Negative order picking is a order picking method that is used when the majority of the items are to be picked from a staging unit. Instead of picking the required quantity from the staging unit, the entire staging unit is picked. The quantity not required is then put back into storage as a new staging unit. This procedure can result in significantly shorter picking times for individual items. If the supply units are clearly identified with barcodes or the like and stored in the system, the process must be supported by the system and requires corresponding bookings.

Example: There are 82 cartons on a pallet, of which 80 cartons are to be picked for an order. Instead of picking 80 cartons, the entire pallet is picked. Now the remaining two cartons are picked and put away again on a new pallet. The pallet with the two cartons forms the new staging unit.