Pick to Light vs Voice Picking vs RF Scanning: Which Is Best for Your Warehouse?
As warehouses race to improve speed, accuracy, and labor efficiency, choosing the right order picking technology has become a critical decision. Among the most widely adopted solutions today are Pick to Light, Voice Picking, and RF Scanning.
Each system has its strengths—but which one is best for your operation?
Understanding the Three Picking Technologies
Pick to Light Systems: Pick to Light systems use illuminated indicators and buttons installed on shelves or bins. When an order is released, the corresponding light turns on and displays the pick quantity. Operators simply go to the lit location, pick the items, and confirm by pressing a button.
Voice Picking: Voice picking relies on headsets and voice commands. Workers receive spoken instructions, confirm picks verbally, and proceed to the next task without looking at a screen.
RF Scanning: RF (Radio Frequency) scanning uses handheld barcode scanners or mobile terminals. Workers read instructions on a screen, scan item barcodes, and confirm picks manually.
Different Features Between The Three Picking Technologies
| Feature | Pick to Light | Voice Picking | RF Scanning |
Picking speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Accuracy | Up to 99.9% | High | Medium |
Training time | Very short | Medium | Medium |
| Hands-free | Yes | Yes | No |
| Visual confirmation | Yes | No | Limited |
| Best for | High-volume, fast picking | Cold storage, bulky items | Low-volume operations |
If speed is your top priority, Pick to Light consistently outperforms the other methods. Visual signals allow workers to locate items instantly without reading screens or listening to long instructions. In many operations, picking speed increases by 30–50% after deploying Pick to Light.
Voice picking performs well in environments where visual access is limited, while RF scanning often slows workers down due to repeated scanning and screen interaction.
Accuracy: Reducing Costly Errors
1️⃣ Pick to Light offers the highest accuracy thanks to clear visual cues and mandatory confirmation.
2️⃣ Voice picking provides good accuracy but can be affected by noise, accents, or misheard commands.
3️⃣ RF scanning depends heavily on operator discipline and is more prone to mistakes under pressure.
Labor & Training Considerations
1️⃣ The Pick to Light make the new workers become productive in hours, not days, because of the feature of intuitive and language-independent.
2️⃣ Voice picking requires voice training and adaptation
3️⃣ RF scanning typically involves longer on boarding and more supervision.
Cost: Short-Term vs Long-Term
1️⃣ Pick to Light requires higher upfront investment but delivers faster ROI through labor savings, accuracy improvements, and scalability. For high-SKU or high-order-volume warehouses, Pick-to-Light often pays for itself within 12–24 months.
2️⃣ Voice picking sits in the middle, with headset and software expenses.
3️⃣ RF scanning has the lowest initial cost but higher long-term labor costs.
Why Pick to Light Is Leading the Future of Picking
With growing pressure on fulfillment speed and labor efficiency, more warehouses are upgrading from RF scanning to Pick to Light systems. When integrated with WMS software, Pick to Light delivers real-time visibility, near-zero errors, and a smoother picking workflow.
At Sertag, we provide flexible Pick to Light solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing warehouse systems—helping operations move faster, smarter, and more accurately.
Interested in upgrading your picking process?
Tell us your warehouse size, SKU count, and workflow requirements—or contact us at sales@sertag.com for a tailored Pick to Light solution.
