A two-decade partnership between a Danish retailer and its voice picking technology supplier has raised productivity.
Salling Group is one of Denmark’s leading retailers, supplying more than 1,700 stores, including Bilka, Føtex and Netto, with fresh food, ambient goods and general merchandise. Every week, the company serves millions of customers through a logistics network that must efficiently handle diverse product flows, fluctuating order volumes and a broad SKU assortment.
To ensure fast, accurate and reliable warehouse operations, Salling Group implemented LYDIA Voice from EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) nearly two decades ago. Since then, the retailer has continuously expanded its logistics network and modernized its IT landscape while repeatedly choosing LYDIA Voice to support these developments.
Today, LYDIA Voice is deployed in 15 distribution centres and supports the daily processing of up to one million picking lines, making it one of the largest voice installations in the region. The solution provides hands-free, voice-directed workflows that help maintain high quality and productivity, even during seasonal peaks. It also accompanied major operational changes, including Salling Group’s migration to SAP EWM. “We have expanded our logistics network and transformed our system landscape several times over the years,” says Dan Kaihøj, Enterprise Architect Logistics at Salling Group.
“LYDIA Voice has adapted to every stage of this development. The solution is reliable, flexible and easy to use. We wanted to be in control and make process changes ourselves, and LYDIA Voice lets us do that.”
Multilingual Support for a Diverse Workforce
Salling Group employs both permanent and seasonal staff across multiple regions. To simplify onboarding, LYDIA Voice is available in six languages: Danish, English, Polish, German, Russian and Colombian Spanish. Employees can start working immediately in their preferred language without voice template training.
“We hire the people we can, and LYDIA Voice follows,” Kaihøj explains. “The system works immediately in the user’s preferred language. This is a major advantage for daily operations and especially during seasonal peaks.”
Flexible Technology, Consistent Performance
Today, LYDIA Voice supports picking and packing for around 70% of Salling Group’s orders. Employees use wired or wireless headsets as well as the LYDIA VoiceWear picking vest, enabling ergonomic, hands-free work and greater focus on product handling.
Over nearly 20 years, voice-directed workflows have consistently improved picking speed, reduced errors and increased operational transparency. Faster onboarding enables seasonal workers to become productive immediately, while managers benefit from smoother operations, fewer support issues and consistently high performance across sites.
“LYDIA Voice helps us manage high volumes with dependable quality,” Kaihøj concludes. “It integrates smoothly with our systems and supports our teams across all locations. Over the years, we have built a strong partnership with EPG. Whatever idea we have, it’s possible. It’s not just about the solution; it’s about the company behind it.”
