Increase Warehouse Output Without Adding Headcount
Get your efficiency and workflows right, and your warehouse can shift from a costly operation to a strategic driver of growth. Descartes Peoplevox helps you eliminate wasted time, avoid unnecessary hiring, and get more done in every shift without sacrificing accuracy.
Why Labor Costs Get Out of Control
In busy ecommerce warehouses, labor inefficiencies often go unnoticed. Manual processes, slow workflows, and poor visibility waste hours every day. When order volumes rise, the instinct is to hire more people but without fixing the root problems, that only adds cost.
Common causes of high labor costs include:
Staff wasting time looking for items or waiting for instructions
Manual data entry and paper-based systems slowing fulfillment
Rework caused by errors or missing inventory
No clear tracking of productivity across shifts
Long ramp-up times for temporary staff
The Real Cost of Inefficient Labor
Labor costs increase quickly when more people are needed to do the same amount of work. Without clear, repeatable processes and a scalable fulfillment model, adding headcount can create more confusion rather than more output.
Labor inefficiencies can result in:
- Higher payroll without increased throughput
- Reduced margins on every order
- More overtime and shift overruns
- Difficulty scaling during peak periods
The Solution: What Success Looks Like
With Descartes Peoplevox, your team gets more done in less time. Every task is tracked, guided, and aligned. Managers get the data they need. Staff are not left to figure things out alone, rely on more experienced teammates, or feel discouraged by repeated mistakes.
We’ve saved 200k AUD a year on staff. Putting Peoplevox in has meant we’re able to do more with less people. 3 of the team have moved on from the warehouse team and are now working elsewhere in the business, but there’s been no need to replace them. If and when we do have a sales surge, we could always bring them back in if needed. But actually, the system is so intuitive that I can get temp staff in now as required, and get them trained up in the warehouse picking orders within minutes.
How Descartes Peoplevox Reduces Labor Costs
Descartes Peoplevox helps you reduce idle time, structure your shifts, and optimize labor in real time, without disrupting your warehouse layout or overhauling your operation.
Mobile Workflows That Save Time
Guided pick, pack, and putaway flows eliminate backtracking between aisles and guesswork. Each scan moves the task forward.
Live Productivity Tracking
See who is doing what and how fast. Identify top performers and bottlenecks with real-time visibility.
Fast Onboarding for New Staff
Seasonal and temporary workers can become productive on day one. No confusing stacks of paper. No memorizing locations. Just follow the device.
Error Prevention Built In
Barcode scans and verification steps reduce rework and missed picks, saving hours per shift and reducing the need for ‘double checkers’ in your workflow or on the staff.
Smarter Task Assignment
Distribute work based on priority, location, and staff availability so no time is wasted walking or waiting.
Proof: See What Success Looks Like
%
Reduction in Operating Costs
%
Visibility Into Warehouse Productivity
FAQ
How does Descartes Peoplevox help lower labor costs?
It reduces wasted time, eliminates manual tasks, and gives teams clear workflows to follow from day one.
Can it help with seasonal staff?
Yes. Descartes Peoplevox is built for fast onboarding and helps seasonal workers start contributing immediately.
How does it track productivity?
The system logs every scan and task in real time, so you can view performance by user, task, or shift.
How quickly can we go live?
Most teams are live in 8-12 weeks. We support you through setup, onboarding, and post-launch optimization.