4 Easy Ways to Pick and Pack Orders

Virginia Miller

July 19, 2024

In this article

‍

As an eCommerce retailer, picking and packing orders are a fact of life. Picking and packing are simple at first but can get complicated as sales increase. Did you know there are ways to increase the speed and efficiency of the order fulfillment process to make picking and packing easier?

‍

These are four ways of the most popular picking methods:

Picking and Packing Orders Efficiently for eCommerce Businesses

Fulfilling orders efficiently is critical for eCommerce businesses. The picking and packing method you choose impacts productivity, costs, and the customer experience. Here are four common order fulfillment methods and how to determine which works best for your business.

1. Piece Picking

With piece picking, orders are fulfilled one at a time. When an order comes in, a staff member goes to the storage area, picks the items for that order, prepares the shipment, creates a shipping label, and sends it out. This straightforward approach works well for small businesses with low order volumes. However, fulfilling orders individually is inefficient as sales grow.

2. Batch Picking

Batch picking involves picking all the items for multiple orders in one batch to improve efficiency. A staff member goes through the warehouse, grabbing items for several orders at once before bringing them to the shipping station. This method works for most business sizes by streamlining fulfillment tasks. However, batch picking is not ideal for large, heavy items or orders with many different items.

3. Zone Picking

In zone picking, the warehouse is divided into zones, and pickers are assigned specific zones. As orders come in, each picker grabs the items from their zone then passes the order to the next zone. It's similar to an assembly line, with each person focusing on a particular set of items. Zone picking maximizes efficiency for large warehouses, but coordination between pickers is crucial.

4. Zone-Wave Picking

Zone-wave picking also utilizes zone assignments but adds wave scheduling. Pickers gather items in batches from their zone based on scheduled waves, usually tied to packing and shipping cut-off times. Grouping tasks into waves aids coordination and precision. This method accommodates varying business sizes but is ideal for large operations concerned with efficiency.

Choosing the Best Method for Your Business

The optimal approach depends on your warehouse size, order volume, number of products, and item characteristics. Larger operations fulfill high volumes benefit more from zone picking and zone-wave picking. Carefully consider which method best suits your fulfillment needs and business goals.

‍

Next article: Why Custom Packaging Is Vital for Your eCommerce Brand

FAQs

What are the most common ways to pick and pack eCommerce orders?

The four main methods are: piece picking (one order at a time), batch picking (multiple orders at once), zone picking (dividing warehouse and assignments), and zone-wave picking (zone picking with scheduled waves).

How can piece picking help my business?

Piece picking allows easy, one-by-one order fulfillment. It works well for small eCommerce businesses just starting out and those with low daily order volumes.

When should I use batch picking?

Batch picking helps streamline processes by combining tasks. It's great for mid-sized businesses looking to scale operations efficiently. But it has limitations with large, heavy, or complex orders.

Why choose zone picking for order fulfillment?

Zone picking brings assembly line-style efficiency to large warehouses through specialized picker assignments and coordination between zones - maximizing output.

What are the benefits of zone-wave picking?

Zone-wave picking builds on zone picking by adding scheduled waves for pickers. Waves enable precise coordination for packing and shipping cut-offs - ideal for high-volume operations.

How do I know which method is right for my business?

Consider your warehouse size, daily order volume, number of SKUs, and product characteristics. Larger operations shipping heavy items in high quantities gain the most from zone and wave picking methods.

Can I switch between picking methods as my business grows?

Yes, you should re-evaluate as volumes, storage space, and items change over time. Tweak your workflows to maximize efficiency at each stage of growth.

Where can I learn more about eCommerce order fulfillment?

Check out our other articles on picking, packing, shipping, returns, and all aspects of managing backend eCommerce operations.

‍