NL2017765B1 - Method and module for selecting containers for packaging one or more physical pick items - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for selecting containers for packaging one or more physical pick items, for use with a warehouse management system. The invention also relates to an auxiliary hardware module for a warehouse management system, comprising: one or more processors; and one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform the method according to the invention. The invention moreover relates to an information technology (IT) infrastructure, comprising : a warehousing management system, at least one output devices connected to said warehouse management system, and at least one auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, connected in between said warehouse management system and said at least one output device. The invention further relates to a computer program product, comprising one or more computer-hardware storage devices storing computerexecutable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, cause the computer system to execute the method according to the invention.

Description

Patent center

The Netherlands

(21) Application number: 2017765 © Application submitted: 10/11/2016 © 2017765

BI PATENT @ Int. CL:

G06Q 10/08 (2016.01) G06Q 10/04 (2017.01)

Application registered: (73) Patent holder (s): 24/05/2018 SIOUX SOLUTIONS GROUP B.V. in Eindhoven. (43) Application published: θ Inventor (s): (w) Patent granted: Jeroen Pieter Elisabeth Buskens 24/05/2018 in Veldhoven. (45) Patent issued: 06/06/2018 (74) Agent: ir. H.Th. van den Heuvel et al. in 's-Hertogenbosch.

© Method and module for selecting containers for packaging one or more physical pick items (57) The invention relates to a method for selecting containers for packaging one or more physical pick items, for use with a warehouse management system. The invention also relates to an auxiliary hardware module for a warehouse management system, including: one or more processors; and one or more computer-readable media failure computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform the method according to the invention. The invention moreover related to an information technology (IT) infrastructure, including: a warehousing management system, at least one output devices connected to said warehouse management system, and at least one auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, connected in between said warehouse management system and said at least one output device. The invention further relates to a computer program product, including one or more computer hardware storage devices failure computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, cause the computer system to execute the method according to the invention.

NL BI 2017765

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

Method and module for selecting containers for packaging one or more physical pick items

The invention relates to a method for selecting containers for packaging one or more physical pick items, for use with a warehouse management system. The invention also relates to an auxiliary hardware module for a warehouse management system, including: one or more processors; and one or more computer-readable media failure computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform the method according to the invention. The invention moreover related to an information technology (IT) infrastructure, including: a warehousing management system, at least one output devices connected to said warehouse management system, and at least one auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, connected in between said warehouse management system and said at least one output device. The invention further relates to a computer program product, including one or more computer hardware storage devices failure computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors or the auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, cause the computer system to execute the method according to the invention.

In the fulfillment industry, goods are often stored in a warehouse or distribution center, where they are picked, packed, and shipped to meet the content requirements or a specific order. Using conventional packing means, order fulfillment typically involves a human operator receiving an order, selecting (and possibly assembling) a shipping container, such as a corrugated cardboard box, picking ordered physical items (goods), eg from warehouse shelves, packaging the picked items in at least one container, and sealing and otherwise preparing the packed container for shipment. In order to facilitate warehouse personnel to pick items to be packaged, said personnel often uses pick slips and control pick lists to pick items for sales orders. A pick slip is a physical (e.g. paper) or digital document that contains information about the items shipped, such as quantity and location, for a single sales order. Pick lists reduce the amount of time that warehouse personnel spend locating the necessary quantities.

To automate (parts of) this picking and packaging process cartonization is required. Cartonization is the process of selecting the right packaging container for a specific order. Basic warehouse management systems do not have any cartonization functionality, as a result of which warehouse personnel manually selects a container for used for packaging a selection of ordered items. More expensive warehouse management systems (WMS) may provide basic cartonization functionality, typically the total volume or ordered items is calculated, based on which container with a significantly larger volume is selected and communicated separately to warehouse personnel. However, this basic approach is still quite laborious and time-consuming for warehouse personnel, and, moreover, often leads to a poor packaging efficiency, and hence to unnecessarily high costs.

