Batch picking in Pickscan

How batch picking works

Batch picking groups multiple orders together so that pickers can collect all required items in one pass through the warehouse, reducing walking time and increasing overall picking efficiency.

The workflow

1. Batch generation

   Pickscan groups open orders into batches using your chosen algorithm (by postage service or by courier), either on a schedule or when you click Regenerate on the Picking page. If you use Linnworks pick waves instead, each wave becomes a batch.

2. Batch selection

   Pickers see the available batches on the mobile app and choose one. The batch is locked so no other picker can take it. The picker scans a tote to carry the batch in; Linnworks pick waves bring their own totes.

   

   

3. Picking phase

   The picker goes through the warehouse scanning every item for every order in the batch in a single pass. Items are collected together without being sorted by order at this stage.

4. Completion

   Once every item has been scanned, the batch is marked as complete and is ready to pack.

5. Packing phase

   At the packing station the tote is scanned and the items are sorted by order using the pack location assigned to each one. Each order is packed and labelled separately.

Key benefits

• Reduced walking time - Pickers make one pass through the warehouse instead of multiple trips for individual orders.
• Higher throughput - More orders can be processed in less time.
• Better resource utilisation - Works well with warehouses that have dedicated packing stations.
• Scalability - Particularly effective for high-volume operations.

Trade-offs

• Requires a packing stage - Unlike single order picking, batch picking needs a packing station to sort items by order.
• More complex workflow - Pickers and packers need to understand the batch and packing process.
• Not suitable for all operations - Smaller warehouses or operations without packing stations may find single order picking more appropriate.

Setting up batch picking

Open Settings in the Pickscan console (the gear icon at the right of the navigation bar) and go to 01 Picking.

Turn on Use batch/wave picking, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Settings. The other batch settings stay greyed out until this toggle is on.

Configuration options

Batch Picking Mode

Where batches come from:

• Pickscan (default) - Pickscan groups your open orders into batches automatically.
• Linnworks Pickwaves - Pickscan mirrors the pick waves you create in Linnworks. In this mode Maximum Items per Batch and Batch Algorithm do not apply, because Linnworks decides what goes in each wave.

Automated generation interval

How often Pickscan generates new batches from open orders. The best interval depends on your processing rate: a longer interval gives Pickscan more orders to choose from, so batches are better optimised.

Options:

• No automated generation - Batches are generated only when you click Regenerate on the Picking page.
• Every 20 minutes (default) - Suitable for high-volume operations with constant order flow.
• Every 30 minutes - For higher than average volumes.
• Every 45 minutes - A balanced option for most operations.
• Every hour - For lower volume operations.
• Every 90 minutes - For operations with slower order flow.
• Every 2 hours - For operations with infrequent order arrivals.

Maximum items per batch

The maximum number of items in a single batch, from 1 to 300. The default is 20.

Considerations:

• Smaller batches (10-15 items) - Easier to manage and faster to pick, but more batches are needed.
• Larger batches (25-40 items) - Fewer trips through the warehouse, but each batch takes longer to pick and pack.

Batch Algorithm

How orders are grouped into batches: Group by Postage Service (default) or Group by Courier. See Pickscan batch pick algorithms.