High street retailer Next is using voice-based technology to improve picking productivity at one of its distribution centres.

The hands-free kit allows workers at Next’s new distribution centre in Dearne Valley to receive picking commands from the warehouse management system (WMS) via a plug-in headset and a wearable computer.

Supplier VoiteQ provided the system and worked with Next's in-house development team to create an interface between the voice system and Next's WMS.

Other retailers including WHSmith have recently replaced handheld scanners by a voice system to speed up picking activity at warehouses and improve accuracy.