How to Automate Order Picking for an Online Store

Order volumes are growing, and customer expectations are rising with them. While a small online store may once have managed with a few employees and simple inventory tracking, manual processes start slowing operations down as volumes increase. In this context, warehouse automation becomes one of the key drivers of e-commerce growth.

Why Online Stores Face Problems with Order Picking

When shipment volumes are still low, employees can process orders manually. Over time, however, most business owners begin to face typical operational challenges, including:

• slow product search across the warehouse;
• errors during order picking;
• shortages of individual items;
• mix-ups in orders;
• difficulties with training new employees;
• higher costs during seasonal demand peaks;
• delays during dispatch.

Even a few inaccuracies per day can lead to returns, repeated shipments, and lower customer loyalty. That is why order picking automation for online stores is gradually becoming essential for stable operations.

How to Speed Up Order Picking in an Online Store Warehouse

Most of a picker’s time is spent not on the actual item selection, but on moving between racks and searching for the right positions. As the number of orders increases, this approach becomes less efficient.

Accuracy is just as important as speed. An incorrectly picked parcel means additional costs, repeat delivery, and a dissatisfied customer.

Modern e-commerce companies rely on technologies that help employees complete operations faster and significantly reduce the impact of human error.

Pick by Light: When the Warehouse Guides the Employee

One of the most effective technologies is Pick by Light. The system uses light indicators that show where the required item is located and how many units need to be picked.

The employee does not need to read paper lists or search for positions manually. Every action becomes intuitive.

Benefits of Pick by Light:

• high picking speed;
• minimal number of errors;
• fast training of new staff;
• efficient work with a large product range.

Order picking automation in e-commerce with Pick by Light helps increase warehouse throughput without expanding the team.

Put to Light: Accurate Sorting Without Mix-Ups

After picking, products must be correctly distributed between orders. This is often the stage where mistakes occur.

Put to Light helps sort items quickly. Light indicators show the operator which cell a specific product should be placed into.

Benefits:

• faster sorting;
• fewer sorting errors;
• fewer returns;
• convenient processing of a large number of orders;
• simple operation.

The effect is especially noticeable during sales periods, when warehouse workload can increase several times over.

WMS and OMS: Managing All Processes from One System

Modern warehouse automation systems for online stores are difficult to imagine without WMS and OMS.

WMS is responsible for warehouse logistics and helps control:

• product placement;
• stock levels;
• movements;
• staff tasks;
• address-based storage.

OMS manages orders received from the website, marketplaces, and other sales channels.

Together, these systems provide:

• up-to-date stock information;
• synchronization of all operations;
• process transparency;
• task execution control;
• analytics for decision-making.

Managers gain the ability to monitor warehouse operations live and respond quickly to changes.

UIS Darkstore: Speeding Up Operations Sixfold

For online sales, processing speed directly affects service quality. UIS offers the UIS Darkstore solution.

It is a dedicated space fully focused on fast processing of online orders. Product placement logic and employee routes are designed to eliminate unnecessary movement. In the VARUS case, the UIS Darkstore solution helped speed up order picking and fulfillment sixfold.

This format is especially relevant for:

• grocery delivery services;
• marketplaces;
• online electronics stores;
• pharmacy chains;
• companies with a large number of daily shipments.

Integration with Pick by Light, Put to Light, WMS, and OMS turns the warehouse into a single controlled system where every operation is performed as quickly as possible.

Why Automation Is More Cost-Effective Than Constantly Hiring More Employees

Many companies try to cope with growing order volumes by expanding their teams. However, this approach has limitations.

New employees need training, and mistakes made by newcomers lead to additional costs. During seasonal peaks, it can also be difficult to find enough staff. Automation helps increase the efficiency of the existing team.

As a result, the business gains:

• shorter order processing time;
• lower operating costs;
• fewer errors;
• faster delivery;
• the ability to scale without a sharp increase in staff;
• a consistent level of customer service.

Today, competition in e-commerce increasingly depends not on the number of employees, but on how quickly and accurately the warehouse operates. Investments in modern UIS solutions become an investment in further business growth and operational stability as order volumes increase.