An order picking method where multiple orders are grouped together into “waves” based on shared characteristics such as shipping zones, delivery schedules, or product locations, allowing warehouse staff to pick items for several orders simultaneously during a single picking route.
This strategy dramatically improves warehouse efficiency by minimizing travel time and optimizing resource utilization. Rather than picking orders individually, workers can collect items for 10-20 orders in one trip through the warehouse, significantly reducing the time spent walking between locations.
Wave picking is particularly effective for operations with high order volumes and when orders contain similar products. For example, a distribution center might create morning waves for all orders shipping to the East Coast, grouping them by delivery truck capacity. The picked items are then sorted downstream into individual orders at a consolidation area, maximizing picking productivity while maintaining order accuracy through systematic sorting processes.
