Greater efficiency thanks to user-friendly operation

The Coop Group was no stranger to pick-by-voice technology even before adopting LYDIA Voice. “We were looking for a new voice system. When evaluating the various options available, our priority was highly effective voice recognition with a minimum amount of voice training,” explains Martin Nyfeler, head of IT processes for inventory management logistics/SCM at Coop.

After comparing a number of products, Coop opted for EPG’s LYDIA Voice and first adopted the technology at its site in Gossau, Switzerland, in 2015. “We subjected the voice system and voice recognition to rigorous testing and developed a process for onboarding staff,” explains Peter Rudolf von Rohr, project manager for the integration of LYDIA Voice, outlining the first steps with the system. “We were very impressed with the voice recognition offered by LYDIA Voice. It was even able to recognize voice commands from staff with very strong accents,” says Nyfeler.

No voice training required

The new system enjoyed a high level of acceptance among staff from day one. The voice recognition technology worked perfectly, and the system was easy to operate. Across all sites of the Coop-Group in German-speaking Switzerland, standard German is the language used for the order picking dialogue. However, the system had to cope with the accents spoken by staff from many different countries. “We were very impressed with the voice recognition offered by LYDIA Voice. Despite having 400 users, we only had to tweak the configuration five times – a refreshingly low number,” says Nyfeler.

For the latest version of LYDIA Voice, EPG incorporated a completely new voice recognition solution based on neural networks and deep learning. This significantly enhances voice recognition reliability, especially when strong dialects and accents are involved. Compared with the previous voice solution, staff only need a few minutes to get up and running as their voice commands are recognised immediately, even without any voice training.

Greater efficiency thanks to user-friendly operation

When learning how to use the voice system, staff are supplied with a picking vest that features a microphone, speaker and the VOXTER voice computer. Just two trips around the warehouse is all they need to get to grips with the system. The previous voice solution was a little more cumbersome, as we had to attach the speakers separately, which reduced mobility,” says Rudolf von Rohr, highlighting the improvement. Small, easy-to-operate mobile voice computers were another important requirement for the project manager. “Staff do not need to press any buttons on the device. All settings, such as volume and speed, can be adjusted via voice commands,” he explains. Staff mainly use a headset when picking in the warehouse and can choose between over-the-head or in-ear variants.

High-performance connection to back-end system

When adopting LYDIA Voice, the existing interface and the dialogue of the previous voice application were utilised. LYDIA Voice is directly connected to the WAMAS back-end system via an interface. The Coop-Group runs version 5 of the WAMAS logistics software, which manages the company’s warehouse processes – including the pick-by-voice dialogue – from the back end. Rudolf von Rohr cites a practical example to help explain what this involves: “Following a logistics (WMS) software update, two new commands needed to be implemented. This was no trouble at all with LYDIA Voice, and we needed just ten minutes per site.” He also stressed the importance of high-performance communication between the two systems. If the response times are too long, the devices become more difficult to use. An evaluation by the Coop-Group showed an impressive maximum response time of 20 to 50 milliseconds.

EPG also worked with the Coop-Group to achieve further optimisation, such as voice commands for storage location codes. These codes were previously transmitted to the WAMAS system, where they were verified. This process was then optimised to enable the codes to be checked locally on the client itself. Eliminating the need for back-end communication significantly sped up the process.

Combining pick-by-voice with scanner input

The retailer Coop wanted to integrate a barcode scanner in certain areas of the warehouse, so EPG incorporated a handheld scanner into the LYDIA Voice solution. The wireless Bluetooth scanner is compact and weighs just 114 grams. At the Coop-Group, order pickers use the scanner to identify item EANs and SSCCs, ensuring that their hands remain free. “The sensor technology built into the scanner is automatically activated when in the vicinity of a barcode, and the data is then transferred automatically. That made it easier to recognise long series of numbers, and enhanced process security,” says Rudolf von Rohr, outlining the benefits of the integrated scanner.

Mobile voice computer supported by Android

“An important update in recent years involved switching the mobile voice computer from Windows CE to Android Industrial+. This improved security, reduced configuration complexity and simplified updates. We adopt a mobile device management (MDM) approach, and can therefore provide support remotely, such as when rolling out new updates,” explains Rudolf von Rohr. The changeover took place during active operations without any hiccups. Android Industrial+ is able to meet the significantly higher requirements in logistics, while also facilitating reliable voice recognition and improving WiFi performance.

Impressive performance all round

“In LYDIA Voice, we are utilising a pioneering voice solution. We work very closely with EPG, which provides reliable support,” says Rudolf von Rohr. There has also been a decline in the amount of internal support required by staff using the pick-by-voice system. Coop utilises the LYDIA Voice “CoPilot” tool, which enables shift leads to directly support warehouse staff when required.

Rudolf von Rohr is pleased with the results: “Voice recognition is much more reliable, and everybody has found the system easier to operate. Updating to version 8 of LYDIA Voice and switching the mobile voice computer from Windows CE to Android Industrial+ made the system even more secure and productive. We’re really impressed with LYDIA Voice.”