What action occurs immediately after items are picked in the outbound process?

In the outbound process, after items are picked, they are staged for packing. Staging is a critical step in the fulfillment process where picked items are temporarily placed in a designated area before being packed for shipment. This allows for the organization and sorting of items, ensuring that they are ready to be packed efficiently and accurately. Staging serves to streamline the packing process and minimizes the risk of errors when preparing items for delivery.

The action of staging is crucial as it provides a buffer between picking and packing, allowing warehouse staff to verify that the correct items have been picked and to prepare them for movement to the packing station. This ensures that all order details are accounted for and that the items are in optimal condition for shipment.

While placing items on a delivery truck and checking for quality are important steps in the outbound logistics process, they occur after items have been packed. Returning items to storage is not relevant in this context, as the goal is to move the picked items toward fulfillment, not to redirect them back into inventory. Thus, the correct response accurately reflects the immediate next step after picking in the outbound workflow.