When it comes to order fulfillment technology in distribution centers, workers can be outfitted with RF scanners, voice-directed work systems or a combination of both. In 2016, survey results compiled by Zebra Technologies suggest that DCs typically don’t adopt one-size-fits-all solutions. Statistics showed that 77.4% of warehouses used only RF scanners, with 10.2% of facilities solely relying on voice systems, and 12.4% utilizing a mix of both processes. However, there will be a significant shifting in those percentages going forward.
By 2020, only about a third of DCs polled expect to continue using only bar code scanning, while 56.2% anticipate implementing a combination of voice picking and RF scanning. The reasons for the increased popularity of voice-directed solutions are clear. DCs desire speedier and more accurate picking that help improve the bottom line.