NEW LOGISTICS PRODUCTS & SERVICES
EDITED BY DIANE RAND rollouts
SPOTLIGHT ON ….
VOICE SYSTEMS
Pick-to-voice system:
Inther, an international systems
integrator specializing in logistics automation systems such
as AS/RS, shuttle and goods-to-person solutions, and pick-to-cart/light systems, has implemented a voice picking system
that uses the speaker independent recognition (SIR) system.
In contrast to other voice recognition systems, no speech
training is necessary with this
model, the company says.
Pick by voice is an order selection method in which orders
are picked using voice control. An employee receives instructions
via a mobile computer—the voice unit—then confirms those
instructions by voice. The fact that employees must confirm each
action with speech recognition provides for enhanced accuracy.
Plus, employees have their hands and eyes free, which leads to
increased efficiency. In addition to order picking, voice systems
can be used for receiving, putaway, cycle count replenishment,
value-added logistics, and shipping.
Among other features, Inther’s solution for voice picking has
a direct link to SAP, which means no separate middleware is
necessary. Additional benefits of Inther’s solution include user-in-dependent voice recognition, multiple languages, and excellent
noise reduction, the company says. (Inther Integrated Systems
Corp., www.inthergroup.com)
Cloud-based voice solution: Voxware’s Cloud Voice
Management Suite (VMS) system offers all the productivity and
accuracy benefits of using a voice solution for a warehouse without the added burden of server hardware, maintenance, and IT
personnel, the company says. Implementation can run less than
three weeks from the beginning to the first voice-assisted picking
shift because of the minimal IT setup needed.
Accessed by a monthly subscription based on the number of
users a warehouse needs, Cloud VMS doesn’t lock companies
into an inflexible user cap. This voice picking software offers
customers the ability to add users on a temporary basis and then
decommission those users when they are no longer needed. In
true cloud fashion, customers pay only for what they use, keeping the operating cost of the Voxware system to a minimum.
(Voxware, www.voxware.com)
Mobile voice application: Lucas Systems Inc.’s Lucas Move,
the core component of its voice picking and mobile work execution solution, streamlines hands-on processes for warehouse
associates who wear headsets and a mobile computer, leaving
their eyes and hands free for their work. Distribution centers
can choose to use Move with rugged smartphones or a range of
other voice-capable mobile computers, avoiding the costs of proprietary hardware and reaping the benefits of using new smart
devices and wearables, the system’s developer says.
The voice solution features Jennifer, which the company
describes as “the intelligent, user-friendly voice of Lucas Move
that tells workers where to go and what to do.” Users speak to
Jennifer to confirm their activities, and the company’s speech
recognition platform—Serenade—recognizes and interprets the
users’ spoken responses, which it can do in multiple languages,
regardless of accents and background noise.
Lucas Move was designed for efficient picking as well as other
operations. Every Lucas Move application incorporates best practices gained from thousands of voice users at hundreds of warehouses and DCs, the company says. And since every distribution
center is different, Move adapts to different processes and is able
to support a variety of configurable voice-directed workflows,
including the use of bar-code scanning and other data capture
and display technologies, such as smartwatches and glasses.
Lucas Move is a voice solution built to run on ruggedized
smartphones and standard mobile computers and RF terminals,
rather than on special-purpose voice-only appliances. The latest generation of Move can run on all major mobile operating
systems (Windows Mobile, Android, iOS), and warehouses can
choose to use it on rugged smartphones or on a wide range
of standard mobile computers from vendors such as Motorola,
Honeywell, LXE, and Intermec. (Lucas Systems Inc., www.lucas-
ware.com)
Express voice application: Vocollect by Honeywell’s
VoiceExpress, a Vocollect Enterprise Connector application,
offers a rapid implementation option for Vocollect voice-enabled
workflows. The application is designed to help users maximize
warehouse productivity with best practices and supports process
re-engineering without modifying the host system.
Vocollect VoiceExpress provides all the power of Vocollect
Voice and extends that value by integrating directly with a host
system so information can be exchanged directly with the worker
in real time, the company says. VoiceExpress can be configured
to work with processes and voice-enabled workflows throughout
the distribution center, including order selection, replenishment,
transfers, putaway, line-loading, receiving, cycle counting, auditing, and back stocking. (Vocollect, www.vocollectvoice.com)
