making the case for next-generation wearable voice solutions · employee to pick items, pack them...

MAKING THE CASE FOR

CONTENT CREATIONPEERLESS

How the modern warehouse or DC can use voice to improve accuracy, enhance productivity, and keep workers engaged in the

fast-paced e-commerce fulfillment environment.

Next-Generation Wearable Voice Solutions

2 • Making the Case for Next-Generation Wearable Voice Solutions • honeywellaidc.com/voice

W ith global e-commerce sales expanding

by 20.7% to $3.535 trillion in 2019 and

on track to hit $5 trillion by 2021, the push to

implement technologies that help shippers fulfill

smaller orders faster than ever is on. As both

e-commerce and traditional warehouses and

distribution centers (DCs) gain in complexity, their

technology must not only keep pace, but also

anticipate and meet future needs.

Balancing productivity with performance has

become very difficult for warehouses and DCs,

which average about 134 mispicks per week and

lose roughly $400,000 annually due those these

errors (based on an industry average of $35 per

mispick). These numbers don’t even factor in the

cost of losing unhappy customers, something

that no company can afford to have happen in

today’s competitive business environment.

With roughly 25% of North American DCs

still using paper-based or analog solutions

to manage their daily workflows, errors have

become a way of life. Not only do these

approaches introduce errors, they also impair

receiving, inventory counting, picking, and

Using Next-Generation Wearables to Future-Proof

Fulfillment

MAKING THE CASENEXT-GENERATION WEARABLE VOICE SOLUTIONS

https://www.honeywellaidc.com/solutions/workflow/vocollect-voice-dc-solutions%20


Making the Case for Next-Generation Wearable Voice Solutions • honeywellaidc.com/voice 3

packing workflows. In a world where it can

cost 10 times as much money to receive an

incorrect order back than to send it, companies

need technology tools that not only enhance

productivity, but also introduce higher levels of

fulfillment accuracy.

THE RULES ARE

CHANGING

As the rules of fulfillment

continue to evolve,

warehouse and DC operators

are struggling to keep up.

“In a traditional DC, shipments

arrived at a certain time, got

processed internally, and

then were shipped at

a certain time. It was all

pretty predictable,” says

Jon Danzak, product offering

manager, Honeywell Voice.

That predictability went

out the window with

e-commerce and omni-

channel commandeering the modern-day DC,

where daily replenishmenwt cycles have been

reduced to hours or even minutes.

“Customers can go online and make demands

at all hours, and that’s introduced high levels of

uncertainty into the fulfillment process,” says

Danzak. “Not only do warehouses have to respond

to regular restock orders on a schedule, employees

need to be able to fulfill orders on the fly and get

them delivered to store or even direct ship to end-

customer. These and other pressures are creating

a need for speed and flexibility in the warehouse

and DC. Some stores are now acting more like

mini-DCs and now need to implement a more

standard systems approach to meet end-store

fulfillment demands created by on-demand/on-line

ordering. Of course, this puts more stress on the DC

to meet this variety of fulfillment demands.”

HELP WANTED

The national unemployment rate is hovering

at 50-year lows right now, making the task of

finding and retaining warehouse and DC workers

extremely difficult in all areas

of the country. In a business

segment where seasonal

demands can fluctuate wildly,

and where onboarding and

training both need to happen

quickly, next-generation

wearable voice solutions

are proving themselves

as a great enabler of both

productivity and accuracy.

Incorporating an ergonomic

headset, a wearable mobile

device, and advanced

software that utilizes “text-to-

speech” and “speech-to-text”

technology (currently available

in over 40 languages), Honeywell Voice systems

convert warehouse management system (WMS)

information to speech.

It then speaks instructions to warehouse

operators—directing them to the next location and

guiding them through the required tasks or steps

to complete processes, such as picking, inventory

replenishment, maintenance, and repairs. At any

point, workers can flexibly query the voice interface

or give it commands to get more information

about goods; change working speed or style; and

customize it to their own working needs (which the

system remembers as their preferences).

