# Order picking

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> Every shipment starts with order picking: warehouse staff locate and retrieve the items listed in a customer order, verify quantities and identities, and consolidate them ready for dispatch.

Every shipment starts with order picking: warehouse staff locate and retrieve the items listed in a customer order, verify quantities and identities, and consolidate them ready for dispatch. It is widely regarded as the most labour-intensive process in a distribution centre, consistently accounting for the largest share of warehouse operating costs. Errors translate directly into returns, customer complaints, and costly rework. Operations therefore invest heavily in technologies such as pick-by-voice, pick-by-light, conveyor sorters, and goods-to-person robotics, supported by warehouse management systems that optimise travel routes. Order picking differs from consolidation, which combines separate consignments into a single transport unit.

**Source:** [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kommissionierung](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kommissionierung)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Order picking |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 99 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kommissionierung |

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