Lydia Voice by EPG Increases Efficiency at Gentile AG

The digitalization of intralogistics plays a central role at Gebr. Gentile AG, one of the leading experts in wholesale and logistics of fruits and vegetables in Switzerland. To prepare for future challenges regarding the previously paper-based picking of sensitive, heterogeneous, and perishable fresh goods, Gentile has successfully implemented the Pick-by-Voice solution LYDIA Voice from EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) since the end of 2023, achieving efficiency increases in the double-digit percentage range within a very short time.

From the logistics center in Näfels, Switzerland, the food wholesaler has been supplying industrial customers, franchisees, discounters, and the wholesale market with fruits and vegetables several times a day for decades. Due to the perishable nature of the goods, daily operations on the over 3,000 m² refrigerated area are characterized by short order and delivery cycles. “Our products stay in the warehouse for an average of 0.7 days, meaning that the goods that come in go right back out,” explains Renato Häfliger, Managing Director of Gentile AG. “We process nearly 80 to 100 tons of goods daily. Ideally, our inventory rotates, as this best ensures the freshness of the products.” A total of 200 to 300 items are scheduled daily for about 200 customers. “On average, this corresponds to 6,000 to 10,000 shipping units that our pickers must handle each day,” adds Häfliger. “Per order, that’s about 20 to 60 picks. The use of paper lists made this process difficult, as employees never had both hands free. This led to errors, and the process was noticeably slowed down.”

Pick-by-Voice as a Game Changer in Seasonal Business

LYDIA Voice can be easily used by any picker without prior voice training, regardless of gender, dialect, or accent. This allows even seasonally fluctuating teams to utilize LYDIA Voice and work productively right away. “LYDIA Voice was already very easy and intuitive to use during testing, so you are ready to go immediately,” explains Häfliger. “This was one of the main reasons why the decision for the system was made quickly, as we employ many seasonal workers in addition to our regular staff. Long training times are not feasible.”

Efficiency Gains in the Double-Digit Percentage Range

Currently, a total of 20 employees work in two shifts with the Pick-by-Voice solution. They use the LYDIA Voice Bluetooth headset and the mobile voice computer VOXTER, which is worn on the belt. This allows pickers to keep both hands and eyes free to assemble the shipping units. Gentile benefits from faster picking, a significantly higher output with the same number of employees, and an efficiency increase in the double-digit percentage range. Employees are also satisfied with the new system, as the “hands-free/eyes-free” approach enables intuitive and ergonomic work. This improvement in working conditions also contributes to a significant reduction in picking errors.

Gentile is also satisfied with the implementation and support from the project team. “The introduction of LYDIA Voice was pragmatic, the project team acted very practically, and all tests were successfully completed. Moreover, our employees were able to work productively with the system immediately without long training times. This is how I envision a successful digitalization project,” summarizes Häfliger.

Photo: © EPG