Picking in the Staples DC works much like a conventional pick- and put-to-light system.

An order begins when a computer screen in a picking station instructs an order picker to construct a particular size box. The picker constructs the box and places it on the shelf in front of her under one of several red lights. She presses the light immediately above the box, assigning the box to the light.

A printer in the station then prints a shipping label, which the picker places on the box.

While the picker is preparing boxes, robots retrieve the shelving pods that hold products needed for those orders. When the first shelving pod arrives, a laser pointer mounted in the station shows the picker which product to pick from the shelving pod. The picker's computer screen tells her how many of that product to pick. She picks the appropriate products and scans the UPC code on one of them to confirm the accuracy of her pick.

Meanwhile, a red light illuminates over one of the boxes the picker has constructed. The picker puts the products in the indicated box and presses the light to confirm the put.

The robot then returns the shelving pod to forward storage. Another shelving pod arrives immediately, ready for the next pick.