Pickscan offers a number distinct picking methods to suit different warehouse operations and workflows. Whether you're running a small operation that priorities order accuracy and simplicity, or a high-volume warehouse that needs to maximise efficiency, Pickscan has a picking style that fits your needs.
The system allows you to choose between Order Collection Picking (also known as single order picking) and Batch Picking, with the ability to switch between them based on your operational requirements.
Order Collection Picking
Order Collection Picking is the default picking mode in Pickscan, designed for operations where pickers work on one order at a time from start to finish.
This method provides a straightforward, linear workflow where each order is picked entirely before moving to the next. When a picker selects an order, it's immediately locked to prevent other users accessing the same order, and they proceed to scan all items for that specific order.
Once complete, the order is marked processed in Linnworks and the picker moves to the next available order. This picking style is ideal for smaller warehouses, operations prioritising simplicity and ease of training, or when you need items to be already sorted by order with no additional packing stage required. Because each order is completed before starting the next, there's no need for sorting items later—everything is already organised correctly.
Batch Picking
Batch Picking is an advanced picking method designed for high-volume operations where efficiency and warehouse throughput are critical. Instead of picking one order at a time, this method groups multiple orders together into pick batches, allowing pickers to collect items for multiple orders in a single pass through the warehouse.
The system automatically generates pick batches from open orders based on factors such as shipping service or shipping method (see Batch Pick Algorithms). These batches can be generated automatically on a schedule or manually triggered when needed. When a picker selects an available batch, the entire batch is locked to prevent other users accessing it, and a tote is automatically assigned for tracking. The picker then proceeds through the warehouse, scanning all items required for all orders in the batch during a single comprehensive pass.
Unlike order collection picking, items are collected together without being sorted by order at this stage—the sorting happens later at the packing station using pack locations assigned to each order. Once all items in a batch have been picked and all orders have been packed, the batch is marked as complete. This picking style is ideal for warehouses with large order volumes, operations with dedicated packing stations, or when you need to maximise picking efficiency by minimising walking time. The trade-off is that it requires a packing stage to sort items by order, but the significant reduction in warehouse travel time makes it highly efficient for high-volume operations.
Pick Note Scanning
Pick Note Scanning provides a hybrid approach that combines the convenience of printed pick notes with the benefits of digital picking. This method is ideal for operations that print pick notes in the morning as part of their existing workflow but want to leverage Pickscan's digital scanning capabilities.
When using this method, pickers receive printed pick notes as usual, but instead of manually checking off items on paper, they scan the barcode on the pick note using the Pickscan mobile app. Scanning the barcode immediately displays the order details on the mobile device, allowing the picker to commence picking with full digital tracking and validation. The picker then proceeds to scan all items for that order just as they would in Order Collection Picking mode, with the system providing real-time feedback and ensuring accuracy through barcode validation.
This picking style is ideal for warehouses that have an established morning routine of printing pick notes, operations transitioning from paper-based to digital picking, or when you want to maintain the familiarity of printed pick notes while gaining the benefits of digital tracking and accuracy. It provides a smooth migration path for operations that aren't ready to go fully paperless but want to start benefiting from digital picking capabilities. The printed pick note serves as a backup reference, while the mobile device handles all the actual picking validation and tracking.