In a warehouse with few orders, picking each one separately is fine. As orders grow, the same shelf is visited many times a day, pickers make way for each other in the aisles, and the order with the closest due time cannot get ahead in the queue. The problem is not the picker's speed but how the work is grouped.
Three methods, three different questions
- Wave: which orders are released together? Orders chosen by due time, customer and priority become tasks in one go.
- Batch picking: the same item is picked once for several orders, then split into orders.
- Cluster picking: each position on the picking cart stands for one order; the item goes straight into its order's position as it is picked.
Batch picking cuts walking on days when many orders want the same items, but needs a sorting step at the end. Cluster picking removes the sorting step but needs cart and position discipline. Which fits depends on your order profile; a good system should be able to produce both from the same wave plan.
Wave planning in iyibir WMS
- A wave template defines which orders go out together by due-date window, customer and minimum priority.
- Before release, the preview shows the orders, the task split, estimated walking and time, lines without enough stock and pick faces that need replenishment. The preview reserves no stock.
- Scarce stock goes to the most urgent order; one order lands in one position, meaning one recipient.
- On release, tasks and reservations are created in one go; two waves cannot reserve the same stock or the same order line.
- The wave is tracked through its tasks; if cancelled, open tasks close and reservations are released.
What it looks like on the floor
In cluster picking, the shelf, item and cart position number are shown large at each stop; if the same item also goes to other positions, those appear smaller below. The route strip shows the next stop and the remaining estimated walk. In batch picking, when the tour ends a "Split into orders" screen lists what was picked order by order.
Stops follow shelf sequence; once shelf coordinates are entered, the route is built on walking distance. The estimated time comes from the labour standard calculated from the warehouse's own past tasks.
Step by step: Planning and releasing a wave
- Open Create wave under Waves in the web panel; pick a template or enter a due-time, customer and priority filter.
- Choose the method: single order, batch or cluster.
- In the preview check the task split, estimated walking, lines without enough stock and pick faces needing replenishment.
- Resolve replenishment first if needed, then save the wave as a draft.
- Release it; tasks land on the operators' Tasks tab and progress is followed from the wave detail.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the wave preview reserve stock?
- No. The preview only shows; tasks and stock reservations are created in one go when the wave is released.
- Can two waves reserve the same stock?
- No. Release happens under the same warehouse lock; two waves cannot reserve the same stock or the same order line.
- Is an order split across positions in cluster picking?
- No. One order corresponds to one position, meaning one recipient.