It is a first object of the invention to provide an improved method for selecting containers to be used for packaging ordered items into containers.

It is a second object of the invention to provide an improved method for improving cartonization functionality which can be added to an existing warehouse management system, without needing to replace this warehouse management system.

It is a third object of the invention to provide an auxiliary hardware module to be connected as an add-on module to an existing warehouse management system for adding an improved cartonization functionality to said existing warehouse management system, without needing to replace this warehouse management system.

At least one of these objections can be achieved by providing a method for selecting containers for packaging one or more physical pick items, for use with a warehouse management system, including the step of: A) receiving a digital pick slip print job generated by said warehouse management system, said print job containing an identity of one or more items that are picked up and packed into one or more containers, B) identifying each item or said print job by analyzing said print job, C) retrieving corresponding three-dimensional item dimensions of each item identified during step B), D) calculating, at least based upon three-dimensional item dimensions retrieved during step C), a container size or one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more items, E) selecting , based upon the one or more suitable containers determined during step D), and based upon one predefined criterion, one or more containers to be used for packaging the one or more items, F) adding digital user information to said print job resulting in a modified print job, said said user information related to the one or more containers selected during step E), and G) transferring said modified print job generated during step F) at least one user output device , such as a printer or digital screen, in order to inform a user both about the one or more items to be picked and packaged and about the one or more containers to be used for packaging said one or more items. The method according to the invention incorporates several improvements. A first improvement of the method according to the invention is that the container selection is no longer based upon comparison of the total volume or items to be packaged and available container volumes, but that the container selection is at least partially based upon three-dimensional dimensioning (length - width - height) rather than merely volume, which significantly improves the efficiency of the cartonization process. A second improvement of the method according to the invention is that user information, typically warehouse personnel information, related to the one or more containers which are relatively efficiently selected during step E), is added to an intercepted pick slip print job prior to transferring said print job to an output device. This leads to an improved pick slip, which includes both information about the items picked and packaged and information about the one or more container to be selected for packaging these items. Hence, a user can see very easily and in a glance all relevant information in a combined overview to complete the packaging process or ordered items. Another improvement of the method according to the invention is that the method can easily be added to an existing warehouse management system, by intercepting pick slip print jobs generated by said warehouse management system, and by adding functional information to said print job before the (modified ) print job is executed and the (modified) pick slip is printed. To this end, it is favored to embed the method according to the invention into an auxiliary hardware module, which can be connected as an add-on module to an existing warehouse management system, and in between said system and one or more output devices. In case said auxiliary hardware module is applied all steps A) G) are commonly performed digitally. It is also conceivable that a variety of computing devices are applied to perform step A) -G), different computing devices may be configured to perform different steps of the method according to the invention. The method according to the invention is preferably performed in an automated manner. Hence, human interaction is not needed or required.

In a preferred embodiment, the print job received during step A) comprises (a pick slip including) the identity of a variety of items, and during step D) at least one three-dimensional arrangement or multiple of items is calculated based upon the corresponding three-dimensional dimensions of each of the various of items as determined during step B), and following during step D) three-dimensional dimensions of each three-dimensional arrangement of the multiple of items is calculated. By using one or more possible arrangements or items, a more accurate assessment can be made from the container to be preferably used to package said items. Different arrangement or items commonly related to different mutual orientations or items, the outer dimensions or the combination of items will be common, though not necessarily, be different. Commonly, a calculated container size or a container suitable for packaging the one or more items is preferably substantially equal to or larger than the three-dimensional dimensions of the three-dimensional arrangement of the multiple of items. It is not that it is not required to package all items in one container, it is also imaginable, and possibly more advantageous to package the items in multiple containers. Preferably, during step

D) a number of options or suitable containers and / or combination or containers are calculated. These options serve as the basis for performing the selection during step

E) . The selection of containers to be used or recommended to a user, as determined during step E), is commonly based upon one or more criteria. These criteria are also referred to as selection rules, and will be explained in more detail below.

