Order picker: a profession at the heart of logistics

With the rise of e-commerce and the growing demand for rapid delivery, the order picker occupies a strategic position in the logistics chain. This professional ensures that each order reaches the right recipient, on time and in perfect condition.

What does this job actually involve? Focus on this key logistics profession.

What is an order picker?

The order picker is the link between order taking and delivery. On receipt of a purchase order, they orchestrate the preparation process through to final dispatch.

Far from being limited to materials handling, this profession demands organization, rigor and an understanding of logistics issues. The professional works in a warehouse, store or logistics platform, with two central missions: order preparation and inventory management.

The order picker’s day-to-day tasks

Order preparation and dispatch

The picker assembles all the items listed on the order form. This mission requires precision and method: locate each product according to its part number, check the exact quantities, then move on to the crucial packaging stage.

Packaging takes into account the fragility of products and optimizes carton space. Pallets are prepared according to safety regulations, each package is labeled and shipping documents are drawn up. Permanent quality control accompanies this preparation, guaranteeing the conformity of each shipment.

Inventory management: a strategic role

In addition to preparation, the picker monitors stock levels and triggers supplier orders if necessary. This vigilance avoids stock-outs that could compromise customer satisfaction.

They also check product rotation and carry out inventories using computerized tools. When goods arrive, they are unloaded, checked for quantity, sorted and transported to their final location.

What skills does an order picker need?

Essential technical skills

Computer skills are essential: warehouse management systems (WMS) are ubiquitous. Preparers need to master these tools to process orders, manage inventory and ensure traceability.

Organizational skills help optimize movements, respect priorities and maintain an orderly workspace. Good physical condition remains a must, despite technological advances: prolonged standing, repeated movements and the handling of loads are all part of the daily routine.

Personal qualities sought

Rigor is crucial: an error in preparation impacts customer satisfaction and generates return costs. Attention to detail must be constant.

The ability to adapt is also highly valued in a fast-moving sector. Preparers must regularly train in new tools and adapt to technological innovations.

Opportunities in all sectors

All companies that store and distribute goods are looking for these professionals: industry, commerce, retail, e-commerce, automobile manufacturing. The boom in e-commerce has particularly boosted the sector.

Career opportunities

Experience opens up several avenues: warehousing logistics technician with greater responsibility for process optimization, or warehouse manager to oversee all warehouse activities.

Some move into sales, technical or training roles, joining the teams that design and optimize logistics processes.

The benefits of ASRS solutions for preparers

Logistics is undergoing a major transformation with automated systems (ASRS) and robotic solutions. Companies like Exotec are developing technologies that are revolutionizing the working environment, without replacing the human, but creating effective man-machine collaboration.

Reducing physical exertion

Robots bring products directly to the picking station, eliminating the need for time-consuming trips around the warehouse. This innovation reduces physical fatigue and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, while automating the transport of heavy loads enables pickers to concentrate on higher value-added tasks.

Improved efficiency and precision

Robotic systems automatically optimize routes, significantly increasing the number of orders processed per hour and minimizing picking errors, improving customer satisfaction and reducing return costs.

A modernized working environment

Solutions like Exotec’s offer ergonomic workstations for order-pickers, technological tools to make daily life easier, and greater task predictability. This modernization not only enhances the value of the job, but also builds team loyalty.

Towards logistics 4.0: the future of the business

Technological integration marks the entry into logistics 4.0, where pickers become orchestrators of automated flows, combining business expertise and intelligent systems.

This transformation opens up new prospects: a more strategic role, enhanced skills and improved working conditions. For job applicants, this profession offers stable opportunities in an expanding sector, with promising prospects for development in a constantly improving professional environment.