By Dan Cluderay, Founder, Dark Store Systems Ltd

Paper picking — print, assign, and scan complete

Paper picking assigns printed pick sheets to operators who scan to confirm completion — a live path separate from the handheld bundle walk. It suits sites transitioning to scanner picking or running parallel methods. Pick method filters in WIP views separate paper pick from direct shipping workflows.

What is paper picking in Dark Store Systems?

Paper picking is a live WMS path — not a legacy export or a roadmap screen. Supervisors print pick sheets, assign them to operators, and operators scan to confirm completion when the physical pick is done. It runs alongside bundle picking (zone pick-work units on the handheld bundle station) rather than replacing it.

Sites with lower SKU counts or a phased scanner rollout often keep paper pick for part of the floor while bundle pick handles high-volume zones. Pick method filters in WIP (work-in-progress) views separate paper pick from direct shipping workflows so supervisors do not mix methods accidentally.

Anatomy of a bundle pick walk on the handheld scanner path contrasted with paper picking print-assign-and-scan completion, showing tote collection, sequenced lines, and separate confirm steps

How does the paper picking workflow work?

Release orders from the pool — Orders enter picking through the same upstream release as scanner paths. Pick-face validation still applies before work should reach the floor — see the [warehouse picking hub](/guides/warehouse-picking).
Print pick sheets — Supervisors generate printed pick lists for the selected work. The sheet carries the locations and quantities the operator will walk — on paper rather than on the handheld bundle UI.
Assign sheets to operators — Each pick sheet is assigned to a named picker so contribution and accountability stay visible in workforce views.
Operator picks from the sheet — The picker walks the warehouse using the printed sequence. This is a physical list workflow — no line-by-line scanner confirm on the bundle station during the walk itself.
Scan to complete — When the pick is finished, the operator scans to confirm completion in the WMS. That scan closes the paper pick job and updates order state for downstream packing or despatch.
Separate from bundle and batch paths — Paper pick does not use OrderBundles handheld walks or OrderPickBatch batch jobs. Sites can run paper pick and bundle pick in parallel on different order streams.

When is paper picking still the right answer?

Paper pick remains appropriate when:

SKU count is modest — a small site may not justify handheld coverage on day one.
You are transitioning to scanners — print-and-scan gives a completion gate while operators learn the building.
A zone or shift still runs lists — parallel methods are supported; filters keep WIP honest.

Bundle pick is the default for high-SKU, multi-zone dark stores: sequenced walks, tote collection, skip/part-pick/DNP on the station, and consolidation handoff. Paper pick trades real-time line validation on the walk for simplicity of print and a single completion scan. Neither path is kit or BOM pick-as-one-SKU — both remain line and product-instance based.

For operator documentation beyond this guide, see Orders and picking in the user manual. Picker performance metrics still apply when enabled on your site.

How does paper pick differ from bundle pick?

Aspect	Paper picking	Bundle picking (scanner)
Work unit	Printed pick sheet	Zone pick-work unit (`OrderBundles`)
During the walk	Paper list at the bay	Handheld confirm, skip, part-pick, DNP per line
Completion	Scan to complete the sheet	Walk exit and tote handoff to consolidation or packing
Best fit	Transition sites, low-SKU areas	High-volume multi-zone fulfilment

Below 640px, stack this table as definition cards with data-label on each cell (see mobile layout notes).

Warehouse picking hub — all live picking modes in one place
Bundle picking — handheld zone pick-work units
Orders and picking user manual — operator-facing steps
Picker performance — lines, contribution, and efficiency

Frequently asked questions

Is paper picking still supported?

Yes. Paper picking is a live WMS path — print, assign, and scan to complete. It is separate from the handheld bundle walk and remains available for sites that need printed lists or a parallel method alongside scanner picking.

Can paper pick and bundle pick run together?

Yes. Many sites run both: bundle pick on high-volume zones and paper pick on transition areas or smaller shifts. Pick method filters in WIP views separate paper pick from direct shipping workflows so supervisors release the right work to each method.

How do I assign paper pick sheets?

Supervisors print pick sheets for selected orders, then assign each sheet to an operator. The picker completes the physical walk from the printed list and scans to confirm completion in the WMS — that scan closes the job and moves the order forward for packing or despatch per your site rules.

Does paper picking use pick routes and consolidation?

Paper pick follows printed list sequencing rather than the handheld bundle walk and Picking_SortPickJobs route order on the station. Downstream packing, evidence, and despatch still apply once the completion scan is recorded. Multi-tote consolidation behaviour is centred on bundle pick walks — paper sites with simple single-tote orders may never touch the consolidation grid.