Headwear manufacturer and distributor Outdoor Cap is building on its reputation as a high-quality, high-speed business partner thanks in part to a recent implementation of voice-directed picking technology at its Bentonville, Arkansas, distribution center (DC). Outdoor Cap supplies licensed and private-label headwear to promotional, team sports, and retail customers throughout North America—and as its client roster grew, so did its need for warehouse technology that could support that growth.
That’s when company leaders turned to Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) and its Lydia Voice solution to meet the challenge.
“We evaluated multiple picking solutions,” Peel Chronister, senior vice president of operations at Outdoor Cap, said in a statement describing the project. “The priority was improving the customer experience and speed to market, but it was also extremely important that the solution [be] scalable.”
MEETING THE CHALLENGE
Prior to the switchover, the operation had relied largely on traditional picking methods, but as order volumes grew, those methods proved inadequate to the task. Company leaders say they needed a solution that would:
- Improve pick accuracy and consistency;
- Reduce dependency on screens and handheld devices;
- Speed onboarding for new and seasonal workers;
- Support employees on the floor without increasing complexity.After evaluating several options, leaders at Outdoor Cap selected Lydia Voice, leveraging the tech firm’s Prove-It Program, which allows customers to test the software directly in their warehouse to evaluate both return on investment (ROI) and the user experience. The technology’s intuitive, hands-free operation; advanced speech recognition; and seamless integration with Outdoor Cap’s existing warehouse systems sealed the deal, according to Chronister.
QUICK RESULTS
The rollout prioritized rapid adoption and operational continuity. Outdoor Cap worked closely with EPG to configure voice workflows that matched existing processes, minimizing disruption to daily execution, according to both partners. What’s more, the intuitive implementation reduced training time and enabled new hires to onboard quickly, even during peak periods.
The easy installation and quick adoption led to measurable improvements fast.
“In our first year of using Lydia, our team experienced an incredible 57% improvement in overall quality,” Chronister reports. “We made significant gains in pick accuracy, which led to a better customer experience.”
At the same time, he says, workers gained confidence and productivity increased—enabling faster fulfillment and higher service levels.
“We experienced a 15% productivity jump, which meant speed-to-market and [the] customer experience greatly improved as a result of implementing [the voice picking system],” he also said.
Going forward, company leaders say they expect Lydia Voice to evolve alongside the organization, serving as a scalable foundation for continued optimization in the warehouse. Voice-driven workflows strengthen day-to-day operations while providing the flexibility to adapt to changing demand, workforce dynamics, and growth initiatives.
“With Lydia Voice, we’re set up not just for where we are now, but for where we’re going,” Chronister said.
