How to choose the right pick to light system, put to light system and warehouse picking systems?
Choosing the right picking system is not a one-size-fits-all decision; it depends entirely on your product characteristics, order profiles, and growth targets. A specialized partner like SAVOYE helps you analyze your transactional data to determine whether a Pick-to-Light system (ideal for high-density, fast-moving items) or a Put-to-Light system (perfect for sorting consolidated batch-picked orders into individual customer packages) is the best fit for your facility.
Key criteria for selecting a picking system
When evaluating different warehouse picking systems, you should focus on four essential criteria:
- SKU velocity (ABC analysis): high-velocity items (A-class) benefit most from Pick-to-Light, while slower-moving items (B and C-class) can be integrated using RF scanners or Voice Picking to keep costs optimized.
- Order profile and density: if your customers order multiple items per transaction (common in retail and B2B), a Put-to-Light sorting wall is highly efficient. If orders are small or single-item (common in e-commerce), direct Pick-to-Light is preferred.
- Hardware durability and flexibility: ensure the light modules are industrial-grade, shock-resistant (to withstand accidental knocks by bins), and easy to clip/unclip if you need to reconfigure your shelving layouts.
- Software intelligence: the hardware is only as good as the software driving it. The picking system must connect seamlessly with a dynamic WCS to allow real-time replenishment alerts, order prioritizing, and instant error-blocking.
When to implement warehouse picking systems
You should consider transitioning from manual paper or basic scanning to an advanced light-directed picking system when you encounter the following indicators:
- Surging eError rates: if incorrect items or wrong quantities are consistently reaching your packing area, resulting in high return processing costs.
- Onboarding bottlenecks: if you rely on temporary labor during peak seasons (such as Ramadan or White Friday) and find that training staff on handheld terminals takes too long or creates language barrier issues.
- Throughput plateaus: if your pickers are walking constantly and you have reached a physical limit on how many order lines can be processed per day.
- Space limitations: when you need to transition to a zone-picking strategy to make better use of your current warehouse footprint without expanding physically.
Pick to Light System Put to Light System Warehouse Picking Systems FAQ
How much does a pick to light system cost?
The investment in a Pick-to-Light system depends on the number of storage locations (shelves or slots) that need to be equipped with digital light modules and the overall complexity of the warehouse layout. Because SAVOYE designs modular and highly adaptable picking tools, the system can be tailored to equip only your high-rotation zones (A-class items) first. This modularity makes the initial CAPEX highly manageable and scalable.
What is the ROI of a put to light system?
Most businesses in the Middle East achieve a complete Return on Investment (ROI) for a SAVOYE Put-to-Light system within 12 to 18 months. The rapid payback is achieved through:
- Up to 50% increase in picking and sorting speed, allowing you to process more orders per shift.
- Near-zero picking errors (accuracy rates exceeding 99.9%), which drastically reduces the massive costs associated with returns, re-shipping, and customer service claims.
- Extremely fast training times, allowing temporary or seasonal workers during peaks like Ramadan to be fully productive in under 15 minutes.
How long does it take to implement warehouse picking systems?
An implementation of a SAVOYE light-directed picking system typically takes between 2 to 4 months. This relatively short timeline includes the physical installation of the light profiles on your existing racking, the setup of the control software, and the integration with your warehouse management systems.
Can pick to light systems integrate with WMS?
Yes, seamless integration is essential for real-time inventory synchronization. SAVOYE’s Pick-to-Light and Put-to-Light systems integrate natively with our own WMS (Warehouse Management System) and WCS (Warehouse Control System). They can also be easily interfaced with third-party ERPs or legacy WMS solutions. This ensures that as soon as an operator confirms a pick, the stock level is updated instantly across your entire business.
Are warehouse picking systems suitable for high-volume operations?
Absolutely. In fact, they are specifically engineered for high-velocity, high-density environments. Whether you are managing e-commerce retail, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or spare parts, SAVOYE’s picking tools excel during intense operational peaks. By removing the bottleneck of manual scanning or paper reading, they allow your warehouse to maintain a smooth, rapid flow of outbound orders even under extreme volume pressures.
