Pick Ticket

A pick ticket is an internal warehouse document that tells pickers which items to retrieve from storage for a specific order or group of orders. It includes product information, quantities, and location data to guide efficient picking.

What’s on a Pick Ticket

Essential Information

• Order number(s)
• Customer name
• Item SKUs/descriptions
• Quantities needed
• Storage locations
• Pick sequence/route

Sample Pick Ticket

═══════════════════════════════════════════
PICK TICKET                    #PKT-12345
═══════════════════════════════════════════
Order: ORD-2024-00567
Customer: John Smith
Date: 02/04/2026
Ship Via: UPS Ground

ITEMS TO PICK:
───────────────────────────────────────────
Loc    │ SKU      │ Description      │ Qty
───────────────────────────────────────────
A-1-3  │ WIDGET-A │ Blue Widget      │ 2
A-2-1  │ GADGET-B │ Red Gadget       │ 1
B-4-2  │ TOOL-C   │ Hand Tool        │ 3
C-1-1  │ PART-D   │ Spare Part       │ 5
───────────────────────────────────────────
Total Items: 4 lines / 11 pieces

Picker: ____________  Time: ____________
═══════════════════════════════════════════

Pick Ticket vs. Related Documents

Types of Pick Tickets

Single Order Pick Ticket

• One order per ticket
• Simple, straightforward
• Good for complex orders
• Easy to track

Batch Pick Ticket

• Multiple orders combined
• Items consolidated by SKU
• More efficient for similar orders
• Requires sorting after

Wave Pick Ticket

• Groups orders by criteria
• Shipping deadline
• Carrier type
• Zone/location
• Optimized routes

Pick Ticket Generation

Automated (WMS)

Order received
      ↓
WMS checks inventory
      ↓
Allocates stock
      ↓
Generates pick ticket
      ↓
Optimizes pick path
      ↓
Sends to printer or device

Manual Process

1. Review order
2. Look up locations
3. Create pick list
4. Print or write
5. Hand to picker

Pick Ticket Formats

Paper Pick Tickets

• Traditional method
• Printed document
• Picker marks completion
• Returns to office

Digital Pick Tickets

• Handheld device display
• Scan to confirm picks
• Real-time updates
• No paper needed

Mobile Pick Tickets

Device shows:
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ Location: A-1-3         │
│ SKU: WIDGET-A           │
│ Pick: 2 units           │
│                         │
│ [Scan to Confirm]       │
│                         │
│ Next → A-2-1            │
└─────────────────────────┘

Optimizing Pick Tickets

Location Sequencing

Poor sequence:        Optimized sequence:
1. A-1-3              1. A-1-3
2. C-4-2              2. A-2-1
3. A-2-1              3. B-4-2
4. B-4-2              4. C-4-2

Optimized = Less walking

Batch Efficiency

10 separate orders need Widget-A

Instead of:
10 trips to Widget-A location

Batch pick:
1 trip to get all 10, then sort

Pick Ticket Workflow

Standard Process

1. Generate - System creates pick ticket
2. Assign - Given to picker
3. Pick - Retrieve items
4. Verify - Confirm correct items
5. Stage - Move to packing area
6. Complete - Mark ticket done

With Exceptions

Item not found?
→ Mark short on ticket
→ Notify supervisor
→ Check alternate location
→ Adjust order if needed

Pick Ticket Information Fields

Header

• Pick ticket number
• Date/time generated
• Priority level
• Ship deadline
• Assigned picker

Line Items

• Line number
• Location code
• SKU/item number
• Description
• Quantity to pick
• Unit of measure

Footer

• Total lines
• Total pieces
• Special instructions
• Signature/completion

Pick Ticket Best Practices

For Efficiency

1. Optimize location sequence
2. Batch similar orders
3. Clear, readable format
4. Minimize data clutter
5. Include only necessary info

For Accuracy

1. Barcode verification
2. Quantity confirmation
3. Exception handling process
4. Audit random picks
5. Track error rates

Pick Ticket Metrics

Key Performance Indicators

Benchmark Targets

• Manual picking: 50-150 lines/hour
• RF scanning: 100-200 lines/hour
• Pick accuracy: >99.5%