Job Zoom: Order Picker
Rigor, organization & autonomy
These are the watchwords of Logisseo's order pickers!
The order picker, also known as the preparation operator, is a professional responsible for gathering products and items purchased by individuals or stores, online, in order to dispatch. The job requires good organization and a sense of service, as the order picker is responsible for the company's image through the quality of the parcel sent.
The order picker's daily tasks
Picking is a crucial stage in the order-picking process. order picking. To carry out this task, the order picker must follow a specific path. This precise path limits the number of steps required,optimizes time and reduces musculoskeletal disorders (this is the role of the stock manager who constructs it according to a precise method).
To carry out this task, the picking operator uses a Portable Terminal, also known as a TP, and a picking cart to pick products to generate several orders at a time. The TP provides access to information on the various orders to be prepared, such as the list of items to be picked and their respective quantities.
The picker must therefore strictly comply with the instructions provided by the TP to complete the orders on time.
Once picking has been completed, the picker must move on to the next stage, order packing. This stage consists of assembling the parcels or pallets according to the customer's specific instructions, which are set out in a set of specifications.
These specifications may contain important information concerning the personalization of orders. At Logisseo, we offer a wide range of personalization options: silk paper, handwritten words, a touch of perfume, special packaging... a real bonus for your brand image!
Then, to reduce the use of cardboard and optimize transport, the preparer must choose the right packaging format (so as not to put a tiny product in a very large box!) He then meticulously protects the products with wedging, to avoid breakage and ensure they arrive in good condition in the hands of the buyer.
All that's left to do is to weigh the order in order to print out the transport label, and possibly the delivery note if this is not dematerialized. He then distributes the parcels onto the rolls (shipping carts), one cart being allocated to each carrier. Logisseo works with nearly 10 carriers to deliver anywhere in France and around the world!
The skills required to be a good order picker
As an order picker, you need a number of skills, acquired through experience or training:
- Packing in parcels or pallets
- Use of business software and a Portable Terminal
- Compliance with procedures (packaging, preparation, etc.)
These skills are essential to guarantee the quality and safety of order-picking operations.
In addition to technical skills, certain interpersonal skills are real advantages for preparers who work in a team, and in an environment requiring vigilance:
- dynamism
- team spirit
- the organization
- versatility
- precision
- regularity
- aesthetic sense
These skills make it easier to manage day-to-day tasks as well as relationships with others!
What training and qualifications are required to become an order picker?
A specific diploma is not required to become an order picker, but there are vocational training courses that can lead to certification. Some schools also offer the CAP opérateur logistique, the Bac Pro Logistique or the BTS Transport et Prestations Logistiques.
At Logisseo, many of our employees had jobs that had no connection with logistics before they arrived. For example, one of our employees was a tour guide!
CSR in the order picker profession
The order picker must support the CSR approach approach in the field, by ensuring, for example, that the rules for sorting recyclable materials are respected.
At Logisseo, pickers are also challenged in the way they use materials: they have to select the most appropriate packaging and wedging for each order to limit waste, and they have to use as many reused cardboard boxes as possible. He must also respect safety rules to avoid accidents in the workplace!
Career prospects for order pickers
An order picker can progress to the position of referent picker, thus increasing his or her responsibilities.
At Logisseo, several order pickers have been able to evolve and become referents after several years. This is notably the case for Johanna, Christine and Renan, whose testimonials can be found in our our article on the job of order picker referent!
The preparation operator also has the possibility of moving into another department, becoming a stock manager or receiving operator for example.
What Logisseo preparers love about their job
Speed, efficiency, quality, orders and packaging are just some of the terms used by pickers when asked to describe their job. But at Logisseo, what they really like is to demonstrate rigor, organization and autonomy !
These are essential qualities to ensure that all operations run smoothly and that orders are dispatched on time, and with a smile!
You know everything there is to know about the order picker profession! To find out more about the day-to-day life of a logistics company, follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.