The print job received during step A) preferably includes a document formatted according to a page description language (PDL). The PDL is preferably formed by a PDL chosen from the group consisting of: PostScript (PS), Portable Document Format (PDF), Text (TXT), and printer command language (PCL). The modification of the print job during step F) is preferably related to a modification of the format of said document, said said format modification includes user information. Preferably, the user information added to the print job (or in fact the pick slip) during step F) is preferably added such that text or another graphical representation of the least one container to be used for packaging one or more items, is presented in a recognizable manner to a user. In case the print job includes a PDF (or equivalent file format) to be printed, which cannot be directly analyzed during step B), step B) preferably also the step of capturing an image or at least a part of the data contained by the print job. This image can serve as the basis for an optical character recognition (OCR) process. It is also possible to apply an OCR process to each print job received, even in case this print job as such already consists of machine encoded text, which simplifies the configuration of this method step, and hence of the method as such. Preferably, during step B) the analysis of said print job includes the steps of: generating one or more images of a digital scan or said print job, and applying an optical character recognition process to at least a portion or at least one image, image based data are converted into text-based data, and said said conversion more preferably comprises encoding the image-based data into text-based files. The OCR processes allows the method to convert handwritten or printed text and other symbols into the image to machine encoded text such as text based files that can be edited and searched. It is additionally possible that the data in the one or more images can also be extracted and converted into metadata, which can then be used and incorporated into a variety of applications, documents, and processes.

Commonly, during step C) corresponding three-dimensional item dimensions or each item identified during step B) is retrieved from at least one item database, also referred to as a material master data database. Said item database can be in any database format. The item database may be installed locally (on premise), although it is also thinkable that the item database is stored in the cloud, commonly a private cloud, and during step C) a connection is made with said cloud-based item database.

Preferably, during step D) at least one available container type is retrieved from at least one container database, prior to calculating a container size or one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more items. This container database is also commonly used as a SOL database, although other database formats may also be applied. It is often advantageous that the item database and the container database are integrated into one database, preferably an SOL database. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, during step D) the calculation of at least one container size or one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more items, is based upon the three-dimensional dimensions of available container types retrieved from said at least one container database. In case the container database would be stored in the cloud, preferably a private cloud, during step C) a connection is made with said cloud-based container database.

During step D) the calculation of at least one container size or one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more items, is preferably based upon the three-dimensional dimensions or said one or more item, and preferably also at least one further item related property, more preferably one or more item properties selected from the list eg consisting of: the item weight, the item orientation in a container, the number of maximum similar items to be packaged in a single container, and item incompatibility with other items . The one or more item related properties are preferably also included in the database. An exemplary table representing a simplified item database is presented below:

Item ID Short description Length (cm) Width (cm) Height (cm) Weight (kg) Max items Restrictions 0001 Book 15 10 5 0.30 - - 0002 DVD 19.2 13.7 1.4 0.20 - - 0003 Camera 18 6 9 0.9 - - 0004 Cleaning agent A 8 3 24 1.1 5 Not compatible with item 0005 0005 Cleaning agent B 9 3 25 1.2 3 Not compatible with item 0004

During step E), selecting one or more containers to be used for packaging the one or more items, could preferably be based upon minimizing the container volume required to package the one or more items, since commonly, though not necessarily, smaller containers leads to less shipping costs. In a more sophisticated preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, during step E) selecting one or more containers to be used for packaging the one or more items, is based upon at least one container type related property selected from the list eg existing or: container material, container load limit, container weight, container cost price, container shipping costs, and container incompatibility with one or more specific items. An exemplary table representing a simplified container database is presented below:

Conf. ID Material Length (cm) Width (cm) Height (cm) Weight (kg) Load (kg) Cost price (€) Shipping costs (€) a Cardboard 15 15 5 0.15 4 0.10 sc A B Cardboard 50 30 30 0.25 6 0.20 sc B C. Paper 10 15 0.2 0.09 0.5 0.03 sc c D Rigid Plastic 40 30 25 1.0 50 1.15 SC D

