Navigator Solutions

Voice Direction

Navigator WMS features an optional Voice Direction module. Voice direction involves directing the picker through a series of steps through spoken instructions. Operators confirm they have performed the correct task by speaking check digits. From an efficiency point of view, Voice Direction represents the current industry best practice. Operators do not get distracted by having to interact with a mobile computer keyboard or a paper pickslip, instead they remain focused on the task. Pick instructions can be delivered to the operator while they are walking or driving between locations resulting in a faster, more streamlined picking process.

Signing on to Navigator Voice

Retrieve a Talkman mobile computer from the charger and plug in your personal headset. The Talkman will say:

Headset is associated to operator John

To change the operator loaded on to the device, press the Operator Button on the A500 and select 'Change Operator'. Scroll through with the + or - buttons until you hear 'All Unassigned Operators'. Press the Operator Button.

Press the + or - button to scroll through the operator list until you hear your name. Once you have heard your name, press the Operator button again. The Talkman will say:

Loading operator... please wait

Press the Play/Pause button to load the Navigator task.

The Talkman will say:

Welcome to Navigator Voice, to sign in, say ready.

Speak the word 'ready'.

The Talkman will say:

Password?:

Speak your four digit operator code. If you have forgotten your operator code, please see your supervisor.

If you speak an incorrect code, the Talkman will say:

Password 1234 is incorrect. To try again, say ready.

Speak the word 'ready', and you will be prompted to re-enter your password.

Selecting a Pick Group

As with the scanning module, Navigator Voice allocates the next pick slip based on the picking group. Typically your supervisor will tell you which group you should be working on.

The Talkman will say:

Pick Group?

Say the number of the pick group by are going to work on. If you speak a pick group (9) which does not exist, the Talkman will say:

Wrong 9, try again.

When you speak a valid pick group number, the Talkman will read out the name of the pick group selected:

All Pick Slips , Correct?

Say 'NO' to change the pick group, or YES to get the next pickslip.

Being Allocated a Pick Slip

Once you select a pick group, Navigator will allocate the next pick slip to you based on parameters set within the system. These parameters might be based on delivery runs of carriers, size of pickslips, or an administrator-assigned priority level.
The Talkman will say:

Pick slip number is 1234, customer is ABC Supplies

Say 'ready'.

The Talkman will say:

Pick contains 8 lines, with a total of 24 items.

Say 'ready'.

Pickslip Markers

Your site may be configured to print a pickslip 'marker'. This is a paper slip which contains the customer name, pick slip number and any instructions from the sales department. This document will be printed for you as soon as the pick slip is started. The pick marker should be attached the goods being picked to ensure individual orders are not mixed up in a space-constrained warehouse.

The Talkman will say:

To print a pick marker, say ready.

Say ready.

Note: You must ensure that the Navigator software is running in the system tray of one of your despatch computers. This software will receive the pick marker message and send the document to a local printer.

The Talkman will say:

Marker check digit?

Speak the three digit check digit on the top right hand-corner of the slip. If the document did not print, say 'reprint' to send the print message again. Once the correct check digit has been spoken, the pick proceeds as per normal.

Picking Instructions

Navigator Voice can deliver picking instructions in a number of ways, which will vary depending on how your warehouse is set up. In most cases, the system will direct you to the next appropriate picking location based on the system setup. This may be based on: - The weight of items you are picking (heaviest to lightest) - The picking sequence of the items in the warehouse.

The Talkman will say:

Aisle One

Say ready. This is the aisle number in the warehouse from which goods are to be picked.

Once you are used to the system and you find that listening to this prompt is too time consuming, it is possible to simplify the prompts and remove the need to say 'ready' in between each step.

Bay Two

Say ready. This is the bay within the aisle from which goods are to be picked.

Level Three

Say ready. This is the level from the ground within the bay.

Position Four

Say ready. You should now be looking at the product to be picked.

Location check digit?

If you are asked for a location check digit, you must read out the three digit number highlighted on the racking.

Navigator is asking you to confirm that you are physically standing at the location it told you about. Navigator already knows the expected check digit and compares what you say to the information it already knows.

If you read out the number and the system says "Wrong 154", please check that you are in the correct place, by saying the word "location". If the system misheard what you said, simply repeat your confirmation.

Product Check digit?

It is also possible that the Talkman system is configured to ask for a "Product Check digit" before you are asked for a quantity. In this case, you are being asked to read back the last three digits of the product barcode, or the manufacturer's code. The number the system is expecting will vary from product to product, and will be explained to you by your warehouse manager during training. Read this number to confirm that the correct item is being picked.

Carton Check Digit?

Navigator Voice automatically simplifies quantities into carton multiples where possible. As an example:

The standard carton size for an item is 8 units (set during the receipting process or via the PBA - Product Barcode Allocate screen)
The customer has ordered 30 units.
Navigator will request that you confirm the "carton check digit?" - the last three digits of the ITF-14 (GTIN) barcode printed on the box.
Once the carton check digit is spoken correctly, Navigator will ask you to "pick 3 cartons".
Confirm the number of cartons picked by saying "3"
Navigator recognises that 30 - 3 x 8 = 6, and will then ask:"product check digit?" - the last three digits of the product's EAN barcode printed on the retail packaging.
Once the product check digit is spoken correctly, Navigator will as you to "pick 6 items".
Confirm the remainder of the pick by saying "6".

Pick Four cartons / items / rolls / tubes etc

The Talkman unit is telling you how many items you should be picking and the type of item you should be looking for. If the Talkman asks you for "four cartons", pick four cartons and say "Four, ready."

The Talkman will beep and send your picking confirmation back to the server, then take you on to the next item on the pick slip.

Completing a Pick Slip

Once you pick the last item on the pickslip, Navigator will tell you where the goods are to be delivered to. Say ready to confirm you have heard the message0

The Talkman unit will say "to commence next pickslip, say ready".

Say "ready" to go back to the login prompt.