CASE STUDY · 3PL LOGISTICS
Optimization of person-to-goods commission in 3PL operations
In 3PL logistics systems, picking is one of the most critical warehouse operations. Execution speed, packing accuracy, and the quality of work organization directly affect service levels, operational costs, and end-customer satisfaction.
Codel implemented the Ariadne Stock Master Mobile system at ALCA, a major Croatian 3PL company within its logistics operations for L’Oréal, with the goal of increasing picking productivity, optimizing operator movement routes, and improving order fulfillment accuracy.
Project summary
Ariadne Stock Master Mobile was introduced as a mobile station for picking and staging goods in a person-to-goods model, with optimized picking routes and integrated package accuracy control via weighing.
Measurable operational impact in a short time
30%+
increasing overall picking efficiency through route optimization and processing multiple orders in a single pass.
99%+
packaging accuracy achieved through integrated weight control and structured execution of operations
PROBLEM
Business and operational challenge
In a 3PL environment, a single warehouse system must simultaneously support a large number of items, fluctuating orders, short delivery times, and high end-customer expectations. In such a model, even small picking errors have a direct impact on operating costs and service quality.
Key objectives of the project
- Increase picking efficiency in tight integration with the WMS system.
- Ensure high traceability at the serial number level for items of special importance.
- Reduce the number of operational steps without losing control
- Raise packaging accuracy to a very high level.
- Enable rapid system adoption without major downtime.
Initial operational situation
As with many 3PL systems, picking efficiency was limited by the distance operators had to travel, the need for manual package verification, and the fact that only a limited number of orders could be processed per pass through the warehouse. This left room for further productivity gains and error reduction.
Solution
Ariadne Stock Master Mobile
Ariadne Stock Master Mobile was implemented for the project — a mobile person-to-goods picking system that integrates with the existing WMS environment and enables operators to execute orders in a structured, faster, and more reliable manner.
Mobile station for collecting and sorting goods
The operator uses a mobile station as an organized work unit to pick items and separate multiple orders during a single warehouse tour, without the constraints imposed by fixed picking infrastructure.
Up to 9 orders in one pass
The system enables the simultaneous execution of operations for nine orders, significantly increasing the utilization of each pass through the warehouse. The operator accomplishes many times more work within the same time frame.
Software-guided route
The picking route is optimized based on item locations, order structure, and logistical priorities. The system eliminates unnecessary operator movement and ensures the shortest path through the warehouse.
Package weight inspection
The integrated weighing system confirms package accuracy and introduces an additional layer of automated verification before order completion, without relying on manual operator checks.
The system links the mobile unit, an optimized movement route, multiple orders in a single cycle, and weight control into one consistent operational logic. It is precisely this combination that has enabled simultaneous increases in efficiency and accuracy.
COMPARISON
Before and after implementation
The before-and-after comparison shows how the mobile person-to-goods system improved work organization, reduced operational uncertainty, and delivered measurable results without the need for full warehouse automation.
Commissioning organization
Before implementation
Commissioning relied on the existing work organization and operator experience, with limited ability to standardize execution across different users and shifts.
After implementation
The process is standardized through a unified workflow logic, clear picking tasks, and a mobile station that provides the operator with a structured framework for executing multiple orders simultaneously.
Planning a route through the warehouse
Before implementation
The movement route was largely the result of operational practices and the arrangement of goods, which created unnecessary movements and increased time per order.
After implementation
The route is planned programmatically and dynamically based on the actual locations of items, order composition, and priorities, thereby reducing unnecessary steps and increasing the utilization of each warehouse tour.
Number of orders per pass
Before implementation
Operators processed a smaller number of orders per cycle, which limited productivity and increased the number of trips through the warehouse.
After implementation
The system enables processing up to nine orders in a single pass, with clear separation of goods by positions on the mobile station and better utilization of working time.
Package Accuracy Control
Before implementation
Package integrity checks relied primarily on manual inspection, which increased dependence on operator attention and left room for errors.
After implementation
Integrated weight control introduces an additional layer of automatic verification, confirming the correctness of the packaging before the order is completed.
Order fulfillment errors
Before implementation
Errors in packing and order fulfillment were a natural risk of a manually managed process, especially under heavier workloads and fluctuating work dynamics.
After implementation
Packaging accuracy has been increased to 99%, significantly reducing the number of errors, complaints, and additional operational corrections.
Operator productivity
Before implementation
Productivity was limited by the combination of movements, manual checks, and the smaller number of orders that can be processed in a single work cycle.
After implementation
Commissioning efficiency has increased by more than 30%, thanks to better work organization, route optimization, and a higher number of orders processed per cycle.
Implementation of a new system
Before implementation
There was a real possibility that the new tool would slow down operations or require a longer adjustment period, which is a common risk in 3PL operations.
After implementation
Operators adopted the system very quickly, and the integration was carried out without major disruptions, enabling continuous operation during the transition to the new execution model.
Process
Implementation timeline
The project was carried out as a structured evaluation of the actual warehouse process, focusing on operator work, the picking workflow, and the points where time is lost or errors occur in order fulfillment.
01 - Analysis of existing processes
The movements of operators, the method of grouping orders, the organization of the picking process, and the operational points where slowdowns or errors occur were analyzed in detail.
02 - Real-world testing
The system was tested in a real operational environment, in the warehousing processes supporting logistics for L’Oréal, to validate the actual effects on productivity and accuracy.
03 - Quick operator adaptation
After a brief training, operators were able to use the system without major difficulties, which enabled the solution to be quickly integrated into the existing workflow.
Effect
Operational impact on the warehouse system
With the introduction of the Ariadne Mobile system, person-to-goods commissioning has gained clearer execution logic, better workflow organization, and a significantly higher level of control over delivery accuracy.
Shorter processing time
Route optimization and order grouping reduce time per order and speed up the entire picking cycle.
Higher passage utilization
Processing multiple orders in a single pass increases productivity without adding workforce or infrastructure.
High Packaging Accuracy
Integrated weight control increases execution accuracy to 99%, reduces the number of complaints and operational corrections, and eliminates the need for a packaging quality control operator.
Greater delivery reliability
Greater transparency regarding task status and the progress of execution creates a more stable operational model and builds greater trust with the end customer.
Conclusion
What does the case study confirm?
This project confirms that the “person-to-goods” model can achieve a very high level of performance when supported by a mobile system for picking and packing goods, route optimization, and additional verification of packing accuracy.
Ariadne Stock Master Mobile is not just a tool for order picking. It is an operational system that boosts productivity, increases accuracy to 99%, and enables logistics companies to take their person-to-goods processes to a new level of efficiency and reliability.