VOLUME GmbH: Manual Picking Station (MVP)

Warehouse

Warehouse

Warehouse

Conceptual Design

Conceptual Design

Conceptual Design

Picking Station

Picking Station

Picking Station

User Research

User Research

User Research

UX Design

UX Design

UX Design

Tablet Application

Tablet Application

Tablet Application

Role

UX/UI Designer

Timeline

November 2024 - January 2025

Team

1 Stakeholder, 1 Engineer, 1 Developer, 1 UX/UI Designer

About Company

VOLUME Lagersysteme GmbH, founded in 2017 in Dresden, is a next-generation automated storage systems company. It specializes in ultra-compact, scalable warehouse solutions, including award-winning grid-based robots for pallets and small parts.

Challenge

1.

Unlike typical warehouse systems that run fully automatically, we were tasked with designing an interface for a manual picking station in small warehouses.

2.

Synchronizing the workflows of robots, warehouse systems, and human operators added extra complexity to the development process.

3.

There were no references we could rely on, as the project belonged to a highly specialized niche field.

4.

We built the product from scratch in a fast-growing startup environment.

Outcome

1.

We developed the first MVP in just three months.

2.

We tested it at pilot warehouses in Dresden and gathered feedback for further improvements.

3.

The product was later showcased at LogiMAT 2025 in Stuttgart — the international trade show for intralogistics solutions.

Research 1: How Manual Warehouse and Operators Really Work

Manual warehouses operate very differently from automated ones — boxes move in and out in unique ways, requiring careful handling at every stage. Every task is performed manually, on-site. By studying real operator workflows, we designed a system that adapts to their natural rhythm.

Research 1: How Manual Warehouse and Operators Really Work

Manual warehouses operate very differently from automated ones — boxes move in and out in unique ways, requiring careful handling at every stage. Every task is performed manually, on-site. By studying real operator workflows, we designed a system that adapts to their natural rhythm.

Research 1: How Manual Warehouse and Operators Really Work

Manual warehouses operate very differently from automated ones — boxes move in and out in unique ways, requiring careful handling at every stage. Every task is performed manually, on-site. By studying real operator workflows, we designed a system that adapts to their natural rhythm.

Research 2: References & Analogies (Cross-Industry References)

We looked at payment systems and retail apps from local German supermarkets, as well as global retailers such as Uniqlo and Decathlon. This helped us incorporate familiar patterns, making the interface easy to use and understand. By adapting these solutions, we created a system that is intuitive and simple to learn.

Research 2: References & Analogies (Cross-Industry References)

We looked at payment systems and retail apps from local German supermarkets, as well as global retailers such as Uniqlo and Decathlon. This helped us incorporate familiar patterns, making the interface easy to use and understand. By adapting these solutions, we created a system that is intuitive and simple to learn.

Research 2: References & Analogies (Cross-Industry References)

We looked at payment systems and retail apps from local German supermarkets, as well as global retailers such as Uniqlo and Decathlon. This helped us incorporate familiar patterns, making the interface easy to use and understand. By adapting these solutions, we created a system that is intuitive and simple to learn.

Conceptual Exploration

Based on our research, we chose the to-do list workload approach, starting with simple wireframes to test scenarios and validate the direction. The goal was to enable operators to quickly create tasks and view their current workload on a single screen.

Conceptual Exploration

Based on our research, we chose the to-do list workload approach, starting with simple wireframes to test scenarios and validate the direction. The goal was to enable operators to quickly create tasks and view their current workload on a single screen.

Conceptual Exploration

Based on our research, we chose the to-do list workload approach, starting with simple wireframes to test scenarios and validate the direction. The goal was to enable operators to quickly create tasks and view their current workload on a single screen.

Search and Order Items

The operator scans or enters the SKU or item name, and the system instantly displays stock levels and creates a delivery task. They can combine multiple items into a single order, ensuring everything arrives together for streamlined picking and packing.

Search and Order Items

The operator scans or enters the SKU or item name, and the system instantly displays stock levels and creates a delivery task. They can combine multiple items into a single order, ensuring everything arrives together for streamlined picking and packing.

Search and Order Items

The operator scans or enters the SKU or item name, and the system instantly displays stock levels and creates a delivery task. They can combine multiple items into a single order, ensuring everything arrives together for streamlined picking and packing.

Pick and Pack

When an order arrives, the operator scans the container to see which items and quantities are required. Then, they scan each item as it is picked to ensure that everything is correct.

Pick and Pack

When an order arrives, the operator scans the container to see which items and quantities are required. Then, they scan each item as it is picked to ensure that everything is correct.

Pick and Pack

When an order arrives, the operator scans the container to see which items and quantities are required. Then, they scan each item as it is picked to ensure that everything is correct.

Replenish and Add New Items

The operator scans or enters the SKU or item name, and the system determines the optimal storage location. The correct container is then automatically delivered to the operator for storing.

If the system doesn't recognize a scanned item, the operator can easily add it manually in just a few steps.

Replenish and Add New Items

The operator scans or enters the SKU or item name, and the system determines the optimal storage location. The correct container is then automatically delivered to the operator for storing.

If the system doesn't recognize a scanned item, the operator can easily add it manually in just a few steps.

Replenish and Add New Items

The operator scans or enters the SKU or item name, and the system determines the optimal storage location. The correct container is then automatically delivered to the operator for storing.

If the system doesn't recognize a scanned item, the operator can easily add it manually in just a few steps.

Task Status and Actions

The operator can always access any task to view detailed information or cancel it if needed. If a task enters the "Failed" state due to technical reasons, the operator can quickly reactivate it and return it to the planned queue for reprocessing.

Task Status and Actions

The operator can always access any task to view detailed information or cancel it if needed. If a task enters the "Failed" state due to technical reasons, the operator can quickly reactivate it and return it to the planned queue for reprocessing.

Task Status and Actions

The operator can always access any task to view detailed information or cancel it if needed. If a task enters the "Failed" state due to technical reasons, the operator can quickly reactivate it and return it to the planned queue for reprocessing.

Components

We built our system with simple components, making it easy to adapt to different warehouse workflows. This helped us quickly create new scenarios without additional effort.

Components

We built our system with simple components, making it easy to adapt to different warehouse workflows. This helped us quickly create new scenarios without additional effort.

Components

We built our system with simple components, making it easy to adapt to different warehouse workflows. This helped us quickly create new scenarios without additional effort.

Collaboration and Teamwork

I'm grateful to work with my team. I realized again that nothing would have been done without the team's willingness to communicate openly and to tackle complex issues together, which was key in launching MVP1.

Collaboration and Teamwork

I'm grateful to work with my team. I realized again that nothing would have been done without the team's willingness to communicate openly and to tackle complex issues together, which was key in launching MVP1.

Collaboration and Teamwork

I'm grateful to work with my team. I realized again that nothing would have been done without the team's willingness to communicate openly and to tackle complex issues together, which was key in launching MVP1.

Outcome and Next Steps

1.

Rapid development and integration of the prototype.

2.

Presentation at LogiMAT 2025 exhibition.

3.

Initial user testing cycles completed with feedback collected.

We’re continuing to work on this project — the first milestone has been completed, but there are still many more stages ahead to improve and expand the functionality.





At the moment, we’re analyzing data from our usability tests to debug high-priority issues. Next, we plan to refine user flows as well as add intuitive animations and alerts.

Case Studies

About

CV

Contact

Case Studies

About

CV

Contact

Case Studies

About

CV

Contact