Disrupting the Supply Chain with Pick-by-Vision Smart Glasses
Logistics Case Study
Overview
In the era of e-commerce and global shipping disruptions, supply chain operators face increasing pressure to move goods faster, more accurately, and at lower cost. Rising shipping expenses, import/export restrictions, and labor challenges have made traditional logistics processes more expensive and less resilient.
To meet these challenges, Global Shipping and Logistics (GSL) partnered with Aptus and Vuzix to deploy a pick-by-vision solution powered by smart glasses—transforming warehouse execution through augmented reality (AR).
The Challenge
Logistics and warehousing operations are under constant pressure to:
-
Increase speed and throughput
-
Reduce picking and processing errors
-
Maintain stability while scaling operations
-
Improve worker efficiency without compromising accuracy
-
Avoid costly traditional automation investments
Operators needed a solution that could improve productivity while remaining flexible, easy to adopt, and cost-effective.
Why Pick-by-Vision?
Pick-by-vision combines human vision with augmented reality, delivering instructions directly into a worker’s field of view.
As Gurumurthi Shankar, Chief Commercial Officer at GSL, explains:
“Humans are most comfortable using sight out of all five senses. Vision paired with minimal voice commands makes this an easy application to use and an overall easy technology to adopt.”
Compared to traditional automation, AR offers:
-
Greater flexibility
-
Faster deployment
-
Lower implementation cost
-
Reduced operational errors
The Solution
GSL implemented Vuzix smart glasses integrated with Aptus ExpertVision and the Manhattan SCALE Warehouse Management System (WMS).
Key Capabilities
-
Hands-free picking using vision-based instructions
-
Voice and visual guidance for task execution
-
Real-time decision support on the warehouse floor
-
Event recording for later review and analysis
-
Dynamic integration with existing WMS workflows
Workers receive pick instructions directly through the smart glasses interface, allowing them to work faster while keeping both hands free.
Technology Integration
Vuzix Smart Glasses
GSL selected Vuzix smart glasses because they combine:
-
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
-
Augmented Reality (AR)
-
Machine Vision
This combination delivers:
-
Real-time visual and audio references
-
On-the-spot decision-making support
-
All-day comfort and ease of use
The glasses also connect directly to GSL’s WMS, enabling workers to access inventory, shipping, receiving, and other business functions instantly.
Manhattan SCALE by Aptus
Aptus’ Manhattan SCALE WMS powers the backend of the solution, providing:
-
Inventory management
-
Picking and slot replenishment
-
Distribution optimization
-
Order planning and forecasting
-
Labor and billing management
-
RFID management
Existing scanner workflows and configurations remain intact. New picking flows are automatically pushed to the smart glasses, increasing flexibility without disrupting productivity.
Measurable Results
The deployment delivered previously unheard-of performance gains across key warehouse operations:
-
15% performance increase in receiving, reducing average depalletization time by 4 minutes
-
24% performance increase in put-away, reducing average slotting time by 22 minutes
-
20% performance increase in picking, reducing average order processing time by 16 minutes
These gains were achieved without compromising quality or accuracy.
Business Impact
By deploying pick-by-vision smart glasses, GSL was able to:
-
Serve more customers at higher speed
-
Reduce costly operational errors
-
Improve workforce efficiency and satisfaction
-
Maintain flexibility during demand fluctuations
-
Avoid expensive traditional automation investments
The solution freed operators’ hands, simplified tasks, and delivered real-time guidance exactly when and where it was needed.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Vuzix, Aptus, and GSL demonstrates how augmented reality can fundamentally transform supply chain execution. Pick-by-vision smart glasses deliver the speed of automation with the flexibility of human decision-making—unlocking productivity gains without sacrificing accuracy.
As GSL notes, this is not science fiction. This is real, deployable technology delivering measurable results today.