Picking traditionally was the task of breaking large unit sizes into smaller ones. In the modern warehouse order picking is seen as a way to add value by making goods quickly available to customers in the right quantities. Customers no longer have to maintain large amounts of inventory for their operations. The new trends in order picking are,
- Consolidation: Corporate mergers and acquisitions, coupled with the deregulation of the transportation industry, have resulted in fewer distribution centers serving larger customer bases. This causes more SKUs in increasingly larger volumes to move through warehouses and puts pressure on the distribution function to be efficient and cost effective.
- Constant Flow: Material that used to be ordered on a monthly, or even quarterly basis, is now required weekly or biweekly. Goods are often shipped directly to stores with the supplier providing inventory storage.
- Customer Attention: Successful suppliers have developed excellent relationships with their customers by providing goods quickly, in the right quantities to fulfill specialized customer, to stay competitive.