Based upon the information stored in the container database, preferably also the information stored in the item database is tasks into account, a selection of one or more containers to be used for packaging or a selection of one or more items is determined. Item restrictions, such as the maximum number of items packed in a single container and the compatibility of an item with other items, as incorporated in the item database, will usually play an important role in the selection process. The same applies commonly to the criteria that the overall costs the overall costs (i.e. cost price + shipping costs) should be minimized for each packed selection of one or more items, which financial information can be derived from the container database, as exemplified above.

Preferably, during step G) transferral or said modified print job to at least one user output device is performed wirelessly and / or wired. Examples of suitable output devices are a tablet, a smartphone, a laptop, any other computer, an RF gun, a (physical and / or virtual) printer, and / or a (physical and / or virtual) printer server.

In a preferred embodiment, the method also includes step H), including the modified print job on a computer-readable medium. In this manner, a print job history, and hence a log book, can be built up, which may be useful for several purposes.

The method preferably also includes step I), including executing said modified print job by at least one user output device, such as a printer or digital display, resulting in a modified pick slip. As mentioned above, this pick slip contains, in addition to the original pick slip information, user information indicating to a user (usually a warehouse employee) which container (s) should be used best for packaging the order relative to said pick slip.

The invention also relates to an auxiliary hardware module for a warehouse management system, including: one or more processors; one or more computer-readable media failure computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform the method according to the invention. The module is configured to be connected, typically as an add-on module, in between said warehouse management system and at least one output device, such as a printer or digital display. The module preferably comprises at least one network connector for connecting said module in between said warehouse management system and at least one output device, such as a printer or digital display. Commonly, the module comprises a housing enclosing said one or more processor and said one or more computer-readable media. The module will commonly include at least one power connector for connecting the module to a power source.

Suitable computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system. Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions and / or data structures are computer storage media. Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions and / or data structures are transmission media. Thus, by way of example, and not limitation, or of the invention can be included at least two distinctly different kind of computer-readable media: computer storage media and transmission media.

Computer storage media are physical storage media that store computer executable instructions and / or data structures. Physical storage media include computer hardware, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, solid state drives (SSDs), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other hardware storage device (s) which can be used to store program code in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures, which can be accessed and executed by a general9 purpose or special-purpose computer system to implement the disclosed functionality of the invention.

Transmission media can include a network and / or data links which can be used to carry program code in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures, and which can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system. A network is defined as one or more data links that enable the transport of electronic data between computer systems and / or modules and / or other electronic devices. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a computer system, the computer system may view the connection as transmission media. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Further, upon reaching various computer system components, program code in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures can be transferred automatically from transmission media to computer storage media (or vice versa). For example, computer-executable instructions or data structures received over a network or data link can be buffered in RAM within a network interface module (eg, a NIC), and then eventually transferred to computer system RAM and / or to less volatile computer storage media at a computer system. Thus, it should be understood that computer storage media can be included in computer system components that also (or even primarily) utilize transmission media. Computer executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which, when executed at one or more processors, cause a general-purpose computer system, special-purpose computer system, or special-purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or even source code.

The invention, moreover, relates to an information technology (IT) infrastructure, including: a warehousing management system configured to generate digital pick slip jobs, each print job including an identity of one or more items that are picked up and packaged into one or more containers, at least one output device, connected to said warehouse management system, configured to execute print jobs, and at least one auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, connected in between said warehouse management system and at least one output device. In this manner, a network can be built around a central warehouse management system, which multiple modules are connected, and all modules may (simultaneously) connect to the same, preferably cloud-based, item and / or container database. Such a network configuration allows simultaneously preparing a variety of orders at different packaging locations in an efficient manner by using the improved modified pick slips, which further increases the efficiency of the IT infrastructure.

