In our previous article, we looked at how rigorous goods receiving lays the foundations for the rest of the supply chain. But what happens once the goods have been properly put away? This is where one of the warehouse’s most strategic chapters begins: order picking.
If receiving is the foundation of reliability, picking is its shop window. It is the crucial stage where the promise made to the customer — receiving the right product, at the right time, in carefully prepared packaging — becomes a physical reality. Yet with the rise of multiple sales channels (B2B, e-commerce and omnichannel), this operational phase is facing increasingly intense workloads.
When order picking execution descends into chaos!
Without meticulous organisation, the order picking area can quickly become a major bottleneck, particularly during seasonal or promotional peaks.
Teams then face a range of daily challenges:
- Picking without a plan: Without automatic prioritisation managed by the WMS, orders are processed as they come in, with no logic for grouping them. Operators rack up unnecessary kilometres around the warehouse, for… relatively limited productivity.
- No real-time visibility: It becomes impossible to know exactly where an urgent order stands when a carrier is due to arrive in 25 minutes. This lack of visibility creates stress, chaos around the dispatch docks and delivery delays.
- Traceability gaps: A manual data-entry error, the wrong production batch being picked or an overlooked best-before date… and the immediate risks include disputes, costly customer returns and even product recalls.
- Paralysis during activity peaks: When volumes suddenly double or triple, inflexible processes can bring the warehouse to a standstill. Processing times soar, service levels decline and pressure on teams increases.
The answer? Scheduling, execution and traceability under WMS control
To reach operational excellence, the warehouse can no longer simply execute — it needs to ORCHESTRATE! This is where IzyPro, ACSEP’s WMS, demonstrates its full value by becoming the conductor of your outbound flows:
- Intelligent flow scheduling: IzyPro instantly analyses the order portfolio and organises it according to your priorities. It groups picking operations by waves, zones or batches, intelligently consolidating orders to optimise routes and drastically reduce operator travel time.
- Guided, error-free execution: Using radio-frequency terminals, pick-to-light or voice guidance, operators are guided step by step. Every product picked is scanned at source, ensuring picking accuracy close to 100%.
- Precise traceability: The WMS instantly records batch numbers, serial numbers and expiry dates associated with each order, ensuring seamless traceability from manufacturer to end customer.
- Complete, real-time visibility: Warehouse managers have access to real-time dashboards to monitor picking progress, anticipate delays and reallocate resources wherever they are needed.
Results: Fast ROI and a high-performing Supply Chain!
Automating and structuring order picking with a high-performance WMS such as IzyPro delivers immediate benefits and an extremely fast Return on Investment (ROI), supported by clear financial and operational gains, as demonstrated by our customer Celinzo:
- Increased productivity and controlled costs: Reducing picking distances and optimising operator movements makes it possible to process significantly higher order volumes with the same workforce, helping secure operations during peak periods.
- Greater reliability and fewer disputes: Eliminating picking errors reduces the costs associated with returned goods and urgent reshipments.
- Better working conditions for teams: Working conditions improve through ergonomic tools and optimised routes, reducing the physical strain on warehouse operators.
- Maximum customer satisfaction: Better-prepared parcels, shipped faster and supported by flawless traceability strengthen your company’s reputation and support its growth.
ACSEP’s 360° expertise: from Consulting to operational integration
Deploying a WMS is not enough to transform an organisation overnight. The success of such a project depends above all on a well-prepared design phase. And this is another area where ACSEP can support you.
For 20 years, ACSEP teams have been helping companies through this broader digital transformation. Before integrating IzyPro or any other software from our partners, our expert consultants go into the field to analyse your actual flows, work with your teams, challenge your picking processes and rethink your physical warehouse layouts. It is this unique combination of operational consulting and IT expertise that ensures your next digital solution is perfectly aligned with your operational realities.
Are your order picking processes ready to support your future growth? Let’s analyse your flows and design, together, an agile, high-performing logistics operation focused on your customers.
👉 Contact our consulting teams to discuss your projects
This article is part of our thematic series on the warehouse. Read the previous chapter: “Goods Receiving: Where Warehouse Efficiency Begins or Ends”.
