Posted to News on 14th May 2025, 09:00
Latvia Post speeds up sortation by 20% with projected sorting instructions
The boom in online retail has had a direct impact on parcel sorting facilities, increasing volumes and putting more strain on the equipment and the personnel. For Latvijas Pasts (Latvia Post), the growing business was in need of greater efficiency to enable the company to improve its performance. The plan to improve parcel processing times and reduce the manpower required for manual sorting led to a solution from Prime Vision.
Manual processing of packages is a key part of the delivery process including transferring packages to stillages for delivery vehicles. However, identifying the correct location for each parcel takes time and mistakes can be made. The good news is that there are tools available to improve efficiency including hand-held scanners and overhead projectors.
Researching the best solution
Manual sortation is most effective when the personnel tasked with the job can use both hands, so using a scanner in one hand may improve accuracy but it reduces efficiency. At Latvia Post, Edgars Kavins, Head of Operations Development, was tasked with finding a solution that would increase sortation speed as well as accuracy.
Research led to Prime Vision, and specifically its Flow Projector solution, which offered clear benefits to the organisation in terms of improved sorting speed and a smarter way of working. The system uses overhead projectors to provide real-time, visual guidance and dynamic workload distribution across sorting stations.
The Flow Projector integrates with warehouse management systems to provide live data on parcel flow, station performance, and staff productivity. Managers can use this data to make informed decisions about staffing, shift structures, or layout adjustments.
Improved manpower allocation
The specification and delivery process for Latvia Post was simple and efficient. Prime Vision visited the facility to assess the site and how best to position the projectors. Having agreed to install five units, the installation and commissioning was completed over a weekend to minimise any disruption.
Now, visual instructions are projected directly onto the sorting workspace to minimise decision time and reduce errors. Operators don't need to consult separate screens or paper manifests, everything they need to know is projected in front of them. This leads to faster sortation and higher throughput per employee.
By eliminating the need for static routing or manual sorting instructions, the system helps supervisors deploy workers where they are most needed. It reduces downtime and allows for more flexible shift planning, even when staff availability fluctuates. Minimal training is needed, as the system visually guides workers on where each item should go.
Faster processing times
Having worked with the new system for more than 12 months, the suggested benefits have been borne out in practice. The sorting facility has increased workflow by 20% in manual sortation and the return on investment (ROI) will be just two years.
Edgars concludes: "The Prime Vision solution meets our business needs very well. It works great and provides easier manual work for warehouse employees. After the installation, less time is needed for onboarding new personnel as the projectors provide clear instructions for the employees."
This system dynamically assigns parcels to available operators in real time. It responds instantly to changing conditions on the floor, such as congestion, idle stations, or bottlenecks, allowing parcels to be rerouted efficiently. This ensures balanced workloads and prevents overburdening certain staff while others remain underutilised.
