Question 1

How does batch picking improve throughput?

Accepted Answer

Batch picking collects items for 5-15 orders in one trip, sharing travel distance across multiple orders. If single-order picking covers 120 m per order, a batch of 10 orders might cover 400 m total instead of 1200 m, reducing travel time by 67%. The trade-off is added sorting time at a pack station.

Question 2

What are realistic pick rates for different warehouse types?

Accepted Answer

Manual pick-to-cart: 60-120 lines/hour. Pick-to-light: 200-400 lines/hour. Voice picking: 150-250 lines/hour. Goods-to-person automation (AutoStore, Kiva): 300-600 lines/hour. The right technology depends on order profile, SKU count, and labor cost in your market.