Order picking in the warehouse: how to speed it up and make fewer mistakes

19.10.2026

Picking is often the slowest step for a distributor. Here is how to set it up so the driver finds everything ready in the morning.

Why picking is slow

Picking usually takes long because every order is on its own sheet of paper and the worker walks the whole warehouse for one shop at a time. The same product gets searched for ten times a day, once for every shop.

Two ways to pick

Pick by order: each shop's order is picked separately. Simple, and fine while orders are few and small.
Pick by product: one list collects the same product for all shops first, then it is split between them. Faster when there are many orders and products repeat.

Many distributors combine both: the main products are picked together, the rest order by order.

What helps

Close the orders the evening before delivery, so nothing new comes in the morning.
Show the unit on the picking list (piece, case), so the worker does not pick too much.
Mark each order as picked, and load only finished orders onto the vehicle.
If something is out of stock, change the order right away and tell the shop then, not at delivery.

What you get

Picking takes less time, the driver covers more shops, and there are fewer mistakes. In Strelf picking has its own page, with the picking list ready for you.

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