Smarter Warehouse Slotting with Affinity Analysis
- Slot3D
- Sep 30, 2025
- 2 min read
When it comes to warehouse optimization, velocity-based slotting often takes center stage. High-demand SKUs get prime locations, and lower-demand items are placed farther away. But velocity alone doesn’t always tell the full story.
That’s where affinity analysis comes in. By understanding which items are most often ordered together, warehouses can slot products in ways that minimize travel time, reduce congestion, and streamline picking.
Slot3D combines basket analysis with advanced slotting strategies to help distribution centers and 3PLs go beyond speed and create smarter, more efficient product placement.
What Is Affinity Analysis in Warehouse Slotting?
Affinity analysis is the process of analyzing order data to uncover product affinities - the SKUs most often purchased together. For example:
In an e-commerce warehouse, cell phone cases may often ship with charging cables.
In a beverage distribution center, mixers are frequently ordered with certain liquors.
In retail, batteries may appear in the same orders as toys during the holidays.
By identifying these patterns, warehouses can slot complementary items closer together, reducing the distance pickers travel and improving overall order throughput.
The Benefits of Affinity in Warehouse Slotting
Reduced Travel Time - Placing high-affinity SKUs near one another minimizes backtracking, cutting down on wasted steps.
Improved Picking Efficiency - Pickers can fulfill multi-SKU orders faster when items commonly ordered together are grouped.
Lower Labor Costs - Less travel time translates into more picks per hour, reducing labor demand during peak.
Better Space Utilization - Affinity analysis highlights opportunities to cluster SKUs logically, balancing space across the warehouse.
Higher Customer Satisfaction - Faster, more accurate order fulfillment leads to improved delivery times and fewer errors.
How Slot3D Leverages Basket Analysis
Slot3D goes beyond static reporting by integrating affinity analysis into warehouse slotting optimization strategies. Here’s how:
Affinity-Based Grouping - Slot3D identifies SKU with high order affinity, creating affinity groups to utilize in location strategies allowing groups to be slotted closer together.
Scenario Testing - Users can test different slotting strategies such as: velocity, affinity, or a hybrid and measure the impact on travel required, replenishments, and throughput.
Visualization Reporting - Affinity-driven slotting can be mapped visually, making it easy to spot travel reduction and highlight congestion risks.
Operational Execution - Recommendations flow into Slot3D Operations through Reslot Moves Reports, giving teams prioritized action lists to implement affinity-based improvements on the floor.
When to Use Affinity Slotting
Affinity slotting is especially powerful in:
E-commerce fulfillment with large SKU assortments and variable order mixes
Retail distribution where promotional or seasonal items spike in pairs or clusters
Grocery and beverage distribution where certain SKUs are consistently ordered together
Slotting Analysis
Slotting based on affinity or basket analysis is about more than grouping products, it’s about understanding customer behavior and turning it into operational efficiency.
With Slot3D, warehouses can identify SKU affinities, test different slotting strategies, and put recommendations into action with confidence.
The result? Shorter pick paths, lower labor costs, and faster fulfillment.
Ready to see how affinity-based slotting can work in your operation?
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