Vocollect offers tips for gaining employee support for a voice picking system

White paper says the success of a voice deployment always comes down to people.

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 11/26/2007

Like any new technology, a voice-directed picking system is most successful when it’s fully embraced by distribution center workers. That’s why Vocollect, a major supplier of voice-directed picking systems, has issued a white paper outlining best practices for getting DC employees onboard with a voice implementation.

“It always comes down to people: Addressing the human side of the equation boosts the success of a voice deployment,” offers 11 steps to guide companies through a voice deployment:

1. Identify a project champion

2. Create an implementation team

3. Recruit front-line supervisors from each shift

4. Involve end users in the process

5. Get support from the human resources department

6. Collaborate with union representatives

7. Communicate early and often with employees

8. Train employees using a train-the-trainer approach

9. Partner with your voice provider

10. Train managers/supervisors on how to use voice data as a management tool

11. Reward and reinforce performance improvements

These and other tips were compiled from a survey of Vocollect managers who’ve been involved with voice implementations around the world.

The white paper, which is available for free after registering at Vocollect’s Web site, includes detailed suggestions for following each of the 11 steps and testimonials from customers.

Bill Stark, for example, vice president of engineering at United Stationers, says his company’s voice implementation increased productivity by 20%, improved accuracy to 99.7% and achieved a return on its investment in less than nine months. The company accomplished this, he says, “by thoroughly planning all phases of the implementation—not just the technology side of it, but the people side as well.”