VOICE
technology
Interview
Voice
of reason
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with Gary Glessner, EMEA VP and
managing director for Vocollect, about the key benefits end users should be
aware of, and look for, when sourcing a Voice-directed solution.
raditionally, warehouse based system requiring the picker sneaking a peek at the picking recogniser it doesn’t require
T
operatives have relied to look down at the list and put list, there is obviously a health & the user to speak those extra
on paper pick lists down and pick up the list. With safety benefit here as well. With anchor words. And the quality
to gather goods in Voice, the user can stay completely Voice technology, users are far of recognition is such that users
pallets ready for focused and ‘in the zone’.” less likely to drive into another don’t even have to think that
despatch or to replenish SKUs, person or products or shelving.” they are interfacing with a piece
etc. However, Vocollect’s Gary Health & Safety of software. It sits inside the
Glessner makes it clear that this What should prospective end piece of hardware and often
methodology contains a number With a Voice-directed solution, users look for in terms of state- works so well that it is largely
of limitations if a company is users simply listen to instructions of-the-art functionality? Glessner forgotten about.”
looking to improve picking as to where they need to go, and points to the voice recogniser or
accuracy as well as save time never have to take their eyes off voice-client software engine that From a hardware perspective,
spent on each picking task. of the pick slot. “They simply runs in the wearable device. Glessner believes something
“Accuracy tends to be the respond with a two or three- “This is very important because that often gets overlooked is the
number one ROI driver when number check digit, which allows users don’t want to have to headset. “We view the headset
companies move from paper the system to validate that they repeat themselves or have as a very key and integral part of
to voice, although there is a are at the right location,” said to use other words, such as the entire Voice-directed solution;
productivity gain that we Glessner. “Then, the system anchor words, that some other particularly in hearing the voice
consistently see as well; typically will tell them how many of any recognisers, such as phrase- of the user and making sure that
in the order of 10 to 15 per cent;” one item to pick and they can based recognisers, require,” the system is getting clear input,”
he said. “Because, with Voice- confirm that pick quantity as an he said. “The Vocollect voice he said. “In the case of our own
directed solutions, people are additional check. And, of course, recogniser is word-based, dual-microphone headset, one
able to work hands-free and if you’ve ever seen anybody out designed for industrial voice- microphone faces the speaker’s
eyes-free, there is no distraction in the real DC world driving a directed work environments. mouth and the other faces away
whatsoever, unlike with a paper- trolley jack or a pallet jack and Because it’s a word-based to pick up the ambient noise >>
36
MANUFACTURING
&LOGISTICSIT March 2009
www.logisticsit.com
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