Kmart has introduced Android Voice solutions across its fulfilment operations to meet increased demand.
The retailer has become the first in Australia to roll out the technology across its fulfilment operations.
Following significant increases in demand during the height of COVID-19 lockdown, Kmart has introduced the solution to improve the efficiency, accuracy and productivity of its fulfilment processes.
Android Voice technology allows operators to listen to order details while they continue to pick and pack, rather than spending time reading picking slips.
Android Voice also provides the user with more information around order details and its location, as well as an image of the product, making the picking and packing process more efficient and productive.
Kmart Australia GM of supply chain Oliver Blombery said that the technology helps to improve the customer shopping experience.
"Over the past few months we have experienced unprecedented levels of growth across our instore and online fulfilment operations.
"Our goal is to ensure our customers enjoy a great shopping experience, with our stores well-stocked which is achieved through faster and more efficient picking and packing times instore as well as for our eCommerce customers.
"By [introducing this technology], we have been able to increase productivity, accuracy and efficiency across our fulfilment operations," he said.
The introduction of Android Voice to its wider fulfilment operations took less than four weeks and follows Kmart's previous installation of the solution at four DCs across the country.
Blombery added that the business now gets a better return on its equipment.
"By working with [our partner's] inhouse software development team, we now have a much greater ROI on our equipment.
"Their Android Voice solution is the perfect fit for us, offering us a rapid increase in our productivity and faster order fulfilment and store replenishment," he said.
Set to go live this month, the deployment in Kmart's distribution centres (DC) will support Kmart stores and KHub stores that will be opening from July.