An operating device for a picking system with oppositely arranged storage places, having: a delivery table with two opposing storage and retrieval sides (11, 12) and two longitudinal sides (14, 15), wherein a transport channel for accommodating at least one piece goods item extends between the storage and removal sides (11, 12) along a first horizontal direction (x), two elongated clamping jaws (20a, 20b) arranged above the delivery table with mutually facing planar clamping surfaces, which, at least partially, define a lateral boundary of the transport channel, and which are coupled to a first drive unit, so as to be moved together along the first horizontal direction (x), wherein the clamping jaws (20a, 20b) are coupled to a second drive unit so as to be moved toward and away from each other transversely to the first horizontal direction (x) along a second horizontal direction (y), so that at least one piece goods item can be held between the clamping surfaces and can thereby be moved along the first horizontal direction (x), characterised in that, the operating device comprises at least one sliding device with a drive for moving a section of the sliding device along the first horizontal direction (x), wherein the sliding device has a driver, which is coupled to the drive, and can, at least partially, be introduced into the transport channel and can be removed therefrom, and which can be moved along the first horizontal direction (x) in the transport channel above the delivery table such that the at least one piece goods item can, at least partially, be moved out of the transport channel by way of a storage and a removal side (11, 12). a delivery table with two opposing storage and retrieval sides (11, 12) and two longitudinal sides (14, 15), wherein a transport channel for accommodating at least one piece goods item extends between the storage and removal sides (11, 12) along a first horizontal direction (x), two elongated clamping jaws (20a, 20b) arranged above the delivery table with mutually facing planar clamping surfaces, which, at least partially, define a lateral boundary of the transport channel, and which are coupled to a first drive unit, so as to be moved together along the first horizontal direction (x), wherein the clamping jaws (20a, 20b) are coupled to a second drive unit so as to be moved toward and away from each other transversely to the first horizontal direction (x) along a second horizontal direction (y), so that at least one piece goods item can be held between the clamping surfaces and can thereby be moved along the first horizontal direction (x), characterised in that, the operating device comprises at least one sliding device with a drive for moving a section of the sliding device along the first horizontal direction (x), wherein the sliding device has a driver, which is coupled to the drive, and can, at least partially, be introduced into the transport channel and can be removed therefrom, and which can be moved along the first horizontal direction (x) in the transport channel above the delivery table such that the at least one piece goods item can, at least partially, be moved out of the transport channel by way of a storage and a removal side (11, 12).