New Picking Flow
ShipHero, NYC. 2020
During my time at ShipHero, a provider of shipping and fulfillment software for 3PLs and brands, I worked to help warehouses keep their process smooth and fast. In this project, I focused on understanding their picking process to streamline it and resolve different needs that were not resolved.
The Goal
The primary challenge in this project was to devise a flexible flow capable of consistently supporting all existing picking processes within a warehouse. This variability in processes, tailored to different order structures and facilitates faster product picking.
SIBP represents a flow tailored for picking single-item orders, while MIBP caters to multiple-item orders with shared items. The Bulk option empowers workers to select and pick multiple orders collectively, whereas Split enables workers to divide picked orders into separate totes, preparing them for shipping.
Additionally, the task involved addressing multiple needs, including:
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Enhancing reliability and effectiveness of scanner usage while accommodating exceptions. Scanning should remain the primary method for users, yet administrators must have the ability to configure special permissions.
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Preventing complete flow blockage due to unfulfilled orders. Orders that cannot be immediately completed should be set aside without delaying other orders.
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Mitigating interruptions in user processes caused by errors such as empty locations or missing/broken elements.
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Improving learning curve and efficiency by enabling users to swiftly adapt to and utilize different flows.
Flow Page Standardization:
I standardized multiple flow pages to maintain consistency and flexibility across various workflows.
These included a user-friendly list interface where users could select the desired quantity of totes or orders, an item tracking list enabling users to monitor progress, and real-time scanning feedback upon item selection. Additionally, I designed an orders preview feature that could be utilized upon completing order picking or at the outset of a Bulk operation, allowing for efficient order sorting and management. 📝🔄📦
Item's Cards States & Behavior:
The item cards were tailored to accommodate various flows and provide the necessary information at each stage of the process. In the following image, you can see the different states of the card as the user progresses through the flow:
Picking Page Topology:
The picking page includes a card that guides users through their next steps, whether it's selecting a specific number of items or assigning a tote (containers used to organize orders).
At the top, users will find details about the item to be picked, including its location and the expected quantity.
Additionally, users will find other available actions, such as reporting errors if needed. Each action also offers a manual option for situations where a functional scanner is unavailable.
Picking Page Card States:
This is how the state of the card changes through the flow:
Picking Page Examples
These are a few examples of possible states of the page and card
Other Pages
The initial image depicts the error reporting page, where users encounter a preview of the item along with a list of error types. After selecting the error type, users are prompted to complete a form with necessary information for submission to the manager. Additionally, the system implements adjustments to prevent future errors, such as temporarily reducing the item quantity to prevent wasted time for other workers.
The second image illustrates situations where totes need to be set aside due to errors, such as lack of stock of an item preventing order completion.
In the third image, a modal window is displayed for manual tote assignment, along with a page where users can view all pending orders for picking and have the option to delete individual ones.
