Zone picking in Navigator allows orders to be split across multiple areas of the warehouse, with each area picked simultaneously. Each operator works on a single order at a time, and does not leave their zone until all orders are complete, or they are told to change their zone. Navigator's zone picking functionality is available in our voice directed picking module.
Please note: Your system will likely have been customised and may differ slightly from this process. Certain prompts may have been added to assist in workflows specific to your company, or removed to streamline the process.
Voice System Conversation |
Description |
Navigator: "Picking zone?"
Operator: "1"
Navigator: "Freezer, correct?"
Operator: "yes"
OR
Navigator: "Please proceed to zone: Freezer 2" |
Zone Assignment
In Navigator's voice zone picking module, the zone in which a user works may be either system assigned or manually selected.
User Defined: The user speaks the zone number in which they will be working. The Talkman responds with the description of the zone to confirm that they have selected the correct item. From this point onwards (until the user signs off their voice terminal), the user will be allocated portions of pick slips which relate to this zone only.
System Defined: The system checks the user's assigned zone and directs the user to the correct location.
Configuration Options: PICK_ALLOW_ZONE_SELECTION: If set to '1', the operator is prompted to select their own zone. If set to '0', operators must be assigned to zones via Navigator's web screen. |
Navigator: "Printer?"
Operator: "2"
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Specifying the User's Printer
If goods are to be packed into cartons as they are picked, barcoded labels are typically printed for each carton to assist in the despatch process. In this case, the user is asked to speak the number of their portable label printer. |
Navigator: "To commence next pickslip, say Ready."
Operator: "ready"
Navigator: "Customer is SPAR Australia, pick slip number is 91239, there are 5 items in your zone." |
Requesting a Pickslip
Pickslips are divided into multiple fragments - one fragment per zone. When a picker requests work, they are assigned a single fragment from their current zone, based on the priority of the pick slip. If picking has commenced for an order in "Zone A", the corresponding fragment from "Zone B" will automatically be given a high priority in order to minimise the number of partially completed orders at the end of the day.
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Navigator: "aisle alpha, bay one, level two, position four. location check digit?"
Operator: "one nine five"
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Direction to a Location
Navigator uses its standard method of directing users to locations, by reading out the aisle, bay, level and position of the product to be picked. Depending on the site's configuration, the user may read a location check digit to confirm they are in the correct location.
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Navigator: "product check digit?"
Operator: "one three six" |
Confirmation of the Product
Navigator may optionally request the product's check digit. This is the last three digits of the product's barcode and is read to confirm that the correct item has been found within the location. This method, if configured, is used in place of a location check digit.
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Navigator: "pick five"
Operator: "five, ready."
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Confirmation of the Quantity
The system speaks the quantity of goods to be picked by the user. The user confirms the quantity available by speaking the amount back to the Talkman.
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Navigator: "Put five to?"
Operator: "two alpha"
Navigator "Put three to?" Operator: "three beta"
(This example will place 2 items in carton A and 3 items in carton B) |
Carton confirmation
Once the item has been picked, Navigator asks the picker to confirm the box (or boxes) into which the stock will be placed. The picker speaks the quantity to be placed, followed by the letter printed on the relevant carton label. The phonetic alphabet must be used to indicate the carton name.
If the picker speaks an invalid sequence - e.g. "alpha 2", instead of "2 alpha", the system will say "alpha 2 is incorrect" and prompt a re-entry of the information.
The system tallies the quantity
placed into each carton and automatically saves the information
once the user speaks the last quantity. If the number of
items placed exceeds the quantity picked, the user receives an
error message "error, too many items placed..." and
must re-enter the information.` To print a new carton label, the picker says "new carton". This will print a new label to the picker's mobile printer. The label will contain the 'next' letter in sequence (A..Z). Navigator is limited to 26 cartons per order.
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Navigator: All items completed for freezer alpha. to commence next pickslip, say ready."
Operator: "ready"
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Next Item / No More Items
The system directs the user on to the next location in the zone until all items have been picked, skipped twice, or short picked.
When the system determines that there are no more items to be picked for the current order in the current zone, a "zone complete" message is sent to the server. The pick slip is marked as complete when all relevant "zone complete" messages have been received at the server.
The picker is alerted to the fact that their work for this order is completed. They must take the cartons they have been working on to the despatch area for packing and processing.
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Prerequisites:
Navigator Voice must be installed at the warehouse.
Each location in the warehouse must have been assigned to a 'zone'.
The parameter 'PICKSLIP_BOX_LABEL_FORMAT' must be set to the ID of the Navigator label format you wish to use. This label format must accept a parameter of 'ContainerID' .
Bartender Commander must be correctly installed and configured.