There are many factors involved here so it’s difficult to provide a definitive answer. The best picking method for you will be the one that suits your product profile, order volume, storage layout and available staff.
However, some form of grouped or “wave” picking will be the most efficient one to use in most fulfillment operations. This is where orders are grouped together by one or more criteria in order to create a “pick wave” which is “routed” to reduce travel and increase efficiency.
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In ecommerce fulfillment, a form of wave picking called “cluster picking” is a method that offers many benefits. A cluster is a group of orders, selected by various criteria, which are picked together in a single exercise. Using a trolley and a separate container for each order, a picker visits storage locations in a logical route. At each location the products required for each order are picked, so that at the end of the route all of the items for the “clustered” orders have been collected.
Another highly effective strategy is the “bulk pick and sort” option. Again, selecting orders by a range of criteria, locations are visited in a routed sequence where the total quantity of items needed for the group of orders can be picked. In a separate “sort” stage the products are then arranged into individual orders. This can be done by assembling one order at a time, or multiple orders at the same time, or even by combining it with the order checking and packing process.
A particularly useful feature that some warehouse management systems provide is the facility to automate the selection and processing of sales orders. By creating a predefined “filter” based on specific criteria, the process of determining which orders to include in a pick wave can be fully automated. The system can then automatically release pick waves at timed intervals to suit delivery requirements and worker availability.