PEAK Technologies Launches Voice-enabled SAP® Solutions
PEAK and Voxware combine best practices in voice and SAP solutions integration
March 12, 2007 — PEAK Technologies, a Platinum Equity Company, today announced it has launched voice-enabled solutions for SAP supply chain users to improve order picking accuracy to 99.9 percent and increase productivity by up to 15 percent.
PEAK utilizes SAP-centric technologies to deliver mobile data capture, enterprise printing, radio frequency identification (RFID) and now voice-enabled solutions to customers including SAP Logistics Execution System (LES) modules: warehouse management (WM), materials management (MM), and inventory management (IM). PEAK also delivers native, SAP-centric solutions for production planning (PP), plant maintenance (PM), mobile asset management (MAM) and Auto ID Infrastructure (AII).
PEAK’s voice-enabled solutions use speech recognition and speech synthesis to allow workers to communicate with SAP supply chain management systems for tasks such as goods receiving, pallet put away, let down, and stock checking. In these scenarios, a warehouse employee uses a wireless, wearable computer with a headset and microphone to receive instructions by voice and then verbally confirms his or her actions back to the SAP warehouse management system. The wearable computer, or voice terminal, communicates with the SAP system via radio frequency (RF) and wireless local area network (WLAN).
Voice recognition is most commonly applied in high volume order picking environments to improve accuracy and productivity. When switching from a paper-based system to voice directed picking, errors are typically reduced at least 10 percent, and order picking productivity improves by an average of 15 percent because the hands free and eyes free operation speeds up picking and eliminates trips to the assignment desk. Likewise, administrative productivity is improved, as the work of printing and distributing picking lists or labels is also eliminated.
PEAK has selected Voxware, Inc. as its voice recognition software partner that enables PEAK to offer voice-recognition based solutions that are Powered by VoxwareÔ. Voxware, Inc. provides open, standards-based software solutions for supply chain logistics that optimize the full spectrum of warehouse operations for greater accuracy, productivity and flexibility in supply chain execution. Voxware’s corporate headquarters are in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, with operating offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United Kingdom and France.
PEAK’s voice-enabled solution includes voice technology software from Voxware, PEAK developed SAP-centric integration software that controls the application and data flow, SAP consulting and integration services, and voice hardware and accessories.
“Better technology, integration and hardware options are really pushing voice recognition to the forefront of warehouse efficiency technologies, particularly in SAP-centric environments where integration is simplified,” said Kevin Franz, director of solutions development, PEAK Technologies. “A new twist on voice recognition technology is that the software and hardware are no longer bundled, proprietary components. In other words, the software is not tied to a specific hardware vendor, as was the case in the past.” “This allows warehouse personnel to utilize the same data collection terminals for both voice and/or barcode applications depending on the business process.”
Other advantages of PEAK voice-enabled solutions built using VoiceXML technology for SAP supply chain users includes real-time radio communication, which enables real time stock visibility and, in turn, allows process optimization for replenishing picking faces, optimization of fork lift trucks, and prevention of re-picks due to empty picking faces. Cycle counting can be built into the business process, improving the efficiency of the stock checking process. Safety is also improved as the hands free and eyes free operation leads to fewer accidents. The training time for new pickers can be reduced by as much as half, as a voice directed task is easier to learn than a paper task. Ultimately, the improved accuracy of stock recording leads to an improved service level, less time spent investigating stock discrepancies, and better overall warehouse management.
To learn more about PEAK Technologies voice recognition solutions, visit: http://www.peaktech.com/Solutions/wms_legacy/voice_recognition.aspx.