Discrete methodology

Discrete picking makes one pick document per order. A picker takes a single order, walks the warehouse for it, and finishes it before starting the next. There is no later sorting step — each order is already on its own from the start.

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The outbound orders in the wave

Each order becomes its own picking document

Inside one picking document

When it fits. Few but large orders; orders that must stay physically separate (different customers, different destinations); or simply the simplest set-up when picking volume is modest.

Trade-off. It is the most straightforward strategy to run and to reason about, but it walks the picker past the same locations once per order — so it is less efficient when there are many small orders that share the same products.

Discrete waves do not need a sorting step, so a policy using this methodology normally leaves Use sorting off.