Data collection has undergone something of a revolution. I think of it as a dimensional change. Not so long ago, we captured one-dimensional information about a product. A barcode scan at the dock identified the product that arrived and maybe when it arrived. A scan or spoken check digit at a pick face confirmed a pick. But the information didn’t tell much of a story unless you brought it all into one place.

Order picking with voice technology has undergone many changes since the 1990s. Here’s what experts told Modern about the current state of the industry.

Our technology correspondent examines where RFID and wireless communications currently stand as logistics and supply chain management enablers and then defines the remaining barriers to adoption. Just how far are we from real-time visibility?

Our warehouse/DC engineer takes a look at three distribution operations employing three unique approaches to voice picking. But no matter how different each solution may be, these operations illustrate how the benefits of picking with voice remain largely the same.

Order picking with voice is undergoing yet another transformation. Since its pioneering days in the 1990s, voice picking consisted of predominantly proprietary hardware and software solutions, then to open hardware and to today's thin clients.

It's all about mobility and wireless in the supply chain, says VDC Research.

After a tough 2009, the market for mobile computing and wireless solutions is bouncing back, says VDC Research. Participate in a survey and have your voice heard.

Get ready for RFID in the cloud, says VDC's Drew Nathanson.

The Voice Picking Blog will feature regular posts on emerging technology for voice directed picking; trends and insights regarding voice picking system selection, implementation, and integration; and commentary on timely topics and industry news.

Over the last couple of weeks, SCMR has been talking to analysts about what they’re seeing in the supply chain technology markets they cover, RFID, voice and warehouse management (WMS) and transportation management (TMS) systems.