Why You Should Be Talking More About Voice Technology with Warehouse Managers and Associates
We’ve been talking a lot about voice technology lately on the Your Edge blog and podcast, and some people are starting to wonder why. “Are you getting ready to launch a new voice product?” we’re often asked.
Though it would make good marketing sense to tout the benefits of a technology that we may be trying to sell, the truth is that the increased noise we’re making around voice technology isn’t part of a sudden sales push. The increased use of voice technology just makes good business sense for warehouse and distribution center (DC) operators, and our job is to help you make better decisions for your business.
See, voice technology tools make warehouse/DC jobs more accessible to people who might otherwise think they aren’t capable of working there, such as those who are hearing impaired or don’t speak the local language. It also helps your associates work more efficiently, which makes everyone happy. They go home at the end of a shift feeling accomplished rather than exhausted or defeated. And when they’re in the groove, orders get processed, picked, packed and shipped quickly, which makes customers happy. Then you get to bask in the joy of happy employees and customers (as well as other stakeholders who are invested in your success).
However, as more industry leaders have started to recognize the value of voice technology, and we’ve seen a rush to roll out this type of technology in warehouses and DCs, we’ve also noticed some mistakes being made. For example, there are different ways to approach voice tech, and not all provide equal benefits. There are also different use cases for voice, and if you aren’t thoughtful about how or when you transition to them, then you may erroneously contribute to your team’s stress or reduce your potential labor pool rather than fixing these issues.
So, I asked Bhishma Dalal, a consultant for Körber Supply Chain Software, what he’s seen warehouse operators do well when it comes to voice tech integration, some use cases you may not have considered yet, and how to avoid making the same mistakes your peers and competitors have made. Körber is the leading voice provider in the market, with decades of experience and happy customers, and the team has completed thousands of voice implementations. (In fact, Körber says it has the single largest team of dedicated voice specialists in the world.)
You’re going to want to hear the stories and advice Bhishma shares.
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Mark Butler
Mark Butler is a Global Partner Manager within Zebra’s global sales team and is the global leader for Zebra’s partnerships with both HP, Inc. and Körber Supply Chain. Mark has a focus on Zebra’s AMR and warehouse strategies with Körber and Zebra’s Managed Print and Government strategies with HP, Inc.
Mark is based in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been working within Zebra’s channel go-to-market organization since 2011 and has 20+ years in the industry.