Enabled by advanced technology solutions,

these workers become true assets for the

organization. Customized for their individual needs,

“Not only do warehouses have to respond to regular restock

orders on a schedule, employees need to be able to fulfill orders on the fly and get

them delivered to store or even direct ship to

end-customer. These and other pressures are creating a need for speed and flexibility in the warehouse and DC.”

— Jon Danzak, product offering manager, Honeywell Voice



Honeywell Voice system directs the worker to

perform the final pick from the items presented.

Honeywell Voice systems can also interface with

other robotic selection and delivery vehicles,

making it easy to use voice—rather than complex

command systems—to direct these systems in

the warehouse.

Vehicle mounting voice devices has become

extremely popular and adds another boost to

warehouse and worker productivity. Workers

simply don a Bluetooth® headset and go to

a vehicle where the voice device is mounted,

ready and powered. Key benefits of this voice-

enabled vehicle include reduced startup time,

battery cost and equipment damage. Plus, most

workers enjoy not having to select and wear a

device, making the solution easier for them and

more economical for management.

If a worker requires both visual and auditory

cues to perform an inspection, Honeywell’s next-

generation technology can supplement auditory

with visual cues on a single device. Finally, the

devices are being developed with a “platform-

agnostic” approach, which puts the power of

next-generation wearable voice solutions into a

broader base of users.

In this Making the Case, we dig deeper into the

challenges of running a modern-day warehouse

or DC and show how next-generation wearable

voice solutions, such as Honeywell Voice, are

helping companies overcome these obstacles

while infusing more accuracy, reliability, and

ergonomics into their operations.

the system matches their style for maximum

productivity. Put simply, when you can energize

and enliven people by matching them with

technology that helps them do their jobs better,

you end up with a more engaged, productive

workforce. By making next-generation voice

solutions part of their DNA, companies can

leverage one of the simplest communication

methods available: interacting with voice.

Because voice systems are aware of every

operation and interaction, these next-generation

voice solutions provide even more feedback,

online data, and performance metrics than their

predecessors. At any time, a warehouse manager

can pull up a dashboard and quickly see how his or

her operators are performing, where the bottlenecks

are, and where the pipeline is moving swiftly.

EXTENDING INTO NEW AREAS

OF THE WAREHOUSE

Integrating different types of headsets and

peripherals (i.e., scanning and printing for

applications like serial number tracking, high

value goods or lot tracking) has been used for

many years with voice. Now, new functionalities

like touch-pairing (for multi-platform devices like

Android) with headsets and peripherals makes it

easier to connect and use other devices.

As more automated systems are introduced into

the warehouse, voice system can easily integrate

with and complement these systems. For example,

customers can use an automatic selection

machine to present goods to a worker while a

Balancing productivity with performance has become very difficult for warehouses and DCs, which average about 134 mispicks per week

and lose roughly $400,000 annually due those these errors (based on an industry average of $35 per mispick).



Geoffrey Anderson, product offering manager,

Honeywell Voice, says the solution is operator-

centric and includes a body-worn computer

(about the size of a closed hand) that’s attached

to the individual using a specialized belt. The

user also has a headset (which is connected

to the computer). Linked to an enterprise-class

management software package, the wearable

technology uses that software to manage

communications.

Here’s how it works: an operator comes in

for a shift, grabs the device, and then waits as it

downloads a list of tasks scheduled for the day

ahead. In the typical warehouse, for example,

those instructions are divvied up across numerous

employees, each of whom has his or her own “to

Running a warehouse or DC in today’s business

environment requires speed, accuracy, and

flexibility. Constantly on the move and under

extreme pressure, these operations must meet

the fulfillment expectations of ever-expanding

inventories while also making faster, more

accurate deliveries.

The same warehouses must also find, train, and

retain an increasingly-scarce and diverse workforce.

To hit all these targets, warehouses need flexible

solutions that help them keep pace while also

delivering ongoing productivity improvements.

Honeywell delivers these capabilities and more

by continuing to push the limits of advanced

technology, and next-generation wearable voice

solutions are just one example of this innovation.

