Cork, 2nd February, 2009: Musgrave partner to entrepreneurial food retailers in the SuperValu and Centra retail networks has invested almost €500,000 with Dublin based IT Company Heavey RF to introduce advanced voice picking technology within its ambient and chilled warehouse operations.

Musgrave has partnered with Heavey RF and UCS/Aquitec, to fully and successfully deploy voice picking technology in its 280,000 sq. ft. Kilcock depot during July 2008, where it is being used by over 100 staff members.

As a result of this investment Musgrave has seen improvements in efficiency and accuracy, to the benefit of its SuperValu & Centra retail partners. Following the successful introduction in Kilcock, the system was then trialled in Musgrave 65,000 sq.ft chill depot in Cork from September through November 2008. The chill voice trial was especially significant in that it represented the first implementation of voice picking technology within a ‘pick-by-line’ operation in Ireland and marks Musgrave as a leader in this area.

“We are delighted with the voice technology and the successful delivery of the IT solution within our supply chain,’’ said Anthony Wall, IT Project Leader, Musgrave.

‘’We selected Heavey RF because they were providing a good quality product and they impressed us with their enthusiasm for the challenges we faced,” said Stephen Bennett, Supply Chain Systems Manager, Musgrave. “We were also looking for a local service provider with a good after sales support service and Heavey RF met and surpassed on all criteria.” The new system provides picking instructions to warehouse operatives via a ‘text to speech’ engine through their respective headsets. The user then confirms verbally to the system using Vocollects’ industry leading voice recogniser. Information is passed to and from the users via the wireless local area network (wlan).

Ronan Clinton, Managing Director of Heavey RF says “Voice directed logistics has transformed how products are moved within the supply chain. The use of the natural voice to carry out and confirm tasks accurately and promptly permits a much more seamless operation for Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland.”