Two-day delivery used to be the gold standard, thanks in large part to Amazon Prime. But today, the bar continues to be raised. With customer expectations shifting toward same-day or even next-hour delivery, fulfillment speed has become a critical competitive advantage.

For high-volume warehouses, this speed race brings major challenges: more orders, tighter labor markets, and rising pressure to maintain accuracy. The complexity grows fast and so does the risk of bottlenecks.

The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your entire operation overnight. By focusing on a few proven strategies, many of which are powered by a modern Warehouse Management System (WMS), you can dramatically reduce order fulfillment time without sacrificing accuracy or control.

Here are five key tactics your warehouse can start using today.

1.Optimize Travel Time

Why it matters: Travel time is often the single biggest component of order picking. When workers spend too much time walking, fulfillment speed suffers.

Key strategies:

• Use your WMS to optimize pick routes in real time.
• Implement one-way traffic flows or create clearly defined zones.
• Assign pickers to specific areas using zone picking to reduce unnecessary movement.
• Deploy dynamic slotting to place fast-moving SKUs closer to packing stations.
• Enable real-time task assignment to cut down on idle time.
• A good WMS doesn't just tell workers where to go—it decides why that's the best next move.

A good WMS doesn't just tell workers where to go—it decides why that's the best next move.

Result:

Less time spent driving around, walking, and waiting for work means more orders picked and faster fulfillment across every shift.

2. Streamline Inbound Processes

Why it matters: The clock starts the moment inventory hits your dock. Poor receiving processes can lead to delays, errors, and downstream chaos.

Key strategies:

• Use ASN (Advanced Shipping Notifications) and auto-receive features to validate incoming shipments before arrival.
• Apply cross-docking for urgent or high-priority SKUs.
• Introduce barcode scanning and automated check-in to reduce human error.
• Use real-time putaway directions to slot items where they’ll be easiest to pick later.
• Enable instant inventory visibility upon receipt.

Without WMS support, fast inbound just becomes fast chaos.

Result:

Cleaner, faster receiving means less backtracking and a smoother fulfillment flow.

3. Leverage Batch Picking

Why it matters: Picking one order at a time is inefficient, especially when many orders contain the same items. Batch picking turns redundancy into efficiency.

Key strategies:

• Group similar orders with shared SKUs into batch picks.
• Use sorting stations or automation to break down batches post-pick.
• Integrate your WMS to automatically identify batch-eligible orders.
• Track pick progress in real time and flag exceptions immediately.

Result:

Fewer trips, less handling, higher throughput.

4. Use Specialized Pick Lines to Your Advantage

Why it matters: Not all SKUs are created equal, so why treat them all the same? The right pick line setup lets you handle different product types more efficiently.

Key strategies:

• Direct replenishment to dynamic pick lines at the right time to avoid slowdowns.
• Assign orders to pick zones based on SKU type or order volume.
• Monitor pick line productivity to better forecast labor needs

Types of pick lines:

• Dynamic Pick Lines: Constantly replenished and optimized for high-velocity SKUs. Great for reducing congestion and delays.
• Layer Pick Lines: Ideal for full-layer picks like beverages or pre-packed goods. Easily automated.
• Bulk Pick Areas: Designed for high-volume, pallet-sized SKUs. Fewer replenishments, faster movement.

Result:

Tailored pick strategies matched to SKU velocity = fewer delays and greater accuracy.

5. Don’t Ignore These Additional Game-Changers

• Automation & Robotics: AMRs, conveyors, or pick-to-light systems that accelerate movement and reduce manual labor.
• Labor Training & Ergonomics: A well-trained team works faster and safer—cutting errors and fatigue.
• Data-Driven Adjustments: Use your WMS analytics to continuously refine slotting, pick paths, and batching strategies.

Conclusion: The WMS: Your Warehouse's Central Nervous System

To recap, these 5 strategies can dramatically reduce fulfillment time in even the busiest warehouses:
1. Optimize travel time
2. Streamline inbound processes
3. Leverage batch picking
4. Use specialized pick lines
5. Improve continuously with automation, training, and data
Each improvement may seem small—but together, they create powerful time savings and efficiency gains.

At the heart of all of this is your Warehouse Management System. A modern WMS doesn’t just track inventory—it makes real-time decisions that affect every stage of fulfillment. From smarter routing to optimized picking logic, it’s the central nervous system of a fast, flexible warehouse.