FoodLogistics.com |

Hamilton, NJ: Voxware Inc., a leading supplier of software for voice-driven warehousing operations, has announced that Performance Food Group (PFG), the third largest foodservice distribution company in the United States, has successfully rolled out voice in five of its broadline distribution centers. The company plans to expand voice with an aggressive schedule that assumes a new broadline site will be rolled out every three to five weeks. Once the implementations are complete in 2009, PFG will have more than 600 workers across 18 broadline distribution centers on the system.

Currently PFG is using voice in its picking applications. The integration of pick slot movement data triggers the warehouse management system (WMS) to generate immediate replenishment for pick slots low on inventory. Since voice has been deployed in several of PFG’s distribution centers, the company has seen a 65 percent reduction in mis-picks and a 50 percent decrease in truck shorts. In addition, training time for new workers now takes approximately 25 percent less time than it did prior to voice.

“Since we began working with Voxware, we’ve experienced many additional benefits to using the technology, especially with our workers,” says Jeff Williamson, vice president of warehouse operations for PFG. “Many of our workers who struggled to meet and maintain minimum error rate requirements are now able to reach and exceed required levels. Because our incentive system is tied to both productivity and error rates, voice has allowed more workers to earn incentives and bonuses, keeping them happier and more motivated.”

Voxware’s software is built from the ground up utilizing a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). This 100% SOA-based approach affords customers increased flexibility and ease of integration. Because of the flexibility and simplicity of Voxware’s solution, PFG is able to roll out voice in all of their distribution sites through a centralized server farm without the need for outside tech support.

Additional information about Voxware can be obtained at www.voxware.com.