Person-to-goods
What is person-to-goods?
Person-to-goods is a traditional warehouse picking method where operators travel through the facility to retrieve goods from storage. It is the opposite of goods-to-person, where automated systems bring goods to stationary workers.
How person-to-goods picking works
The warehouse management system (WMS) calculates efficient pick paths for operators to follow when collecting items for orders. It optimizes routes to minimize travel distance, considering aisle layout, congestion and product locations.
Operators proceed through the warehouse, scanning barcodes to confirm they are in the correct location and have selected the right product.
When to use person-to-goods picking
Person-to-goods picking is the conventional fulfillment model used in most warehouses. It suits:
Lower-volume operations: the capital investment required for goods-to-person automation doesn't justify the productivity gains
Operations requiring flexibility: person-to-goods can handle changing demands without significant infrastructure updates
Large item handling: oversized items often require automation that's more complex to implement than having operators travel to products
Retrofit applications: person-to-goods picking doesn't require costly or impractical facility modifications, such as changes to aisle widths or floor load capacity