Voice-driven solution picked by Whitworths

The project ROI is less than one year for the new systems and infrastructure investment, led by a 35% increase in voice-driven picking productivity.

Whitworths is a UK sector leader in dried fruits, nuts and seeds and a 130-year-old, 350-employee, family-run business with its factories, warehousing and head office located on a single 22-acre site. Claire Aldred, supply chain director, comments: “The company is transforming its operations for 21st century warehousing and smart manufacturing."

Whitworths’ new voice-driven picking environment will replace its paper-based predecessor, giving the company the speed and flexibility it needs to respond to changes in consumer buying habits and retail needs – notably an escalation in picking-intensive e-commerce. Whitworths has 173,880 pick assignments per annum; its goal is to reach 99.8% picking accuracy.

Aldred adds: “Renovotec are a good partnership choice because they have the ability to work at pace and are professional. Going forward we also plan to work with them as a strategic partner for smart manufacturing.”

Whitworths’ voice picking system

The Renovotec Voice Manager system being deployed by Whitworths is wearable, hands-free and eyes-free and driven by special middleware that generates a guided workflow, telling the user which area of the warehouse to go to and what product to select. In addition to picking, the system will be used by Whitworths to drive other warehouse processes including put-away, stocktaking and replenishment. Renovotec Voice Manager’s analytics provide in-depth performance and productivity data that allow management to optimise warehouse workflows.

Renovotec is a fast growing rugged hardware, software and services provider for supply chain companies. For more information, visit: www.renovotec.com