Route Picking
Overview
Route Picking organizes diverse orders into optimized routes, reducing warehouse travel and maximizing efficiency. By defining batch size and item limits, managers can generate multiple routes at once and assign them directly to operators. Each route guides the operator through the warehouse in the most efficient sequence, with the system calculating the total quantities needed per location so every order in the route is fulfilled in a single run. With pre-assigned, transferable routes, fulfillment flows without interruption — helping maximize throughput during peak periods while keeping labor costs lean in low season.
How It Works
Within the Batch Orders dashboard, managers create optimized picking routes by selecting a specific shopper or all shoppers. Batch size is defined by the number of orders, the number of items allowed per order, and the number of bins per cart — which together determine how many routes are generated. Routes can be created using either alphanumeric sorting of item locations or a map-based shortest-path calculation for maximum travel efficiency. A preview shows all orders and items allocated to each route, and managers must assign each route to an operator at this stage. Orders can also be reassigned or removed from the route before finalizing.
Once routes are created, operators access them from the Fulfillment Dashboard and follow a guided workflow. The system directs them through the warehouse in the most efficient sequence, instructing them on the quantities to pick and which bins to place them in. This ensures each item location is visited only once per route to fulfill all associated orders in a single pass. Operator assignments can be changed later within the dashboard if needed, though best practice is to have the original operator stop their work before reassignment to avoid errors during the transition.
Routes are processed sequentially, progress is automatically tracked, and operators can continue a reassigned route from where it was left off — ensuring work continues without interruption. Unlike Bulk or Single Order Processing, Route Picking only affects the picking phase; the packing phase follows the same workflow as Packing.
Why It Matters
Delivers optimized picking paths for complex and mixed orders, bridging the gap between Bulk’s identical batches and Single Order Processing.
Offers flexible configuration by defining batch size, item limits, and cart capacity to fit any operational scenario.
Scales effortlessly by producing as many routes as needed in one step, ensuring the system adapts to demand rather than slowing it down.
Lowers labor costs by minimizing warehouse travel, directing operators to fulfill all route orders in a single pass per location.
Best Practice
Route Picking is best applied when handling mixed or complex orders that cannot be grouped into Bulk Order Processing but still require more efficiency than processing them individually through Single Order Processing. By fine-tuning parameters such as batch size, item limits, and cart capacity, managers can adapt routes to strike the right balance between throughput and control.
A proven strategy is to prioritize simpler orders with lower item counts in early routes, locking in rapid throughput and reducing overall workload. More complex, higher-item orders can then be handled in smaller, tightly controlled routes to preserve accuracy and keep SLA commitments on track. This strategic use of Route Picking maximizes the efficiency of batch methods while giving managers the flexibility to adjust complexity as needed — making it a valuable tool for sustaining peak throughput during high demand while minimizing labor in slower periods.
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