The warehouse world is in the midst of a revolution, with conventional person-to-goods systems slowly but surely replaced by the more efficient goods-to-person, or G2P, model. Leaner, smarter, and more efficient, goods-to-person systems deliver numerous benefits over their alternatives.
A goods-to-person system does exactly what it says. It delivers the goods to the people responsible for handling them. It involves the usage of new and emerging warehouse automation technologies, like automated storage and retrieval systems, and autonomous mobile robots. Those systems do the “heavy lifting,” retrieving goods from storage and delivering them to workstations.
The idea is simple: reduce the need for manual labor and human workers having to walk miles around the warehouse and use hours of their time just getting from A to B. Goods-to-person systems don’t eliminate every single instance of foot traffic, but they reduce it dramatically, especially compared to the person-to-goods alternatives.
As touched on above, goods-to-person relies on technology. It wouldn’t be possible without tools and systems like:
Real-world data confirms that more warehouses and e-commerce fulfillment centers are embracing automation and goods-to-person technologies. It’s not hard to see why, as conventional person-to-goods models are inherently wasteful and inefficient, with manual order picking consuming close to three-quarters of a worker’s time.
Goods-to-person is dramatically more efficient and modern. With less human error, better space utilization, it’s a smarter way to go about inventory management and order fulfillment.
The advantages of following goods-to-person warehouse management systems include:
As mentioned earlier, person-to-goods models may have proven useful in the past, but are wasteful in more ways than one. They essentially block warehouses from reaching their full potential, imposing barriers to metrics like throughput, productivity, and efficiency.
But with a goods-to-person system, those barriers are removed. Less time is wasted, and warehouse workers and resources are used much more efficiently, with orders flowing in and out of the facility much faster, on average.
Unlike a person-to-goods model, which is very people-centric, goods-to-person fulfillment is more of a balanced approach, harnessing the powers of both people and technology.
This, in turn, reduces labor costs, as warehouses won’t need as many workers moving all around the facility doing manual work. Many tasks can be taken over, at least partially, by automated systems, robots, and software, making the overall facility less dependent on manual labor.
Even the best-trained people can make mistakes sometimes, especially in high-pressure situations, like a warehouse dealing with peak season demand. This can lead to errors in orders, which have knock-on effects for brand perception and customer satisfaction.
When you let robots and automated systems handle most of the picking and sorting process, relying on precision algorithms that don’t tire and machines that don’t deviate from their tasks, far fewer errors occur.
Goods-to-person is the best model for space utilization, since the systems involved (robots, autonomous vehicles, automated carousels, etc.) can operate in tight spaces and narrow aisles, letting operators arrange their warehouses in the most optimal ways.
This model facilitates unparalleled vertical space utilization, too, as goods can be stacked up high on tall shelving units. These units would normally be beyond the reach of human workers, but pose no problems for goods-to-person robot pickers and related systems.
In a goods-to-person model, there’s less pressure on workers on the whole. They don’t have to spend anywhere near as much time moving around the warehouse and can often simply remain by their workstations.
This results in a safer, more comfortable existence for them. Their bodies and minds suffer less stress from constant movement and high-pressure work, and workstations are often designed with ergonomics in mind to be easy to work with.
An issue with person-to-goods models is that they’re difficult to scale. If traffic increases, like during intensive peak season spells, the only option is often to bring in more seasonal staff, increasing congestion within the warehouse itself.
Goods-to-person models are much easier to scale up or down to suit changing needs. Operators can invest in varying systems, like pick-to-light technologies (which use lights to direct workers to desired locations) and automated conveyors, to cope with more orders as they come in.
The automation technologies involved in goods-to-person fulfillment involve various pieces of data-tracking software and hardware, like sensors, to help you keep closer and more accurate tabs on your warehouse operations.
Stock tracking becomes smarter, inventory management becomes easier, and the data available is both more robust and accurate. This, in turn, makes it easier to make data-backed decisions and avoid problems such as stockouts or overstocking.
Goods-to-person systems reduce human movement in the warehouse and introduce more efficient, state-of-the-art systems to process orders. This reduces the amount of energy needed to get a single order through the facility and out to the customer.
With a more streamlined process, built on automation, goods-to-person warehouses have less waste, both in materials and energy, resulting in more sustainable operations.
The future of warehouses is increasingly technological. In the years ahead, facilities will involve AI integration and other emerging technologies, like advanced robotics that can take on even more tasks, further lightening the load of manual workers.
Transitioning to goods-to-person logistics now is a great way to effectively get in on the ground floor of future warehousing. It will be much easier to integrate new and future tech, like AI, and get value from it, if you already have goods-to-person infrastructure in place.
In the vast majority of cases, goods-to-person is the right choice for modern, forward-thinking warehouses. It is especially relevant and valuable for those who are:
At the same time, it is not the best option by default for every facility. For now, at least, person-to-goods models still have a place and may work best for those with smaller operations, limited SKUs, and tight budgets, or those handling specialized products that may not be suitable for transportation via automated conveyors, like very large and heavy goods.
So, to decide if goods-to-person is the right fit for your warehouse, it’s important to think about size, order volume, how much you’re willing and able to spend, and whether or not the numerous benefits are worth the initial investment.
Implementing a goods-to-person system is one of the best ways to elevate warehouse operations, but it can be a challenging transition. BoxLogix can help you get it right.
Contact our team for customized insights and strategic plans to take your next steps towards goods-to-person integration.
In a traditional person-to-goods setup, workers travel throughout the warehouse to locate and pick items. A goods-to-person (G2P) system reverses that model by using automation to bring products directly to operators at ergonomic workstations. This shift dramatically reduces walking time, speeds up order fulfillment, and minimizes fatigue and error.
Goods-to-person systems rely on a combination of advanced automation tools such as automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and automated guided vehicles (AGVs). These systems work together to locate, retrieve, and deliver items to picking stations, improving both speed and accuracy across the warehouse.
By reducing travel time and manual handling, goods-to-person (G2P) systems allow operators to process more orders in less time. Automated equipment coordinates item retrieval and delivery with precision, ensuring consistent flow and fewer bottlenecks. The result is higher throughput, better space utilization, and more predictable performance during peak demand.
AI and robotics are shaping the next generation of goods-to-person (G2P) automation. Artificial intelligence enables smarter order routing, predictive maintenance, and adaptive decision-making, while robotics continues to expand the range of automated tasks. Together, they make G2P warehouses faster, more flexible, and better equipped for continuous growth.