Running the Modern “Wearhouse”





to assume management of existing processes and

introduce new, optimized workflows — all of which

are captured into the warehouse’s preferred data

management platform.

Honeywell’s next-generation wearable voice solution

collects and analyzes data on worker performance,

throughput targets, and inventory in real-time. The

software leverages this data to deliver insights about

workplace efficiency improvements and provides

predictive analytics recommendations about workload

distribution — all of which warehouse managers can

use to make informed decisions and meet anticipated

demands.

WORK IS NEVER HANDICAPPED

Whether picking products, repairing equipment, or

learning a new job, warehouse workers often have their

hands full of scanners, devices, checklists, procedures,

and other impediments that compete for their attention —

instead of focusing on the task at hand. With Honeywell

Voice, their hands and eyes are kept free, letting them

work more safely, efficiently, and accurately. On average,

companies can typically expect productivity increases of

more than 30%, accuracy rates of up to 99.99%, and a

safer, more satisfied workforce with higher retention rates.

These next-generation voice systems differ from

their predecessors in that they’re more user-centric,

and factor in issues like device weight, comfort, and

ergonomics. Early iterations of voice technology

overlooked these important elements. “Our technology

is right on the users’ heads and within inches of their

faces,” says Jon Danzak, product offering manager,

Honeywell Voice, “so we have to be sensitive to worker

comfort and ergonomics.”

Along the way, Honeywell Voice has also made design

tweaks that have helped increase reliability levels. “We’ve

taken advantage of updated standards to make the

technology more reliable, mainly in terms of radio and

Bluetooth® technology,” Danzak explains. “Users who

are working in real-time are always connected, have the

data they need, and are ready to receive the next set of

instructions and not tethered by cables. Work is never

limited by the technology. Here the technology truly

significantly speeds up productivity.”

do” list. Using voice commands, the system directs the

employee to pick items, pack them into boxes, load those

boxes onto pallets, and then deliver them to a shipping area.

EYES-FREE, HANDS-FREE

Built to guide mobile workers throughout facilities, wearable

voice solutions enable mobility while also ensuring that

employees operate in a safe, productive, ergonomic manner.

As each step is completed, the worker speaks a verbal

confirmation into the microphone.

The Honeywell Voice software converts this spoken

information into data and communicates it back to a host

system to provide real-time productivity (and inventory)

updates. If the worker needs to capture a serial or lot

number, for example, a hands-free wearable scanner

can be used to quickly scan and capture the additional

information without the worker needing to pick up an

additional device.

“This system manages the entire process from the

DC shelf to the truck,” says Anderson, noting that the

solution’s biggest selling points are its “eyes-free, hands-

free” capabilities. “There’s no computer screen; workers

just wear it on their bodies and talk to it.” This frees up

workers from having to look at and interact with computer

screens, and to confidently respond to commands like

“pick four items from Bin #9.”

AN ADAPTABLE SOLUTION

Designed for operations of all sizes, Honeywell Voice

software integrates with host systems of all types

— from legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP)

software, major warehouse execution systems (WES),

and warehouse management software (WMS) platforms

to customized systems, SAP, or Microsoft Dynamics

365. This seamless integration allows Honeywell Voice

“This system manages the entire process from the DC shelf to the truck…There’s no computer screen; workers just wear it on

their bodies and talk to it.”

— Geoffrey Anderson, product offering manager, Honeywell Voice



For the warehouse or DC manager: Focused on keeping mispicks to a minimum, ensuring that

everyone shows up for their shifts, and all customer orders are shipped as promised, warehouse

and DC managers have a lot on their plates right now. As e-commerce continues to impact their

operations, these managers need technology tools that help them work smarter and faster. By

enabling workforces to operate in an “eyes-free, hands-free” environment with no learning curve, the

technology puts the power into the warehouse manager’s hands in any business condition—even

when seasonal activity is at its very peak.

“Today’s wearable voice technology gives workers a feeling of control and empowerment,” says

Jon Danzak, product offering manager, Honeywell Voice. Those empowerment tools start right at the

device and headset, which the workers don before heading off onto the DC floor for their shifts. The

directions flow right into their headsets, which the individual worker can manipulate with commands

When next-generation wearable voice solutions are deployed in the warehouse or DC, everyone wins.

