Request a free offer
We look forward to learning more about you and your project.
How does pick-by-paper work?
In the traditional “pick-by-paper” picking method, the entire order processing is document-based. Instead of digital devices, warehouse staff use a printed picking list. This list contains all the information relevant to order fulfillment, such as item numbers, descriptions, quantities, and the respective storage locations.
The Comparison: Pick-by-Paper vs. Pick-by-Scan
The two methods mark the transition from analog to digital warehouse management.
In the analog method (paper), the employee physically checks off picked items on the list with a pen. Corrections or shortages are noted by hand. Data is reported back to the system with a delay through subsequent manual entry in the office.
In the digital method (Scan), a mobile data collection device controls the process. Inventory reconciliation and posting occur paperlessly and in real time with every single scan directly at the shelf.
The Daily Warehouse Routine
The process begins in the warehouse office, where the overarching inventory management or ERP system generates the picking list, which is then printed out. The picker receives the paper document and works through the listed items one by one. He walks to the specified storage location, locates the item based on its description, retrieves the required quantity, and checks the item off on the paper.
Once all items in the order have been collected in this manner, the employee transports the goods to the packing station. He then returns the processed paper document to administration. There, the handwritten data must be manually entered into the system so that the inventory can be updated and the delivery note printed.
Economic Context
In today’s modern, dynamic market economy, the “pick-by-paper” method is increasingly reaching its limits due to rising cost pressures and the demand for maximum delivery speed. While it may still be worthwhile for smaller warehouses with low throughput or highly standardized processes due to the low barriers to entry, it is usually replaced in large distribution centers by paperless, more error-resistant methods.
