Picklist

Picklists are used in logistics and warehouse management to organize the picking of goods. A pick list contains a list of all items for a picking run. Depending on the picking strategy, different information can be specified for each pick item. 

Common information that can be found on almost all picking lists is

• Order number: The order number is used to assign the picklist to a specific customer order or production process
• Item description: The item description contains precise information about the items to be picked, including the item name, item number, item description and, in many cases, an item image.
• Storage location: The storage location information allows pickers to easily find the exact location of the goods to be picked. This includes aisle numbers and shelf numbers, for example.
• Withdrawal quantity: This refers to the number of units to be withdrawn per item.
  
  

Optionally, further details may be required, such as information on the target storage location/consolidation bin, batches or the provision/delivery date. 

Once a picking list has been processed, it is noted whether the order has been completed in full or whether there were differences in the withdrawal. This is important in order to initiate any subsequent picking or further stock checks.

The basic variant of picking, which is still used today in smaller, manually managed warehouses but is becoming increasingly less important, is "paper-based picking", also known as "pick-by-paper". Here, warehouse workers pick the goods using printed pick lists.

The advantages of the pick-by-paper method are the low or even non-existent investment costs in warehouse technology and the independence from network infrastructure and electricity. 

Disadvantages include a high susceptibility to errors due to manual processing and the fact that no stock corrections can be automatically forwarded to a higher-level system. 

Nowadays, paper-based picking can be contrasted with far more modern, efficient, secure and flexible paperless picking methods, which have a high degree of automation. With these methods, the picking lists are provided electronically in the warehouse management system. The articles are reserved and the goods are booked out automatically. The system recognizes differences and can automatically make the necessary corrections.