Pick-to-light and put-to-light are order-picking aid technologies based on light indicators mounted on racks or sorting stations. They light up to show the operator the exact location and quantity to pick (pick-to-light) or to place (put-to-light), reducing errors and search time.
Two opposite logics, the same underlying technology
The technical principle is identical in both cases: each rack or bin location is fitted with a light display connected to the WMS, which lights up and shows a quantity whenever an action is required there. The operator typically confirms the action via a built-in button, which triggers a real-time update in the system.
Pick-to-light guides a pick: the operator follows the lights as they turn on one after another along a picking route, retrieves the indicated quantity at each location, and confirms. It's a particularly effective method for high-turnover orders (spare parts, high-volume e-commerce), since it removes the need to visually search for a reference or read a paper pick list.
Put-to-light works the other way around: an operator picks a batch of identical items and then distributes them across several orders or destinations, each associated with a bin whose light turns on to show the quantity to place there. This logic works well for sorting or kitting, when the same item needs to be split across several orders at once.
Both methods differ from voice picking, which guides the operator through spoken instructions rather than a light: pick/put-to-light requires fixed lighting equipment at every location, while voice picking offers more mobility but engages hearing rather than sight.
FAQ
What's the difference between pick-to-light and put-to-light?
Pick-to-light guides the retrieval of an item at a precise location on the rack. Put-to-light, conversely, guides the distribution of a batch of already-picked items across several orders or destinations, each indicated by a light that turns on at the right moment.
What's the difference between pick-to-light and voice picking?
Pick-to-light relies on light indicators fixed to each location, which requires dedicated equipment at every station. Voice picking guides the operator through spoken instructions via a headset, with no fixed infrastructure, but with a different kind of routing flexibility.
What are the benefits of pick-to-light?
It reduces picking errors by removing the need to read a paper pick list, speeds up throughput in high-turnover zones, and makes it easier to onboard less experienced staff, at the cost of an investment in fixed light infrastructure.
Related terms
Voice picking · Picking · WMS · Kitting · Packing configuration · Slotting.
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