Frequently asked questions

Vision picking can bring significant benefits to a wide range of businesses and industries. All industries that involve warehousing, order fulfillment, and logistics operations can benefit from vision picking in particular, including logistics services, manufacturing companies, and FMCG. Moreover, logistics processes that include small to medium sized items, a lot of manual labor, fast moving and highly diverse items will gain significant advantages by incorporating vision picking.

Simply put, our vision picking solution shows exactly the information an operator needs — not more, not less — in an easily digestible, visual manner. Easy access to real-time information, such as item quantity and picking locations, through smart glasses and confirmation via voice or scan enables a fully hands-free process. This also prevents errors and time wasted walking back and forth with paper lists or computer terminals, resulting in significant productivity gains.

Yes, our vision picking solution integrates with existing warehouse management systems (WMS) like SAP, Manhattan, JDA, or others. Via a direct integration, our vision picking solution communicates with the warehouse management system, exchanging data related to orders, inventory, and other logistics information. This integration allows the AR system to access and utilize the data from the existing system, enhancing the overall functionality and efficiency of logistics operations.

The primary equipment are smart glasses, which are worn by operators to enable the vision picking process. In cases with high picking intensity, scanners can be added. It is essential to choose industrial-grade hardware designed for full shift usage with features like hot swappable batteries, as this can further enhance operational efficiency. Overall, the implementation of vision picking does not require infrastructure modifications within your warehouse but adapts to existing structures.

Our vision picking solution works well and is compatible with other wearables. Barcode and RFID scanners in the form of wristbands or rings can offer additional support and efficiency – helping workers in hard-to-reach picking or depositing locations such as those at ground level or at great heights.

With our vision picking solution, you can capture and analyze various types of data to improve operational efficiency and decision-making. Data that can be captured and analyzed through AR includes order status, location, quantity, and pictures of the inventory. By analyzing this data, warehouse management can gain valuable insights into the performance of their operations, identify bottlenecks, optimize processes, and make data-driven decisions.

xPick significantly enhances employee training efficiency. Unlike complex RF guns that require hours or even days of familiarization, xPick simplifies the process so that employees can simply put on the glasses, view relevant information within their field of vision, and start working. This streamlined approach eliminates the lengthy learning curve associated with traditional methods, enabling employees to adapt quickly, and work productively with minimal training time.

With fluctuating market needs and rising costs for errors, vision picking enables enterprises to save costs and meet customer demands. AR solutions such as Frontline xPick provide multiple saving potentials for an ROI of less than a year, not to mention cutting back on consumables such as paper throughout the processes.

Equipped with relevant information on their smart glasses, workers have access to real-time order status, location, and quantity. When implemented on wearables, xPick works completely hands-free, improving workers’ focus and efficiency. This boosts the productivity of logistics operations, allowing more orders to be handled in less time, as testified by DHL with 15% average higher productivity.

Yes, the innovative solution frees up workers’ hands and allows them to direct their full cognitive attention toward the immediate task. On top of that, integrated verification steps confirmed via scan, voice, or RFID leave no room for error. For example, by using xPick, Coca-Cola HBC’s picking accuracy had already reached 99.99% after only two months of productive use.

By using smart glasses and wearable scanners, the workers benefit from having their hands free to focus on their task without the need to carry bulky devices or paper lists. Besides utilizing these ergonomic tools and increasing overall worker efficiency, AR enables the workers to gamify their tasks and make work more fun. With this state-of-the-art technology, you can create an attractive modern workplace and become an employer of choice.

Some AR solutions such as Frontline xPick combine vision picking with the latest gaming features, including well-known gaming elements and level structures, and can be adjusted to your warehouse metrics easily. You can build on this feature by embedding it into a broader employee engagement program and reward your workers for their achievements while boosting their performance at the same time.

There are no specific training requirements; a simple onboarding session is usually enough. As the user experience and interface are optimized to be easily understandable, the employee simply needs some initial guidance on how to handle smart glasses in general. Following the step-by-step instructions displayed on the smart glasses delivers a self-explanatory onboarding experience.

Vision picking works by displaying relevant information about the item, such as its location, quantity, and picture, directly in the operator's field of view on smart glasses. The system utilizes dynamic highlighting to indicate the next required action, such as the number of items to pick. Operators can easily confirm actions using external scanners, integrated cameras, or voice commands.

In the event of any issues or irregularities, exception handling options are available at each step for instant resolution. Once an order is completed, the system automatically retrieves the next order from the system, ensuring a seamless workflow.

Vision picking combines the best features of all picking methods. Take the easy-to-understand, visual elements of pick-by-light technology. Add intuitive voice confirmation and guidance via audio cues from pick-by-voice. Combine this with the instant confirmation via scanners but make it hands-free – and include an integrated communication tool for ad-hoc troubleshooting. Vision picking is all that, delivering an unmatched level of performance.

Vision picking covers almost every step of intralogistics processes. For inbound operations, vision picking supports incoming goods handling, repacking, and sorting goods. In terms of inventory management, it assists with replenishment, put away, and conducting inventory and cycle counts. When it comes to order fulfillment, vision picking supports picking, sequencing, and kitting operations. Lastly, they contribute to activities such as packaging and quality assurance.

When choosing a vision picking solution provider, there are several key factors to consider. First and foremost, it is important to select a provider who can serve as a strong technology partner, with industry expertise in the field. Additionally, look for a solution that is easily configurable and scalable, ensuring it can meet your specific business needs now and in the future. Strong integration capabilities are crucial, as seamless integration into your warehouse management system (WMS) is a must. Lastly, prioritize ease of use, as it has the strongest impact on adoption and productivity within your workforce.

Companies started enhancing their logistics processes through the implementation of vision picking years ago. As our xPick solution is one of the most trusted and mature enterprise AR solutions available, you can explore an extensive list of real-world examples here.

By utilizing xPick for vision picking, you will benefit from faster order processing, fewer incorrect deliveries, reduced need for quality inspection, faster training (time to productivity), lower personnel costs, and lower costs for consumables. Therefore, there are multiple saving potentials that lead to an ROI of usually less than a year.

Our vision picking solution can be implemented across multiple warehouse locations in a very short timeframe, accommodating the increased demand and workload. As the system is built on configurations, it can handle a growing number of users and devices. Additionally, xPick can be easily scaled to meet the evolving needs of the company, allowing for the addition of new functionalities, customization options, and integration with backend systems.

To begin implementing AR and vision picking in your logistics operations, we recommend reaching out to our dedicated AR experts. They can provide guidance, answer any questions you may have, and offer detailed information about the implementation process.