The invention additionally relates to a computer program product, including one or more computer hardware storage devices failure computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, cause the computer system to execute the method according to the invention.

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of non-limitative example as shown in the following figures. Herein:

figure 1 depicts a prior art system for getting a pick slip, figure 2 depicts an IT infrastructure for getting a pick slip including cartonization information using an auxiliary hardware module according to the invention, figure 3 depicts a schematic of an IT infrastructure executing a method for selecting containers to be used for packaging ordered items according to the invention, and figure 4 depicting a network setup of an IT infrastructure for receiving a slip including cartonization information using multiple auxiliary hardware modules according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a prior art system for receiving a slip, in a typical warehouse management system 10 generates a print job and transfers said print job to an output device 11 such as a printer. The output device 11 executes the print job to generate a pick slip 12, which pick slip 12 contains information about the items shipped, such as quantity and location, for a single sales order.

Figure 2 shows an IT infrastructure 20 for picking a pick slip 21 including cartonization information using an auxiliary hardware module 22 according to the invention. A warehouse management system 23 generates a print job for a pick slip 21 that comprises the identity of one or more items to be picked and packaged into one or more containers. The print job is then sent by the warehouse management system 23 and intercepted by the auxiliary hardware module 22. Next, the auxiliary hardware module 22 updates the pick slip print job with cartonization information 24. In addition, information can be added concerning different pick orders .

Gathering of multiple pick orders and integrating them in a single pick slip 21 may be especially advantageous for orders that need to be picked from the same area or orders that need to be packed on the same pack table. It is also possible that the auxiliary hardware module 22 updates the sequence of items on the pick slip 21 to optimize the route through the distribution center or warehouse. After the print job is updated, the print job is sent by the auxiliary hardware module 22 to a printer 25 that prints the pick slip 21. The pick slip 21 may be a physical (paper) document printed by the printer 25. However, it is equally possible that the print job is sent to another output device such as a (computer) screen in the form of a digital document. Note that the sending and receiving / intercepting or print jobs containing pick slip information may be done by wire, but could also take place by a wireless connection.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an IT infrastructure 30 executing a method for selecting containers to be used for packaging ordered items according to the invention. Again, a warehouse management system 31 generates a print job for a pick slip, which is intercepted by an auxiliary hardware module 32, modified by said auxiliary hardware module 32 and sent to a printer or printing interface 33 for printing or display purposes. The modification process comprises receiving 34 of the print job, which print job comprises an identity or one or more items that are picked up and packed into one or more containers. This receiving process 34 may involve the auxiliary hardware module 32 act as a print server running Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) or any other suitable hosting software.

Next, the print job is converted 35 to a file type with can serve as an input for a subsequent process or selecting containers. The print job usually includes a document formatted according to a page description language such as

PostScript or printer command language (PCL). As part of the conversion process 35 it may be necessary to generate one or more images of a digital scan or said print job and then apply an optical character recognition (OCR) process to at least a portion of the image to convert the image based data into text-based data.

A suitable output file type for this text-based data is XML. Any other file type containing machine-readable data may be selected as well.

Subsequently, the processed print job has been modified 36 to contain a packing proposal, for which a packing proposal has been developed. This involves analyzing the print job, calculating container size and selecting a suitable container, the information whereof is added to the print job to obtain a modified print job. By analyzing the print job, each of the items contained in the pick slip are identified, after which corresponding item dimensions, including at least item width, length and height of each item identified are retrieved from a database 37. Commonly a SQL database is used , although other database formats may be used as well. The database 37 may further store additional item metrics such as item ID, type, weight, orientation, maximum similar items to be packaged in a single container and item incompatibility with other items. The database 37 may be stored locally but could also be cloud-based. Based on the obtained item dimensions, a container size or one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more items is calculated and compared to a number of available container types, the characteristics of which are also stored in the database 37. The container characteristics contained in the database 37 at least include container width, length and height, but may also include container ID, material, load limit, weight, cost price, shipping costs (which are commonly dependent on shipping weight), and container incompatibility with one or more specific items. A suitable container is then selected for packaging a selection of one or more items by using one or more selection criteria, commonly including minimal shipping costs and item compatibility. Each of the analyzing, calculation and selection steps may be performed by a computer having a hardware storage device on which computer-executable instructions are executed, programmed for executing said steps.

