October 29th, 2026 by Elisabeth Eder in Digitization
November 27, 2026 is Black Friday. This day marks the start of the highest-turnover phase of the year – the pre-Christmas period. While discounts and marketing campaigns are often the focus, success is often decided in a completely different place: in the warehouse.
After all, the more orders are received within a short period of time, the more pressure picking processes come under. Long walking distances, manual work steps or confusing stock levels can quickly lead to bottlenecks.
A successful Black Week does not start with the first order, but weeks before - in the warehouse. Goods must be received, checked and stored appropriately in good time. At the same time, it is worthwhile to keep the warehouse strategy flexible: "Best sellers" should be placed in such a way that they can be reached quickly in the respective process. If demand develops differently than expected, priorities and goods movements must be adjusted. And: It also pays to take a look at your own processes. What works well in day-to-day business can quickly reach its limits during order peaks.
As soon as orders increase, one process in particular comes into focus: picking. It is one of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks in the warehouse. This makes it all the more important to choose the right strategy so that high order volumes can be processed efficiently. It is important to note that there is no one picking method for every warehouse. The SKU mix, order structure, warehouse architecture and available employees are decisive in the choice. These three methods are often used:
Single-order picking: Employees process one order after another. The method is straightforward and highly effective for individual or low-volume orders. However, for a large number of orders with overlapping items, it can lead to redundant walking distances.
Batch picking: Several orders are bundled and picked simultaneously. This significantly reduces travel time when identical items appear across different orders. The picked items must then be accurately sorted and assigned to their respective orders.
Zone picking: The warehouse is divided into specific sectors, with dedicated employees picking within their assigned areas. An order either passes sequentially through multiple zones or is consolidated at a designated location. While this structures operations spatially, it demands seamless coordination between zones.
The best way to see which method is suitable, is to use your own order data and real processes. Combinations are also possible. For example, if different article groups or order types require different processes.
Regardless of which picking strategy is used, it can only be as efficient as the underlying information. In order for employees to find items quickly, inventories to be managed correctly and follow-up processes to run smoothly, the relevant data must be available and reliable at all times. This is where master data quality plays a critical role. Accurate information regarding dimensions, weight, and storage locations not only streamlines the putaway process but also supports picking and downstream operations such as packaging and shipping. (Find out how the MultiScan ensures precise master data in warehouse logistics.)
A suitable storage and picking strategy, combined with reliable master data, forms the foundation for a successful peak season. But how well prepared is your warehouse for the upcoming Black Week traffic? This quick practical checklist will help you identify potential bottlenecks early on:
Are bestsellers placed according to their demand and warehouse processes?
Can search and walking distances possibly be reduced?
Does batch picking make sense for recurring items and overlapping order patterns?
Are the article stocks and master data reliable and up-to-date?
Are staffing, replenishment and handovers planned between individual warehouse zones?
Is there a plan to quickly change course in the event of deviating demand?
