An operating device for placing or retrieving bottle-like piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device, comprising: a gripping jaw assembly (100; 200) having two profile-rod shaped gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 13a, 13b; 50a, 50b), having opposite lying inner surfaces (12a, 12b; 14a, 14b; 51a, 51b), extending in a first horizontal direction, wherein the first horizontal direction corresponds to the direction for placing and retrieving piece goods, wherein the gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 13a, 13b; 50a, 50b) are configured in such a manner that the distance of the inner surfaces (12a, 12b; 14a, 14b; 51a, 51b) at least in sections tapers in the downward direction, so that the inner surfaces (12a, 12b; 14a, 14b; 51a, 51b) are configured in such a manner that the bottle-like piece goods can be lifted from below, and a first actuation unit (20, 21) coupled to the gripping jaw assembly (100; 200) for moving the gripping jaw assembly (100; 200) in the first horizontal direction, wherein the gripping jaws (11a, 11b) are rotatably mounted so that the gripping jaws (11a, 11b) with the aid of a second actuation unit (110a, 110b) are rotatable from a position gripping from below, in which the distance of the inner surfaces (12a, 12b) at least in sections tapers in the downward direction, into a clamping position, in which the inner surfaces (12a, 12b) of the gripping jaws (11a, 11b) are aligned parallel to each another, characterized in that the gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 50a, 50b) are configured as flat profiles having plane inner surfaces (12a, 12b; 51a, 51b), and that the operating device has a third actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 13a, 13b; 50a, 50b), by which the gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 13a, 13b; 50a, 50b) are movable toward and away from each other along a second horizontal direction transverse to the first horizontal direction. a gripping jaw assembly (100; 200) having two profile-rod shaped gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 13a, 13b; 50a, 50b), having opposite lying inner surfaces (12a, 12b; 14a, 14b; 51a, 51b), extending in a first horizontal direction, wherein the first horizontal direction corresponds to the direction for placing and retrieving piece goods, wherein the gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 13a, 13b; 50a, 50b) are configured in such a manner that the distance of the inner surfaces (12a, 12b; 14a, 14b; 51a, 51b) at least in sections tapers in the downward direction, so that the inner surfaces (12a, 12b; 14a, 14b; 51a, 51b) are configured in such a manner that the bottle-like piece goods can be lifted from below, and a first actuation unit (20, 21) coupled to the gripping jaw assembly (100; 200) for moving the gripping jaw assembly (100; 200) in the first horizontal direction, wherein the gripping jaws (11a, 11b) are rotatably mounted so that the gripping jaws (11a, 11b) with the aid of a second actuation unit (110a, 110b) are rotatable from a position gripping from below, in which the distance of the inner surfaces (12a, 12b) at least in sections tapers in the downward direction, into a clamping position, in which the inner surfaces (12a, 12b) of the gripping jaws (11a, 11b) are aligned parallel to each another, characterized in that the gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 50a, 50b) are configured as flat profiles having plane inner surfaces (12a, 12b; 51a, 51b), and that the operating device has a third actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 13a, 13b; 50a, 50b), by which the gripping jaws (11a, 11b; 13a, 13b; 50a, 50b) are movable toward and away from each other along a second horizontal direction transverse to the first horizontal direction.