The selected container type, possibly together with additional information concerning different pick orders such as the integration of different picking orders or a change in picking sequence, is then added to the print job and after which the print job is converted 38 to a document format containing a common page description language. Finally, the print job is sent 39 to a printer or printing interface 33 which may again involve the auxiliary hardware module 32 to act as a print server running Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) or any other suitable hosting software. In addition, the modified print job including the packing proposal may, either after printing or after creation or the modified print job, be logged by the auxiliary hardware module 32 as a delivery log in the database 37 for future reference.

An administrator tool 40 is provided to input or adjust entries in the database 37 are retrieve delivery logs from the database 37. Moreover, the administrator tool may allow an administrator to intervene in any of process steps to customize how the method for selecting containers to be used for packaging ordered items is executed. A common web interface 41 is used to act as a portal for the administrator tool 40. Alternatively, a dedicated application may be installed and run for this purpose.

Figure 4 shows a network setup of an IT infrastructure 50 for picking a slip including cartonization information using multiple auxiliary hardware modules 51 according to the invention. In a network setup or an IT infrastructure 50, a warehouse management system 52 is together with a number of auxiliary hardware modules 51 connected to the same network 53 by means of wireless or cable-based data links 54, all acting as network nodes. An internetworking device (not shown) may be provided between the warehouse management system 52 and the auxiliary hardware modules 51 to forward data between the network nodes. Each auxiliary hardware module 51 is connected to a separate printer 55. The depicted network setup of the IT infrastructure 50 allows for the removal of one or more of the auxiliary hardware modules 51 without affecting the remaining auxiliary hardware modules 51 or the system in its entirety . This is especially true in the case that the configuration and logging data among the different auxiliary hardware modules 51 is replicated.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described expired are considered to be in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency or the claims are embraced within their scope.

Claims (30)

