Order picker duties centre on selecting the right stock, in the right quantity, for each customer order, and doing it accurately at speed. Picking is where most warehouse errors originate, so the role is measured on accuracy as much as on productivity. This page sets out what an order picker does day to day, the equipment and systems involved, the skills employers expect, and how to phrase these duties on a CV or in a job description.
What Does an Order Picker Do?
An order picker retrieves items from storage locations in a warehouse and assembles them into customer orders ready for packing and dispatch. The work is directed either by a printed picking slip or, more commonly now, by a handheld scanner or voice-directed system that guides the picker through an optimised route.
Picking methods vary. Single order picking means one order at a time. Batch picking means collecting the same item for several orders at once. Zone picking assigns a picker to a section of the warehouse, with orders passed between zones. Wave picking releases groups of orders timed to dispatch schedules. Which method your employer uses changes the rhythm of the job considerably.
The role is physically demanding and often paced against productivity targets. It sits alongside packing, and in many operations the same person does both. For that combined role see picker packer duties, and for the wider warehouse cluster see General Worker Logistics Duties.
Key Order Picker Duties and Responsibilities
- Receiving picking instructions from a slip, scanner or voice-directed system.
- Locating stock accurately in the assigned racking or bin location.
- Selecting the correct item, variant and quantity for each order line.
- Scanning items to confirm the pick and update the system in real time.
- Checking product condition and expiry or batch details where relevant.
- Assembling picked items onto pallets, trolleys, cages or totes.
- Labelling and staging completed picks for packing or dispatch.
- Reporting stock shortages, incorrect locations and damaged goods.
- Operating picking equipment such as pallet trucks or order picker machines where certified.
- Meeting productivity and accuracy targets set by the operation.
- Assisting with replenishment of pick faces from bulk storage.
- Participating in cycle counts and stock takes.
- Keeping aisles, pick faces and work areas clean and unobstructed.
- Following all health and safety and manual handling requirements.
Accuracy is the defining accountability. A mis-pick travels all the way to the customer before it is discovered, generating a credit, a return and a delivery cost. Employers therefore track pick accuracy closely, and a picker who is slightly slower but consistently accurate is usually preferred to a fast one who generates errors.
Daily Order Picker Duties
- Collecting a scanner or picking list and confirming the assigned zone or wave.
- Working through pick locations in the sequence directed by the system.
- Scanning and confirming each pick as it is made.
- Reporting any location that is empty or contains the wrong stock.
- Assembling and staging completed orders in the designated area.
- Replenishing pick faces from bulk locations where required.
- Assisting with cycle counts during quieter periods.
- Clearing packaging waste and keeping aisles safe.
- Completing the shift handover and returning equipment to charge.
Order Picker Skills and Requirements
- Physical fitness for walking, lifting and repetitive handling across a full shift.
- Accuracy and attention to detail when matching codes and quantities.
- Ability to read and follow picking instructions and product codes.
- Basic numeracy for quantity checks.
- Competence with handheld scanners or voice-directed picking systems.
- Certification for pallet trucks or order picker machines where the role requires it.
- Ability to work at a consistent pace against productivity targets.
- Awareness of manual handling and warehouse safety requirements.
- Reliability and punctuality for shift-based work.
- Teamwork, since picking feeds directly into packing and dispatch.
- Comfort working in the site environment, including chilled or frozen areas where applicable.
Order Picker Duties for a CV
Picking CVs are strengthened by numbers. Employers screen for throughput and accuracy, so give both where you can, along with the systems and equipment you have used.
- Picked an average of one hundred and twenty order lines per hour using RF scanning.
- Maintained pick accuracy above 99 percent across a twelve-month period.
- Worked across zone and batch picking methods in a multi-temperature distribution centre.
- Operated an electric pallet truck and order picker machine under valid certification.
- Reported location and stock discrepancies, supporting inventory accuracy.
- Assisted with weekly cycle counts and annual stock takes.
- Replenished pick faces from bulk storage to maintain picking flow.
If you have worked in a specialised environment such as cold storage, pharmaceuticals or hazardous goods, state it, as these carry additional handling requirements that employers value.
Order Picker Job Description Template
When advertising, state the picking method and the technology used, since RF scanning, voice picking and paper picking are quite different experiences. Give the expected productivity target and the accuracy standard, because candidates should know what they are being measured against.
Describe the physical environment honestly: the temperature, whether picking is at height, the typical weight of items, and how much walking a shift involves. Specify any equipment certification required and whether the employer provides that training. State the shift pattern and whether overtime is expected during peak periods, in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
FAQs
What are the main order picker duties?
The main duties are receiving picking instructions, locating stock accurately, selecting the correct item and quantity for each order line, scanning to confirm picks, assembling and staging completed orders, reporting stock and location discrepancies, and meeting accuracy and productivity targets.
What are examples of order picker duties?
Examples include working a scanner-directed pick route through an assigned zone, confirming each pick by scanning the item, reporting an empty pick face for replenishment, staging a completed order for packing, and assisting with a cycle count during a quiet period.
What is the difference between an order picker and a picker packer?
An order picker selects stock from storage locations. A picker packer does that and also packs the order for dispatch, including boxing, wrapping and labelling. Many South African operations combine the two roles, so check the advert rather than assuming from the title.
How do order picker duties differ by workplace?
Large distribution centres are system-directed with tight productivity targets and specialised zones. Smaller warehouses use paper picking and expect pickers to handle packing, dispatch and general duties as well. Cold storage and pharmaceutical environments add temperature, hygiene and traceability requirements.
Which related duties page should I read next?
For the combined picking and packing role, read picker packer duties. For other warehouse and logistics roles, browse General Worker Logistics Duties.