The Talking Warehouse
Understanding How Voice Unleashes Higher Performance in Product Distribution
An eBook by: Roger G. Byford and David Maloney
Introduction
While voice-directed workflow has been a force in distribution operations
for nearly two decades, it is still considered a young technology by many
supply chain professionals. In a recent independent survey, only one in five supply
chain managers claimed an awareness of voice. The survey also found that when
distribution leaders are familiar with the benefits of voice, they overwhelmingly
agree that it is an appropriate technology for distribution operations.
Supply chain and distribution managers today face a growing list of very real
business challenges. They feel pressure to improve their operations, reduce
costs and increase their facilities’ throughputs. In a fluctuating economy,
some experience the pains of growth, while others must deal with business
contraction. Many have the added burden of accommodating a growing SKU
base coupled with a diverse product mix that is ever-changing. And all of them
are seeking to continuously improve their distribution capabilities.
Managers also must face the reality of a changing workforce. The new
generation of workers will no longer have the numbers to replace aging
employees as they have in the past. Older workers will need to continue on,
working longer to fill the gap, and bringing with them the need to perform their
jobs in less physically-demanding ways. Warehouse workplaces will continue to
evolve as a melting pot with many native languages spoken. Managers will be
challenged with making this new warehouse team more flexible than ever before.
To address these business challenges and to promote greater understanding of
voice technology, Vocollect and DC Velocity Magazine have teamed to launch this
educational series, The Talking Warehouse: Understanding How Voice Unleashes
Higher Performance in Product Distribution. This partnership brings together
DC Velocity, recognized by supply chain professionals as an industry voice of
authority, and Vocollect, the proven authority on voice.
This educational series will help distribution and supply chain professionals
gain a greater understanding of voice-directed workflow, the many ways it
is applied, and the wide range of benefits companies have at tained af ter
implementing voice systems.
The series of chapter discussions will feature the basics of voice — how it was
developed, how it works and where it is going. We also discuss the many ways
in which voice is being deployed by leading distribution companies in a wide
range of applications, including picking, receiving, replenishment, shipping,
loading and inventory control.
We also will cover the infrastructure and equipment required for a
successful voice implementation; making the business case for voice,
including conducting the return on investment analysis; best practices using
voice; the consistency voice brings to worldwide operations; and the many
ways in which voice is improving operations with higher levels of productivity,
increased at tention on employee performance and safety, customer-centric
distribution, and tools that allow managers and supervisors to bet ter manage
workflow and facility processes.
In this first chapter, we share how voice has impacted the distribution
landscape. We also provide a brief history of voice and relate the story of
one early adopter that recognized and capitalized on the potential of voice
to revitalize its distribution operations.
We hope you’ll find this educational series valuable in addressing some of
the challenges you’ll inevitably face in your supply chain leadership role over
the coming years. Wishing you every continued success…
Sincerely,
Roger Byford
David Maloney
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