Google StreamTech

Pack Verification

Overview

Most order fulfillment centers suffer from the occasional mistake, or perhaps a customer claim where it’s not certain that a mistake was made. Given current self-checkout technology such as you would see at your local grocery store or home improvement center, where the customer has to scan each item and the system verifies order integrity, it would be nice to apply this methodology to the small to medium sized distribution center. But we can do even better...

How it Works

After the order is picked the system associates it with the contents from the database. The shipping container is placed on a scale and tared. Now, as items are added the system requires a scan for each and looks for an incremental weight that matches the item packed. This extra functionality helps catch inadvertent errors of quantity. The weight allowance for each item can be custom configured. For example you may ship some liquid products whose weight can vary. This item can be trapped with custom rules that allows the system relax for that specific product. For operations where some items do not have a barcode it is easy to add a small placard where the operator can scan a picture of the item.

Proof-of-Fulfillment

Of course there is more. You want the ability to “prove” that the order was packed correctly. We provide a small overhead camera that is intelligent and takes a digital picture when someone breaks its field-of-view over the shipping container. Once the order is complete, those pictures are “stitched” together into a lightweight movie file that is archived by date and time on a network accessible drive. Should the order accuracy ever be called into question, it is a simple matter to pull up the “movie” and quickly verify or dispute the claim. This “proof” can be used both externally (with your customers) or internally (as a training or debrief mechanism). Many of our customers report that the biggest savings is the cost avoidance of investigation and auditing of the alleged error.

Training

Pack verification can also be used for training. For example if certain orders require special packaging, the addition of a specific brochure, etc. the operator can be prompted for these items. New associates or temporaries can even be prompted for a specific box or to apply tape, etc. With multi-level user log-in, the system can be customized to the experience level of the operator, and supervisors can be given authority to override the system.

Summary

Order verification and Proof-of-Fulfillment technology are here to help you reduce errors in your pack-out processes. Call us to talk to some existing customers or to have us take a look at your operation and provide a proposal.