Sainsbury is investing millions of pounds in rolling out a new instore picking strategy for its online business following successful trials in six stores.
The retailer is moving to zone-based picking in an initiative that will see 2,500 staff re-trained and new equipment introduced.
The strategy is designed to make staff specialists in a category, enabling products to be found quickly and better substitutions to be chosen when a product is out of stock. Currently store staff pick a whole shop for one customer.
“Zone picking has helped with substitutions as well as producing some cost savings,” said head of Sainsbury’s Online Toby Anderson. “We noticed that some staff were very good at picking produce while others were better at beers, wines and spirits. Zone picking allows them to gain skills in one area of the store and pick for a number of customers in one go.”
Anderson added that the trial over Christmas had helped improve and speed up service in what was Sainsbury’s busiest time in store.
The investment will lead to the introduction of trolleys carrying crates which slide in and out, rather than being lifted on and off.
As well as aiding store pickers the introduction will benefit delivery drivers. Handsets have also been upgraded.
Sainsbury tested zone picking in its Fosse Park store in Leicester in November last year and has since used it in stores in Epsom, Fulham, Coventry, Sheffield and Ripley.
It will be rolled out to a further 69 stores by March 12.
The initiative is part of a strategy to improve overall customer service.
Siân Harrington
The retailer is moving to zone-based picking in an initiative that will see 2,500 staff re-trained and new equipment introduced.
The strategy is designed to make staff specialists in a category, enabling products to be found quickly and better substitutions to be chosen when a product is out of stock. Currently store staff pick a whole shop for one customer.
“Zone picking has helped with substitutions as well as producing some cost savings,” said head of Sainsbury’s Online Toby Anderson. “We noticed that some staff were very good at picking produce while others were better at beers, wines and spirits. Zone picking allows them to gain skills in one area of the store and pick for a number of customers in one go.”
Anderson added that the trial over Christmas had helped improve and speed up service in what was Sainsbury’s busiest time in store.
The investment will lead to the introduction of trolleys carrying crates which slide in and out, rather than being lifted on and off.
As well as aiding store pickers the introduction will benefit delivery drivers. Handsets have also been upgraded.
Sainsbury tested zone picking in its Fosse Park store in Leicester in November last year and has since used it in stores in Epsom, Fulham, Coventry, Sheffield and Ripley.
It will be rolled out to a further 69 stores by March 12.
The initiative is part of a strategy to improve overall customer service.
Siân Harrington
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