Next-Generation Wearable Voice Solutions

MAKING THE CASE FOR





Danzak notes: “It also doesn’t hurt that Honeywell’s

Voice technology has provided a transparent growth

path for customers for decades. The compatibility

and investment protection that we provide allows

customers to run software engineered for our original

voice devices to be used on our latest generation

devices with no modification. That type of protection is

invaluable when you’re talking about systems that keep

huge warehouses in 24 x 7 operation.”

For the CFO: Concerned

about balancing productivity

with performance, CFOs are

keenly aware of the fact that

mispicks are costly. With

companies averaging about 134

mispicks per week and losing

roughly $400,000 annually due

to these errors, CFOs benefit

when those errors are reduced,

fewer shipments are returned,

and customers are happy.

By guiding mobile workers

throughout facilities, Honeywell’s

next-generation wearable voice

solutions enable mobility while

also ensuring very high levels of accuracy.

As each step is completed, the worker speaks a

verbal confirmation into the microphone. The Honeywell

Voice software converts this spoken information into

data and communicates it back to a host system to

provide real-time productivity (and inventory) updates.

The software also leverages data to deliver insights

about workplace efficiency improvements and provides

predictive analytics recommendations about workload

distribution. As an added benefit, voice solutions

are user-friendly and easy to learn, thus removing

the financial strain of having to train transient and/or

temporary workforces.

“People will come and go in this labor market but

having a consistent voice platform helps support high

levels of business continuity,” says Geoffrey Anderson,

product offering manager, Honeywell Voice. “Even

if you’re dealing with high employee turnover, your

operation can still continue running smoothly.”

like “stop,” “go back,” or “go faster.”

Workers optimize their devices to their individual

workstyles, essentially making the technology a

natural part of their workflows. This translates into

direct benefits for warehouse and DC managers.

“When your workers are happy and doing their work,

that makes everyone’s jobs easier,” Danzak points out,

“and significantly decreases the management burden

at the DC level.”

For the CEO or COO: As two of

the highest-ranking executives

at any company, the CEO and

COO may not be “boots on the

ground” in the warehouse daily,

but they both keep close tabs

on what’s going on within its four

walls. Charged with overseeing

the overall operations of their

companies, they both want

to see good consistency and

repeatability of processes in their

operations. They also want to

build out processes that allow

high levels of flexibility and agility

which are vital in the modern-day

fulfillment environment.

Next-generation wearable voice technology helps

them meet all of these goals and more. “Everything

is changing so quickly,” says director of product and

offering management, Honeywell Voice. “CEOs are

worried that they’ll invest in a 2-million-square-foot

warehouse facility, only to have the whole industry

shift over to using small DCs in urban areas literally

overnight.”

By providing a scalable platform, voice helps these

executives future-proof their fulfillment operations, all

while leveraging high levels of visibility and flexibility that

all C-level executives want. Cognizant of the capital

outlays associated with these technology investments,

CEOs need to know that they’ll see quick payback

from investments in warehouse technology. Danzak

says voice has been proven as a great enabler of better

operational efficiencies, lower operating costs, better

labor usage, and improved fulfillment accuracy.

“Everything is changing so quickly…CEOs are worried

that they’ll invest in a 2-million-square-foot

warehouse facility, only to have the whole industry shift over to using small

DCs in urban areas literally overnight.”

— James Hendrickson, director of product and offering management, Honeywell Voice



F rom an employee’s perspective, there’s nothing worse than being given an assignment that you’re not

able to complete because you don’t have the tools. If workers are either directly or indirectly paid by

performance, and if they can’t hit those goals because they’re lacking the tools, it’s downright dehumanizing.

“As voice technology has evolved,” says James Hendrickson, director of product and offering management,

Honeywell Voice, “it’s remained a great way to solve these and other problems on the warehouse floor.”

