created with different types of order picking systems.
The order picking type largely determines the behavior of the subsequent order picking process, as well as optionally the reservations that qualify for it.
Below is the screen for maintaining an order picking type.
Description | Free description of picking type |
Type | Here you can choose from 'Discrete', 'Wave', 'Zone discrete', and 'Zone wave'. Discrete: Only one reservation is picked in one run at a time. In fact, this is a wave with a maximum number of reservations of 1. Wave: In one run, one or more reservations can be picked at the same time. Zone discrete: >Going away? Zone wave: > Going away? |
Sales order classification | If this field is filled, only reservations linked to sales orders of this classification type will be considered |
Max reservations | This is the maximum number of different reservations that will be offered within one run for the picking type (Waves/Discrete) |
Instruction expiration time | This is the number of seconds after which an issued instruction expires in terms of validity. |
Force 1 user | By activating this setting, reservations within one run will not be distributed among multiple/different users. If a user receives an instruction for a certain reservation, that reservation must ultimately be completely handled by the same user. |
Trailing instructions window | |
Trailing instructions factor | |
Show expiration time timer | If this setting is activated, a countdown timer will appear on the order picking screen, indicating how many seconds are left before the instruction expires |
Required product scan | Is it mandatory to scan the barcode of the product once it is picked. This setting can reduce errors in picking reservations as it ensures that the correct product is picked with certainty |
Required location scan | Is it mandatory to scan the warehouse location of the product once it is picked. This setting ensures that the inventory is deducted from the correct warehouse location. |
Carrier support | Are carriers supported in picking reservations |
Carrier printing action | Do not print - Do not print carrier labels. This choice disables the ability to generate and print carrier labels ad-hoc. |
1 Per instruction - Print 1 label for a new carrier | |
Picked quantity per instruction - Print product label with the picked quantity of items | |
Questions - Ask for the quantity of product labels to print | |
Expired | This type of order picking is no longer available |
Instruction validity: After the specified number of seconds, the validity of an instruction has expired. This does not mean that an instruction cannot be executed anymore.
It is only possible that in the meantime, a new instruction has been issued for the reservation rule of the instruction to another user.
It depends on which user handles that instruction first at that moment.
The other user will receive a notification when handling it that the instruction has already been handled by someone else.
Carriers
Carriers refer to the collection bins in which picked items from reservations can be temporarily stored. Think, for example, of the gray euro containers. Containers should be large enough to store the majority of picked reservation items. It is common to place a series of containers (carriers) on a cart, which can then be taken on an order picking run through the warehouse.
Each container has a permanent unique barcode. This is located on the outside of the container and must be scannable. If an item does not fit in a carrier (often due to size), the order picking software offers the option to generate a carrier ad-hoc at that time. This carrier automatically receives a unique number, and through settings in the order picking type, it can be requested how many labels need to be printed. This label can then be attached to the item, making it identifiable later at the packing table.
In the packing application (to be released at the end of 2022), RetailVista assists with merging picked reservations into multiple carriers.
Order picking configuration via sales order classification
In the sales order.In the classification, there are also a number of settings related to order picking. Together with the order picking types, these two components largely determine its behavior. Below shows the 'Orderpicking' tab in the sales order classification where these settings can be found.
Use for order picking | Sales orders with this classification are eligible to be picked via order picking |
Reservations since date, time | If this field is filled, only reservations made on or after this date and time will be included in the order picking process |
Only store instructions with sufficient store inventory | Should order picking instructions for the store only be created if there is sufficient inventory in the store |
Number of picking list reports | If an order picking list is automatically printed, how many copies should be printed. |
Also print on secondary printer | If an order picking report needs to be printed, should a copy also be printed on a secondary printer. |
Picking list report | Layout to be used for printing an order picking report |
Stop printing at time | End printing of pick lists at this time |
Restart printing after x hours | Resume printing of pick lists after the expiration of this number of hours after the time printing was stopped |
Only print if pickup/delivery date is scheduled | Print a pick list report only if a pickup/delivery date is filled in the reservation |
Wait number of days before scheduled date | If this field is filled in, RetailVista will wait until the system date reaches the value of the scheduled delivery date minus the specified number of days. |
Getting started with order picking
When starting with supported order picking (from now on referred to as 'Order Picking'), the first question asked is which type of order picking is desired.
>Insert Mobile screen
Afterwards, a question is asked whether order picking takes place in the store or in the warehouse. With that distinction, only instructions are offered that can be picked in the store versus the warehouse.
>Insert Mobile image of choice store versus warehouse>
Afterwards, a choice can still be made whether to work in a specific part of the store or warehouse. By activating a filter on a part of the store or warehouse, only instructions will be given for that part. This can ensure that a colleague order picker starts working in a different part of the warehouse or store and that everyone only receives instructions for that part. Especially when picking with multiple people at the same time, this setting is very important. Afterwards, a first pick instruction appears.
The layout of the screen and the data shown depend on the activated items in the chosen order picking type. In the screen below, all options from the order picking type are active.
>Insert pick instruction screen
The order picking screen offers a number of possibilities:
Next | Provide the next pick instruction, skip the current instruction |
Parking | Park the current instruction and request the next instruction. The parked instruction will reappear afterwards. |
Scan product | Scan the product to verify if the correct product has been picked |
Scan location | Scan the location code to verify if the product has been picked from the correct location |
Reject | Rejecting the instruction because it is not executable. After rejecting, a reason must be indicated why this is the case. The reasons table can be set in the RetailVista back office. |
Parking instructions can be especially useful when a product needs to be picked but is located at a too high location requiring a forklift. Another employee can then perform a stock movement with a forklift, after which the product is available again at a picking location and can be picked more easily.
Sorting of instructions
There is an algorithm that generates and sorts instructions. The top instruction from the stack after sorting is the instruction that is presented to a user requesting an instruction.
The sorting depends on:
Warehouse sorting:
The sorting of these instructions is structured as follows:
1 - Warehouse location code 1 to 5. A sequence number can be assigned to each location code. By default, it runs 1:1 with the coding order. So A-1-2-3-4 comes before A-1-2-3-5 and also before B-1-2-3-4. This order must correspond to a logical (read short) walking route.
2 - Location type, consisting of picking location, bulk location, and storage location. A picking location has a higher priority than a bulk location, and a bulk location has a higher priority than a storage location.
3 - Product description. If there are multiple products located at the same warehouse location, the products are sorted based on their description, following an alphabetical prioritization.
> Complete document!
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