WMS in a warehouse: scanner, voice and light picking

A WMS in a warehouse tells the worker where to go, what to take and how many pieces. Commands arrive on a scanner, in a headset (pick by voice) or through lights on the racks (pick by light). In each of these methods what counts is accuracy confirmed by a scan, a voice reply or a button press, not speed alone.

What is a WMS in a warehouse and how does it differ from an ERP?

WMS (Warehouse Management System) is software for managing a warehouse. It handles receiving, storage, picking, dispatch and stocktaking, and it plans and tracks every movement of goods in real time. An ERP is a system for the whole company: orders, invoices, purchasing. The WMS works with the ERP, but it deals with what happens between the racks.

For the worker this means one thing: you do not choose the order of tasks or where goods are put away. The system does that, and you carry out and confirm each step. We write more about positions and shifts in the text on work in warehousing and logistics.

Working with a scanner step by step

Most often you will meet a handheld scanner, that is, a radio terminal (RF). A typical cycle looks like this:

1. You log in on the scanner with your ID badge.
2. The WMS shows the task and the location, for example the aisle, rack and level.
3. On site you scan the location code. This confirms that you are standing at the right rack.
4. You scan the product code or the pallet label.
5. You confirm the quantity, and the system gives you the next task.

The order matters. Scanning the location before the product means the goods will not end up on the wrong shelf and the order will not get someone else's product. In practice, a day with a scanner is repeating this cycle during receiving, putaway, picking or dispatch, depending on the position.

Voice picking: commands in the headset

With pick by voice you put on a headset with a microphone. The system tells you by voice where to go, what to take and how many. You answer: usually you read out the check code placed at the location, and then say the quantity picked. If the code does not match, the system will not move on.

The main advantage is free hands. The method works well, among other places, in cold stores, where it is hard to operate scanner buttons in thick gloves.

There is no single standard of commands in Polish. The vocabulary and the way of confirming depend on the system manufacturer and on the site, so the first stage of work is learning the commands used in that particular warehouse.

Light picking: pick by light and put to light

With pick by light, each location has a light and a small display. The light comes on where you should take goods from, and the display shows the number of pieces. After picking you press the confirmation button, the WMS receives the information and the light goes out.

Put to light works the other way round: the light shows where to put the goods. Often each order has its own colour, so several orders can be picked at once at one rack. Such stations are typical in e-commerce and fulfillment centres, where one order consists of several small items.

Three methods compared

What happens when you make a mistake

If you scan the wrong location or product code, the system reports an error and does not approve the step. You go back, look for the right place and scan again. A mistake caught at the scan costs a few seconds.

It is worse when someone confirms a step without actually checking, for example by scanning a label from another place to save time. Then the error shows up only at the customer or during stocktaking, and the WMS shows who approved the item and when. That is why careful confirmation of every step matters more than racing the clock.

Do you need to know Polish and how to use a computer?

Operating a scanner does not require computer skills: the screen guides you step by step, and you learn the basics at the station on the first day. Language is a different matter. The required level of Polish depends on the site and the position, and many job ads require communicative Polish. With voice picking you need to understand the commands and pronounce them clearly. A scanner or a headset will not replace knowing the language when the position requires it.

If you want to work in a warehouse with heavier goods, a course and forklift licences will also help, because some WMS tasks involve moving pallets.

Frequently asked questions

Does the WMS measure my performance?

The system records every confirmation with the time, so the site can see the number of items completed and the number of mistakes. Whether there is a norm per hour, and what it is, is set by the particular site.

Do headsets in voice picking tire you out?

You wear the headset for the whole shift, so if it fits badly or the system does not recognise commands in the noise, report it to the shift leader right away. Keeping the microphone close to your mouth and speaking codes clearly reduces repeats.

How long does it take to learn to work with a scanner?

The basic cycle, that is location, product and quantity, is learned at the station. Speed comes with repeating the same tasks, and at the beginning error-free confirmation matters more.

Is there a lot of heavy lifting in picking?

It depends on the range of goods: in e-commerce small parcels dominate, while in pallet picking the goods can be heavier. Manual handling is limited first by technical solutions and work organisation, and only then by auxiliary equipment.

This text describes the general rules. What you are entitled to depends on your type of contract: an employment contract (umowa o pracę) or a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie). Your own contract and payslip are what count.