Conclusions A method for selecting containers for packaging one or more physical collectibles, for use in a warehouse management system, comprising the steps of: A) receiving a digital packing slip print job generated by said warehouse management system, wherein said printing job comprises an identity of one or more objects to be collected and packaged in one or more containers, B) identifying each object of the aforementioned print job by analyzing the aforementioned print job, C) retrieving corresponding three-dimensional object dimensions of each object identified during step B), D) on the basis of at least the three-dimensional object dimensions obtained during step C), calculating a container size for one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more objects. , E) selecting one or more containers to use for packaging the one or more articles based on the one or more suitable containers determined during D) and based on one predetermined criterion, F) adding digital user information to said print job resulting in a modified print job, wherein said user information is related to the one or more holders selected during step E), and G) transferring said custom print job generated during step F) to at least one user output device, such as a printer or a digital screen, to inform a user of both the one or more objects to be collected and packaged and the one or more use containers for packaging the aforementioned one or more articles. The method of claim 1, wherein steps A) -G) are digitally performed by at least one computer device. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the print job received during step A) comprises the identity of a plurality of objects, and wherein at least a three-dimensional arrangement of plurality of objects is calculated on the basis of the corresponding three-dimensional dimensions during step D) of each of the plurality of objects as determined during step B), and wherein during step D) three-dimensional dimensions of each three-dimensional arrangement of the plurality of objects are calculated. 4. Method as claimed in claim 3, wherein during step D) a holder size of a holder suitable for packaging one or more objects is calculated, which is substantially equal to or larger than the three-dimensional dimensions of the three-dimensional arrangement of the plurality of objects. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step D) a number of possibilities of suitable containers and / or combination of containers are calculated. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the print job received during step A) comprises a document formatted according to a page description language (PDL), wherein the PDL is preferably formed by a PDL selected from the group consisting of: PostScript (PS), Portable Document Format (PDF), Text (TXT) and printer command language (PCL). The method of claim 6, wherein during step F) the print job is adjusted by applying a layout adjustment to said document, wherein said layout adjustment comprises the user information. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step B) the analysis of the aforementioned print job comprises the step of capturing an image of at least a portion of the data contained in the print job. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step B) the analysis of said printing job comprises the following steps: - generating one or more images from a digital scan of the aforementioned print job, - applying an optical character recognition process to at least a portion of at least one image, wherein image-based data is converted into text-based data, and wherein said conversion preferably comprises coding the image-based data into text-based data. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step C) corresponding three-dimensional object dimensions of each object identified during step B) is obtained from at least one object database. The method of claim 10, wherein the object database is stored in the cloud, and wherein a connection is made with said cloud-based object database during step C). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step D) at least one available type of container is obtained from at least one container database, prior to calculating a container format of one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more objects. A method according to claim 12, wherein during step D) the calculation of at least one container format of one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more objects is based on the three-dimensional dimensions of available types of containers obtained from said ten at least one holder database. A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the container database is stored in the cloud, and wherein a connection is made with said cloud-based container database during step C). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step D) the calculation of at least one container size of one or more containers suitable for packaging the one or more objects is based on the three-dimensional dimensions of said one or more objects, and preferably also on at least one further object related property , more preferably one or more object properties selected from a list consisting of: the weight of the object, the object orientation in a container, the number of maximum objects to be packaged in a single container, and object conflict with other objects. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step E) selecting one or more containers to use for packaging the one or more articles is based on minimizing the container volume required for packaging the one or more articles. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step E) selecting one or more containers to use for packaging the one or more articles is based on at least one container type-related property selected from a list consisting of: container material, container load limit, container weight, container cost, container transport costs, and holder conflict with one or more specific objects. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step F) the digital user information contains graphic and / or textual information. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step F) the digital user information is added to the print job such that during the execution of the modified print job, the user information is presented at a distance from the identification of one or more objects to be collected and packaged. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step G) the transfer of said adapted print job to at least one user output device is performed wirelessly. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method also comprises step H), comprising storing the modified print job on a computer-readable medium. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method also comprises step I), comprising performing said adapted print job by at least one user output device, such as a printer or a digital screen, resulting in a modified packing slip. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is performed by a supplementary hardware module which is connected between a warehouse management system and at least one output device. 24. Supplementary hardware module for a warehouse management system, comprising: - one or more processors; - one or more computer-readable media, which stores computer-executable instructions, which, if executed by the one or more processors, causes the computer system to act according to one of claims 1-23. The module of claim 24, wherein the module is arranged to be connected between said warehouse management system and at least one output device, such as a printer or a digital screen. A module according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the module comprises at least one network connection for connecting said module between said warehouse management system and at least one output device, such as a printer or a digital screen. A module according to any of claims 24-26, wherein the module comprises at least one housing, which encloses said one or more processor and said one or more computer-readable media. 5 A module according to any of claims 24-27, comprising at least one power supply connection for connecting the module to a power supply. 29. Information technology (IT) infrastructure, comprising: - a warehouse management system set up for generating a 10 digital packing slip print job, wherein each print job comprises an identity of one or more objects that must be collected and packaged in one or more holders, - at least one output device connected to said warehouse management system, arranged for performing print tasks, and - at least one supplementary hardware module according to any of claims 24-28, connected between said warehouse management system and said at least one output device. A computer program product comprising one or more computer 20 hardware storage devices that store computer-executable instructions that cause the computer system to act according to the method of any one of claims 1-23 when executed by one or more processors of the supplementary hardware module according to one of claims 24-28. 1/3 a Δ