Auto Next Aisle Allocation in B2B picking

Owned by Raghav Mehta
Last updated: Dec 13, 2023 by Rahul Singh
3 min read

Introduction to B2B auto next aisle allocation

Auto next aisle allocation in B2B picking aims to improve warehouse efficiency and productivity by suggesting the next aisle for picking once the picker reaches the end of the current aisle. This feature can be enabled or disabled through the Picklist Configuration screen in WMS.

The already existing configuration for Auto Aisle Allocation in the Picklist Configuration screen will now be applicable to both B2C and B2B flows.

After reaching the end of an aisle, the system will now suggest the next aisle for the user to proceed to. The suggestion is based on the aisle with the oldest released picklist for individual B2B order or orders in the Pick Order Group. To ensure fairness, the same aisle will not be suggested to multiple users simultaneously.

When an aisle is suggested, the system will provide the first location within that aisle for the user to begin picking.

Express and Default picklist wise Aisle Allocation

If an Aisle contains both express and non-express orders' the picklist:

  • For the same type of picking(either express or default), the system will avoid suggesting the same aisle multiple times.

  • However, if the picking type(Express or Default) differs, the system may suggest the same aisle to different pickers.

 

By Default, Auto Aisle Allocation was Disabled before. But now by default Auto Aisle Allocation will be enabled. User should one-time check and update the Auto Aisle Allocation configuration based on the operational use case before starting operations after 71 release deployment.

The Auto Aisle Allocation configuration can be turned on or off for a warehouse from Picklst Configuration screen. It will be applicable for both B2B and B2C flows.

 

Auto-aisle allocation configuration is now applicable for both b2b & b2c flows

Auto Aisle Allocation based on different types of Order Picking

a. B2B Order picking

The next aisle will be suggested for B2B order based on the following parameters:

  • An aisle without any ALLOCATED picklists for the order in the current zone is suggested.

  • An aisle with the oldest picklist in the current zone for the order is suggested.

b. Pick Order Group wise picking (Batch/ Cluster)

The next aisle will be suggested for the B2B Pick Order Group based on the following parameters:

  • Aisles without any ALLOCATED picklists for the orders in the Pick Order Group in the current zone are suggested.

  • An aisle with the oldest picklist in the current zone for all the orders in the Pick Order Group is suggested.

 

Once an aisle is suggested for a user, if he starts picking, other user won't get same aisle suggestion. In case user doesn't start picking within certain configured time(Picklist Allocation Time), it will suggest aisle to other user.

Please find below the image with the pop-up confirmation displayed once all picklists in an aisle are picked.

Once the picker confirms to get the next suggestion from a different aisle, the suggestion for the next Aisle’s location with minimum distance and allocated picklist is displayed.

message displayed once all picklists in an aisle are picked

 

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