In the fulfillment environment, companies must be able to hire and onboard workers quickly, and they need

systems that help them do that. “We believe that voice is one of the technologies that allows organizations to

do both of those things very quickly,” says Hendrickson, noting that the usual ramp-up time for a new voice

All the Tools They Need to Get the Job Done





Voice, which identifies ancillary technologies

(e.g., wearable printers and scanners) that

complement the voice’s hands-free/eyes-free

workstyle. “If someone needs a scanner-

printer display, that can be easily paired with

a voice device to give workers all of the tools

they need to get the job done.”

According to Geoffrey Anderson, product

offering manager, Honeywell Voice, next-

generation wearable voice technology provides

fast ROI while also improving individual worker

performance. “It increases their speed and

accuracy, both of which are table stakes in

the current distribution environment,” says

Anderson. “In most cases, companies see

a 20%-30% return on their voice investment

just through better worker efficiency, not to

mention the benefits of a faster, more accurate

operation overall.”

user is a couple of hours (versus a couple of

weeks for an RF system). With voice, there

are also no function keys or menus to learn

because the user sees only the next set

of instructions.

These and other user-friendly features

have employees literally fighting to keep their

next-generation voice technology. “When

the technology is implemented well, the

typical response from employees is, ‘Don’t

you dare take this away from us!’” says Jon

Danzak, product offering manager, Honeywell

“In most cases, companies see a 20%-30% return on their voice investment just through better worker efficiency, not

to mention the benefits of a faster, more accurate

operation overall.”

— Geoffrey Anderson, product offering manager, Honeywell Voice




3 Wearable solutions. More compa-nies are using hands-free computing solutions to streamline operations and improve productivity. All Honeywell Voice devices are designed to free mobile workers’ hands and eyes in order to maximize productivity and accuracy rates. Both the SRX3 and A700x Series raise the standard in mobile workforce ergonomics, productivity and accuracy while enabling voice-directed workflow efficiencies. Need integration? Honey-well Voice software integrates with host systems of all types allowing Honeywell Voice to assume management of existing processes and introduce new, optimized workflows-all of which are captured in real time.

4 Vehicle-mounted computer solu-tions. These solutions transform forklift-and vehicle-based workflows into infor-mation technology platforms. On aver-age, 25% of warehouse labor hours are spent on receiving and put-away tasks. The Honeywell A700x series canbe mounted and includes a continuouspower source. In addition, the A730x comes with a built-in scanner. By equip-ping forklifts with computers, barcode scanners, printers, radio- frequency identification (RFID), voice, and software, shippers can reduce material handling costs, optimize order fulfillment rates, and increase inventory accuracy with real-time tracking.

o two warehouses are alike, but most share two common goals: the need for

accurate delivery and zero mispicks. By using Honeywell Voice to direct workers in every part of their fulfillment operations, companies are realizing more accurate picking, result-ing in significant improvements in customer satisfaction. Here are four voice centric applications that are helping shippers meet and exceed goals.

1 Voice-directed solutions. Proven to increase productivity by more than 35% and increase accuracy to 99.99%+ in a variety of tasks throughout the warehouse, voice-di-rected solutions also support workforce productivity increases of up to 50% overall. Voice is available in over 40 languages and has been proven to dramatically reduce train-ing and onboarding time, especially in peak seasons with highly-transient workforces.

2 Mobile computing. It provides the flexibility, extended secured lifecycle, and ruggedness for organizations to effectively manage critical warehousing tasks. For example, Honeywell’s mobile and vehi-cle-mounted solutions feature advanced imaging technologies that capture data quickly on the first scan, thereby increasing speed, accuracy, productivity, and visibility to help reduce dock-to-stock cycle times. Honeywell Voice is a wearable that pairs with ring scanners. The A730x’s built-in scanner gives the DC the best of both world—voice and scanning.

Too Many Mispicks Got You Down? Four Ways to Improve DC Accuracy

with Honeywell Voice

N



TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION,

VISIT HONEYWELLAIDC.COM/VOICE


making the case for next-generation wearable voice solutions · employee to pick items, pack them...

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