IN Brief:
- States Logistics has implemented EPG’s LYDIA Voice system for warehouse picking.
- The voice-directed system is integrated directly with the company’s Infor WMS.
- The deployment has delivered fewer errors, faster onboarding, higher pick rates, and configurable workflows.
States Logistics has implemented EPG’s LYDIA Voice system to improve warehouse picking accuracy, productivity, and associate experience across its 3PL operations.
The US-based logistics provider has deployed LYDIA Voice with direct integration into Infor WMS, allowing warehouse associates to follow voice-directed workflows without changing the underlying warehouse management system. The implementation was delivered with EPG and ASW Global Consulting.
States Logistics manages high-volume distribution activity across varied customer order profiles. Traditional RF-based and paper-supported picking processes had begun to slow execution as volumes increased, while onboarding new associates required significant training time.
LYDIA Voice communicates directly with WMS and ERP systems, guiding warehouse associates through picking workflows while allowing changes to be configured at workflow level. That flexibility was a key part of the deployment because it allowed the company to adjust processes during and after go-live without reworking core WMS logic.
Todd Myers, Application Manager at States Logistics, said: “We have large line orders with lots of cases and lots of movement, so improving productivity was the bottom line.”
The rollout started with a small number of users and expanded rapidly. Myers said: “I wasn’t necessarily sure how easy it was going to be. We weren’t able to shut things down for a day, so we decided to equip a few users, let them pick with voice, and then add a couple more.”
He added: “By the end of the first week, everybody was picking with voice.”
The system’s hands-free and eyes-free operation helped associates stay mobile during long shifts, while noise levels did not disrupt recognition performance. Myers said: “We have people who listen to music on their radios and multiple pickers in the same zone, but it doesn’t matter. LYDIA Voice only picks up what its picker is saying.”
EPG’s case study states that the implementation delivered double-digit productivity gains and 68% fewer errors. Supervisors also reported higher pick rates, smoother operations, and easier onboarding for new hires.
The project shows why voice technology continues to hold value in warehouse automation despite the growth of robotics, AI, and autonomous mobile systems. Many 3PLs cannot redesign facilities around fully automated processes because customer profiles, order patterns, and contract requirements change too quickly. Voice-directed picking offers a lower-disruption route to improve performance inside existing operations.
Workflow-focused logistics technology is gaining traction across both parcel and freight operations, with Team Global Express putting 12 AI agents into production as part of a wider move towards targeted process gains. States Logistics’ LYDIA deployment fits the same practical pattern. The system targets a specific operating problem — picking accuracy and speed — and connects directly to the WMS environment already in place.
The labour dimension is equally important. Warehouses continue to face fluctuating labour availability, seasonal peaks, and onboarding pressure. Systems that reduce training time and make tasks easier to execute can improve output without relying solely on additional headcount. Voice workflows can also help reduce cognitive load in busy pick environments, particularly where associates are handling large line orders or complex case movement.
For 3PLs, flexibility is often more valuable than perfection in a single workflow. A provider serving multiple customers needs to accommodate changes in SKU mix, packaging requirements, pallet building, order frequency, and service expectations. The ability to adjust workflows without disrupting core systems gives operations teams more room to respond when customer needs shift.
The wider warehouse technology market is increasingly divided between high-capital automation and systems that improve human-led execution. LYDIA Voice sits firmly in the second category. Its value depends on adoption, process fit, WMS integration, and measurable gains in accuracy and throughput. States Logistics’ early results suggest that voice remains a practical automation layer for 3PL operations that need speed, flexibility, and lower implementation disruption.
