Custom Voice AI Systems for Complex Logistics Workflows
Syntora provides custom voice AI solutions for complex logistics workflows. We build systems that integrate with your existing ERP and warehouse management software.
We recently built a voice-driven inventory check system for a 15-person warehouse team. They previously spent 6 minutes per pallet manually keying in data from a clipboard. The new system processes voice commands in 3 seconds, cutting check-in time by 95%. The project was delivered in three weeks.
This is for businesses whose operations do not fit into rigid, off-the-shelf software. The system is built around your specific commands, product SKUs, and warehouse layout. It connects directly to your current inventory database, whether it is a modern platform or a legacy system with a REST API.
What Problem Does This Solve?
Most logistics companies find that generic voice tools fail them. Off-the-shelf Warehouse Management System (WMS) voice modules are built for massive operations and enforce a rigid 'pick-pack-ship' sequence. If your workflow includes custom steps like quality assurance checks or kitting, these systems cannot adapt. They also charge per-seat fees, which can cost a 20-person team over $3,000 a month for a single feature.
A regional parts distributor tried to build their own solution using a general-purpose transcription API. The API transcribed standard English well but choked on their internal jargon. It transcribed a command for "aisle G, bin 4, part 2-stroke-beta" as "I'll go, been for, part to stroke beta." This resulted in a 22% error rate on commands containing part numbers, making the system unusable and slower than their paper-based process.
These approaches fail because they are not tuned to the specific acoustic environment and vocabulary of a working warehouse. Without a model that understands your unique SKUs, location names, and employee accents against a backdrop of forklift noise, accuracy will always be too low for production use.
How Does It Work?
Our process begins by recording 2-3 hours of audio from your actual warehouse floor. We capture operators speaking the exact commands they will use, creating a dataset that reflects your environment's unique acoustic profile and terminology. This data is used to fine-tune a dedicated speech-to-text model, adding every one of your SKUs and location codes as custom vocabulary.
The core of the system is a Python-based FastAPI service that ingests the transcribed text. This API contains the business logic to parse commands and interact with your other systems. A command like "move 10 units of WIDGET-123 from A4 to B7" is parsed into structured data, validated against your inventory database, and executed via an API call to your ERP. This entire cycle, from voice command to system confirmation, completes in under 900 milliseconds.
We deploy the FastAPI application on AWS Lambda, which scales on demand. This architecture keeps infrastructure costs low, typically under $40 per month for a team of 30 processing thousands of commands daily. We use httpx for asynchronous calls to your ERP, ensuring the system remains responsive. All commands and system responses are logged using structlog for easy debugging and performance monitoring.
The system's accuracy is continually tracked. After launch, we monitor the command success rate, which we target to exceed 99.5%. If new products are introduced or workflows change, the model can be retrained with a few hours of new audio data to maintain its high performance.
What Are the Key Benefits?
Live in 4 Weeks, Not 6 Months
From workflow mapping to a fully operational system in 20 business days. Your team can start using the voice commands immediately, without a long implementation period.
No Per-Seat Licensing Fees
The system is a one-time, fixed-price build. Your monthly cost is for hosting only, which does not increase as you add more users to the system.
You Own the Code and Model
We deliver the complete Python source code to your company's GitHub repository. You also receive the fine-tuned speech model file, ensuring no vendor lock-in.
Monitors its Own Accuracy
The system logs every command and flags any that fail parsing or execution. You get a weekly report on accuracy rates and can identify issues before they impact operations.
Integrates With Your Current ERP
We connect directly to your existing systems via REST APIs or direct database connections. Your team keeps using the software they know, with voice as a new interface.
What Does the Process Look Like?
Week 1: Workflow Mapping & Audio Capture
You provide documentation of the target workflow and grant access for on-site audio recording. We deliver a detailed process diagram and a set of transcribed audio samples for review.
Week 2: Model Training & API Build
We fine-tune the speech model and build the core FastAPI application. You receive a staging API endpoint to test commands against using a simple web interface.
Week 3: Integration & Staging Deployment
We connect the API to a sandboxed version of your ERP or database. You receive access to a fully functional staging environment for user acceptance testing.
Week 4: Production Handoff & Monitoring
After final testing, we deploy to production. You receive the complete source code, a system runbook, and we begin a 4-week period of hands-on performance monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What factors influence the project cost?
- The primary factors are the number of unique voice commands, the complexity of the ERP integration, and the number of custom vocabulary terms (SKUs, location codes). A system for simple inventory lookups will be scoped differently from one that executes multi-step transfer orders. We provide a fixed-price quote after our initial discovery call.
- What happens if the system mishears a command?
- For non-destructive commands like inventory checks, the system will state it did not understand. For critical actions like inventory moves, the logic includes a confirmation step. The system will audibly repeat the parsed command (e.g., "Confirm: Move 10 units of SKU X to Bin Y?") and wait for a "yes" or "confirm" response before executing.
- How is this different from a voice module for a WMS like Fishbowl?
- WMS modules are rigid and force you to use their specific workflow and data structure. Our system is an API that adapts to your process. It connects to your existing software, whether it is Fishbowl, an old AS/400 system, or a custom Postgres database. We provide the missing voice interface for the systems you already use, without per-user fees.
- What hardware do our warehouse workers need to use?
- The system is hardware-agnostic and runs through a simple web interface. It works on any device with a microphone and a web browser, like a ruggedized Android tablet or even a standard smartphone. We recommend using a quality Bluetooth headset with noise cancellation for the best performance in loud environments.
- Can new commands or SKUs be added after the system is live?
- Yes. Adding new SKUs is a simple vocabulary update that takes minutes. Adding a new command (e.g., 'report damaged item') involves updating the FastAPI application's logic. Since you own the code, your developer can do this, or you can engage us for a small, scoped follow-on project, which typically takes 2-3 days.
- Does this work if our workers have strong accents?
- Yes. Because we fine-tune the model using audio recordings of your actual employees in your warehouse, it learns their specific accents, pronunciations, and speech patterns. This is a key advantage over generic, off-the-shelf transcription services, which are often trained on professionally recorded, unaccented audio and perform poorly in real-world industrial settings.
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