Data as of Oct 12, 2026A topic in Warehouse Robotics & Optimization Software.
Reviewed by Dimitry Apollonsky
Mentioned in · Jul 5 – Oct 12, 2026
ChatGPT SearchOct 3, 2026
Yes. What you’re looking for is usually called warehouse pick-path optimization, travel optimization, or dynamic picking routes. The strongest options I found are:
| Vendor | What it does | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Lucas Systems / Jennifer | AI batching + optimized pick paths; accounts for aisle directions, locations, priorities and worker constraints. Claims 30–70% travel reduction. | Larger DCs / complex operations |
Google AI ModeOct 3, 2026
I am looking for a way to optimize foot traffic paths for our warehouse pickers to improve efficiency. What options are available?
| Native WMS feature combining AI path optimization with smart batching; claims up to 33% less walking. |
| SMB/mid-market e-commerce warehouses |
| Optioryx Pulse | Adds pick-path optimization on top of your existing WMS; models aisles, cross-aisles and blocked zones and can simulate results before integration. | Teams that don't want to replace their WMS |
| Infor WMS | AI pick-path optimization with congestion avoidance and equipment-specific routing; customers cited by Infor saw 25% less travel distance. | Companies already considering/using Infor |
| inVia Robotics | SmartPath calculates worker routes, while its Traffic Quality Index reroutes around congestion; also offers spatial batching. | Warehouses considering robotics + software |
| LogisticsWMS | Dynamic routes determine the best aisle entry/exit points rather than forcing traditional serpentine routes. | Smaller operations looking for WMS-based routing |
If your main problem is simply “our pickers walk too much”, I'd investigate Lucas Systems and Optioryx Pulse first. The distinction is important:
One thing I'd insist on during vendor demos: give them your actual warehouse map and several weeks of historical pick orders. A vendor should be able to show current walking distance vs. optimized walking distance rather than just quoting a generic percentage.
Since you're in the Cincinnati/Indiana region, I also found nearby warehouse-system integrators such as Storage Solutions - A Jungheinrich Company and Cardinal Integrated Systems, although these are more general warehouse/automation providers than dedicated foot-route optimization products.
If you tell me (1) your WMS, (2) roughly how many pickers, and (3) whether they're picking carts, totes, or individually, I can narrow this to the 3 best-fit vendors and compare likely implementation complexity.
Minimizing travel time on the warehouse floor comes down to pick path optimization and dynamic work execution software . Instead of letting staff wander or follow a rigid, suboptimal sequence, these systems calculate the shortest, most logical route (whether they are on foot or using mobile carts) through your aisles.
Top providers offering specialized routing and travel optimization for warehouse foot traffic include:
If you want to narrow down the best fit, tell me:
If your warehouse team spends too much time walking between storage locations, the biggest opportunities are usually optimizing pick paths, improving slotting, batching orders, and reducing congestion in high-traffic aisles. The best solution depends on your warehouse layout, order profile, and whether workers pick one order at a time or multiple orders together.
1. Pick-path optimization software
Software calculates efficient routes through warehouse locations, reducing backtracking, unnecessary aisle crossings, and travel between picks. Routes can account for one-way aisles, blocked areas, pick sequence, and warehouse layout.
Best for: warehouses with many pick locations or frequent manual picking.
2. Warehouse slotting optimization
Move high-demand SKUs closer to packing stations or dispatch areas, and place frequently co-ordered items near each other where practical. Re-slotting inventory can reduce walking even before you change the picking process.
Best for: warehouses with stable demand patterns and poorly positioned fast-moving stock.
3. Batch and zone picking
Best for: high order volumes, repeated SKUs, or warehouses with distinct storage zones.
4. Aisle and traffic-flow redesign
Establish sensible one-way routes where appropriate, separate pedestrian traffic from equipment traffic, reduce bottlenecks at intersections, and review where replenishment vehicles conflict with pickers.
Best for: congestion, repeated aisle conflicts, and layouts with substantial backtracking.
5. Automation and real-time guidance
Depending on the operation, consider pick-to-light or voice picking, wearable scanners, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), or goods-to-person systems that bring inventory to a stationary picker.
Best for: operations with sustained labor constraints, high throughput requirements, or enough volume to justify the investment.
If you're looking for technology to implement route optimization, these are relevant options to shortlist.
Lucas Systems
AI-driven task assignment, optimized pick paths, voice-directed work, and intelligent order batching. Worth evaluating when you want to optimize labor without immediately investing in new warehouse hardware.
Website:
Infor WMS
Includes pick-path optimization capabilities such as shortest-path routing and alternate paths. A natural candidate if you already use Infor or need route optimization as part of a broader WMS.
Documentation:
Optioryx
Focuses on combining order clustering, route optimization, and digital-twin simulation. Useful if you want to test proposed routes and batching strategies against your existing operation before making changes.
Website:
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management
Its warehouse functionality includes spatial location sorting and pick-work sequencing. Worth checking if your organization already uses Microsoft's supply-chain platform; verify the availability and release status of the specific spatial-routing features you need.
Documentation:
These are candidates rather than a definitive ranking. Compatibility with your current WMS, warehouse complexity, implementation effort, and measurable results in your own layout should drive the decision.
| Your biggest problem | Start with |
|---|---|
| Workers repeatedly backtrack between picks | Pick-path optimization |
| Fast-moving items are stored far from dispatch | Slotting analysis |
| Many orders share the same SKUs | Batch or cluster picking |
| Aisles become crowded at peak times | Congestion-aware routing and zone balancing |
| Pickers lose time reading lists or searching for locations | Scanner, voice, or light-directed picking |
| Travel remains excessive despite process changes |
Route optimization can be especially effective when combined with batching and slotting. For example, Lucas Systems describes potential additional travel savings from batching alongside route optimization, while Infor documents routing that accounts for warehouse coordinates and travel sections. Vendor-reported results are not guarantees; validate improvements using your own operating data.
Week 1 — Establish a baseline
Measure walking distance or travel time per order, lines picked per labor hour, order accuracy, and congestion by aisle. Export order history, SKU locations, and layout data from your WMS.
Week 2 — Model better routes
Compare your current picking sequence with shortest-path routing, batch picking, and a revised slotting plan. Check that routes respect safety rules, equipment restrictions, and aisle capacity.
Week 3 — Run a controlled pilot
Test the new method in one representative zone or shift. Keep a comparable group or period using the existing process, accounting for order mix and workload.
Week 4 — Verify the results
Compare travel per order, lines per hour, errors, overtime, and congestion. Expand only if the gains persist without compromising safety or accuracy.
The most effective recommendation depends on your operation. A small manual warehouse may benefit most from better pick sequencing, while a high-volume distribution center may need dynamic batching and congestion-aware optimization.
Tell me a little about your setup.
1. How large is the warehouse?
Small — one area or a few aisles
Medium — multiple aisles and picking zones
Large — distribution center or multiple zones
2. What warehouse software do you use?
An existing WMS or ERP
Spreadsheets, paper pick lists, or basic scanning
Not sure / open to new software
3. What's the biggest source of wasted time?
Excessive walking and backtracking
Congested aisles and workers crossing paths
Poor inventory placement
Too many individual orders and repeat trips
4. How are orders picked today?
One order per trip
Multiple orders per trip
Workers pick within assigned zones
A mix of methods
[Recommend the best solutions]
| Evaluate AMRs or goods-to-person automation |
