With razor-thin margins throughout the retail industry, efficiency in the distribution center can make or break a business. That's why there is a growing interest in voice-recognition-based distribution systems.

Using voice-recognition computer systems, material handlers perform order selection and warehouse tasks by responding to verbal commands. Workers simply wear a headset with a microphone and a small control unit around the waist, and voice communication is transmitted to and from a host computer via radio-frequency transmission. Since handlers don't have to carry anything in their hands, such as a paper printout or scanning gun, they can use both hands as they work. Furthermore, since they receive voice instructions via headphone, they never have to take their eyes off the items they are picking and handling. This makes the job safer for handlers, and results in greater productivity.

The greatest benefit of using voice recognition systems is accuracy. With these systems, companies are seeing their distribution-center error rates drop dramatically. What's more, voice recognition can be used for many warehousing functions including cross-docking, receiving, putaway, shipping, and cycle counting, making the entire distribution process more efficient and accurate.