Information Management: Voice-directed fulfillment enables world-class beverage distribution

Wyoming’s liquor sales have steadily grown over the last five years, with net sales of $93.8 million in 2013. It is solely responsible for wholesale distribution of wine and spirits to 1,478 state-licensed retailers. To handle growing demand, the Wyoming Liquor Division constructed a state-of-the-art, 145,000 square-foot facility in 2012. The new facility offers expanded receiving operations and inventory storage, and a smart order fulfillment solution to streamline operations.

Greg Cook, administrator at Wyoming Liquor Division, led the search for an automated order fulfillment solution to improve picking efficiency, control expanded inventory and maintain order accuracy. The team selected a voice solution featuring hands-free, step-by-step picking instruction and real-time order management.

The voice solution is configured to manage full- and split-case order picking. Employees use wireless devices to connect to the warehouse management system (WMS) and begin a dialogue, verifying completion of each step until the order is complete. After directing the picking sequence to conclusion, the voice solution automatically updates the order status in the WMS. Completed orders are then staged for overnight delivery to customers.

The voice picking solution helped transform the workflow of the facility, which operates at increased efficiency while shipping more than 3,000 full cases and 12,000 bottles per day. This represents a 15% productivity increase over legacy processes, with an order accuracy rate of 99.9%. Distributing more than 880,000 cases annually, the division reports increased profits with $11.7 million generated for the state’s general fund on net sales of $93.8 million.

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