Information may be manually or automatically uploaded and downloaded to and from a WMS. Yet, increasingly, electronic data capture is proving to be more effective and efficient than conventional paper-based systems, particularly at the shopfloor. Warehouse operatives undertaking selected information tasks in figure 1.2 are today most likely to use handheld RF (radio frequency) or barcode readers, PCs, label printers and pick-to-voice technologies. Each of these technologies aims to minimize human effort and to reduce the time taken, errors and costs. Furthermore, processes are standardized to improve accuracy and